What if mania isn’t a malfunction — but a message from the psyche trying to heal?

Sean Blackwell is an author, teacher, and researcher who has spent nearly two decades exploring the spiritual and somatic dimensions of bipolar disorder. His work challenges the mainstream psychiatric model by suggesting that episodes of mania, depression, and psychosis often have trauma roots and can reflect deep inner attempts at healing rather than symptoms of a broken brain.

In 1996, Sean went through a sudden and life-altering psychotic-spiritual emergency - an experience that would send him on a lifelong path of studying consciousness, trauma, and the symbolic nature of extreme states. Years later, after training with Grof Transpersonal Training, he developed Bipolar Breathwork, a somatic healing method designed to help people safely release the emotional and energetic blockages underlying bipolar symptoms.

Since 2007, Sean has taught internationally, run immersive healing retreats, offered long-distance breathwork sessions, and released dozens of educational videos to help people reframe bipolar disorder as a potentially meaningful and transformative process. His book Bipolar Awakenings and his upcoming second book continue this work - bridging psychology, spirituality, trauma science, and subtle-body energetics into a new way of understanding human breakdown and human growth.

Sean’s approach is deeply interesting, compassionate, and grounded in real lived experience - a perspective that has helped many people find hope, coherence, and self-understanding after years of confusion or misdiagnosis.

This episode explores the somatic roots of bipolar disorder, the symbolic language of psychosis, the role of trauma in extreme states, and how Kundalini and breathwork can create dramatic shifts in consciousness.

Notable quotes from the episode:

“People think delusions are random. But around the world, the same 13 spiritual delusions show up. There is structure.” - Sean
“Breakdowns often happen because something in us finally refuses to stay buried.” - Sean
“I’ve met so many people who weren’t sick - they were overwhelmed by a truth they weren’t taught how to carry.” - Jacob

“What psychiatry calls a disorder can be the beginning of a profound inner journey.” - Sean

“Trauma doesn’t live in the mind. It lives in the body - and the body tries to heal in dramatic ways.” - Sean
“The body whispers for years, and when we don’t listen, it eventually sends a storm.” - Jacob

“When those energetic blockages release, the result can look like mania, visions, or symbolic delusions.” - Sean
“Sometimes healing looks like falling apart in ways we can’t cleanly explain.” - Jacob

“The psyche speaks in myth and metaphor. Mania is often that language becoming audible.” - Sean

If this conversation expanded your understanding of bipolar disorder or spiritual awakening, consider following the show and sharing it with someone it might help.

00:00 Sean Blackwell on Bipolar Disorder & Spiritual Awakening
00:00:25 What Bipolar Disorder Really Is (Symptoms vs Reality)
00:01:30 Bipolar I, Bipolar II & Psychosis Explained
00:02:20 Spiritual Delusions & the Ram Dass Connection
00:03:38 Sean’s Landmark Experience: The Turning Point
00:05:05 Entering Psychosis: The Dreamlike State & Ego Death
00:06:32 Crisis, Hospitalization & Early Integration
00:08:05 How Helping Others Became Sean’s Calling
00:09:16 Supporting His Niece Through Awakening
00:10:49 Why Psychiatry Defaults to Lifelong Medication
00:11:35 Kundalini, Trauma Energy & Somatic Roots of Bipolar
00:14:11 Which Book to Read First
00:15:24 Breathwork, Distance Sessions & Trauma Release
00:18:53 Meaning, Intuition & Sean’s Multiverse Theory
00:21:27 Closing Reflections on Healing & Awakening

bipolar disorder, mania, psychosis, spiritual emergency, kundalini awakening, trauma healing, somatic therapy, breathwork, transpersonal psychology, Stanislav Grof, mental health, bipolar healing, consciousness, subtle body, emotional release, awakening process, nervous system regulation, alternative mental health, spiritual awakening, bipolar awareness

Checkout more Sean here: https://www.bipolarawakenings.com/
Grab his latest book: https://a.co/d/8UUU1rT
and 'Am I Bi-Polar or Waking Up?': https://a.co/d/4qX7nR2
Browse his 25k+ subscriber YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bipolarawake
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bipolarawakenings
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Xz36ES0eiX2c4L4SyCJno?si=319134dba8e740d1

In this conversation, I'm joined by mathematician, meditator, and machine learning engineer Blake Hull.

We share stories of therapy, meditation, and Ram Dass, opening up after years of staying in the head, we unravel ideas of masculinity, expand on vulnerability, and dissect what it means to become safe in our own skin. We talk about anger as sacred energy, the strange geometry of emotion, and the daily ritual of saying “Good morning, Blakey Boy” - a quiet reminder that to heal isn't to change, it's to remember who you already are. This is a fluid dialogue that drifts through psychedelics, softness, the mathematics of love, friendship, wisdom - it's an episode that invites you to slow down, breathe, and feel something true. Together, The Great and Wonderful Blake Hull and I explore the space between intellect, emotion, and becoming what we are - I hope you'll join us.

Themes: therapy · masculinity · meditation · Ram Dass · psychedelics · inner-child · emotional intelligence · spiritual growth

Notable quotes from the episode:

“When intellect finally kneels to emotion, that’s when growth begins.”
- Blake, describing the moment logic yields to honesty.

“Emotions are information. You’d be stupid to ignore them.”
- Blake quoting a college professor who first reframed feeling as intelligence.

“When Jesus flipped tables, that was dharmic anger — anger in service of love.”
- Jacob, reframing anger as sacred energy rather than chaos.

“I feel most connected with you when you’re feeling.”
- Blake recounting a moment in therapy that changed his understanding of connection and vulnerability.

“Maybe consciousness has always been doing this — reflecting itself through whatever new medium we invent.”
- Jacob, near the close, connecting AI, identity, and awareness.

“Anger isn’t the problem. It’s what happens when we stop letting it teach us.”
- Blake, redefining emotional intelligence through presence.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 – Intro: Setting up, laughter, first exchange, Blake's Bio
00:02:15 – “I feel most connected when you’re feeling” – therapy and awareness
00:05:00 – Logic vs emotion: learning how to feel again
00:07:25 – Emotional intelligence and inner safety
00:10:45 – Anger as sacred energy (“dharmic anger”)
00:12:10 – Modern society, Idiocracy, and humor as medicine
00:15:23 – Aldous Huxley, psychedelics, and self-reflection
00:16:09 – Paul Stamets, microdosing, and consciousness
00:20:00 – Mushrooms, meditation, and integration
00:26:00 – Masculinity and vulnerability
00:31:00 – Meditation: honesty over peace
00:36:03 – “Good morning, Blakey Boy” – the inner-child ritual
00:40:03 – Ego, death, and Ram Dass on becoming somebody
00:45:00 – Comic relief: fart jokes and humility
00:50:00 – Math and metaphysics: when numbers become poetry
00:58:48 – Math as beauty and the language of existence
01:00:26 – Group theory, triangles, and the philosophy of structure
01:02:06 – Did humans discover or invent math?
01:10:00 – Humor, curiosity, and teaching through questions
01:13:34 – The future of math, AI, and physics (the long view)
01:14:13 – Ray Kurzweil and his father’s digital journals
01:15:15 – iPhone, exponential tech, and AI acceleration
01:16:00 – Touchscreens, prediction, and futurism
01:20:00 – Consciousness and machine learning
01:30:00 – Human identity in the age of algorithms
01:37:01 – AI anxiety, UBI, and the ethics of automation
01:43:56 – Consciousness itself: What is it, really?
02:00:00 – Journaling, memory, and the desire to preserve the self
02:14:00 – Humor as grounding: “Even the enlightened still fart.”
02:20:00 – Compassion as technology
02:31:04 – Returning to therapy: “I feel most connected when you’re feeling.”
02:40:00 – Closing reflections, gratitude, and quiet laughter

#JunkyardLovePodcast #BlakeHull #EmotionalIntelligence #Masculinity #Mindfulness #Meditation #InnerChild #TherapyForMen #ModernSpirituality #AIConsciousness #MachineLearning #SelfAwareness #PodcastEpisode #ListenNow

Hit subscribe for new episodes, we'll see ya next time.

Curtis L. Harnagel is a creative polymath - a director, consultant, and producer whose career moves fluidly between live entertainment, multimedia, dance, art, and nonprofit worlds. A true pop-culture savant, Curtis carries decades of music knowledge, behind-the-scenes reasoning, and pedagogical wisdom from his perspective that apply across every industry. I first met Curtis on-site at a stunning fashion show fundraiser. I was hired as the shows Live-DJ while Curtis was the shows Music and Staging Director. After a few days of working with Curtis, I knew this was someone who sees a room from different angles. I asked him to join our collection of outlier teachers here on The Junkyard Love Podcast, we had nothing short of an excellent conversation.

Armed with a degree in Radio, Television, and Film, Curtis’s path has been a mosaic of lighting grand productions like Phantom of the Opera, sculpting award-winning dance performances, staging massive live events, and mentoring creative teams to greatness. He coined GESAMTCURTISWERK (“Total Work of Curtis”) to describe his craft. It's a philosophy that threads art, logistics, and human connection into something greater than the sum of its parts - a way of thinking that refuses to split art from logistics, communication from creation, or teaching from doing; it’s all one interconnected, ever-evolving work: Curtis lives it. To top it off, his tagline? - "Turning Dreams Into Entertainment."

In this episode, Curtis and I pull back the curtain on what it takes to knead, bake, and present large-scale creative projects with a true human touch. We talk about perception, the unspoken layers of communication, and how one thoughtful phrase can redirect an entire production. Curtis shares stories from the unpredictable trenches of live events - moments of tension, flashes of brilliance, and hail-mary's that knealed to the 'The show must go on'.

We unravel wisdom passed down from influential teachers, explore the psychology of feedback and leadership, and examine how different minds approach creativity and problem-solving. We talk about the invisible threads that hold collaboration together, and how communication and listening can shape art, teams, and even lives.

“GESAMTCURTISWERK [guh-zahmt-kur-tis-verk]

noun, German.

1. "Total Work of Curtis"

A. Gesamt - adj; total, overall (German)

B. Curtis - noun; English proper name of Anglo-Norman origin derived from the word courteous.

C. Werk - verb; to work (German)

2. Derived from: Gesamtkunstwerk [guh-zahmt-koo nst-verk] noun, German

A. German for "Total Work of Art" or "Synthesis of the Arts “

Resources / Links:

• Website: www.gesamtcurtiswerk.com
• Instagram: @gesamtcurtiswerk
• YouTube: GESAMTCURTISWERK
• Bold Journey Interview - https://boldjourney.com/meet-curtis-l-harnagel/
• Voyage Dallas Interview - https://voyagedallas.com/interview/conversations-with-curtis-l-harnagel/
• Canvas Rebel Interview - https://canvasrebel.com/meet-curtis-l-harnagel/
• DIFFA - 2025 theme trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gugNT39gHjw
• DIFFA website: https://www.diffadallas.org/hod
• DIFFA Instagram: @diffadallastx

Checkout Curtis's official music playlist for Ep: 0116 Junkyard Love: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/06CsHwodO7jxWav75ieiX6?si=BI8KIR9qR5SbSsxODd3eeg&pi=lUYZBKGITUmCj

Quotes:

• “Listening is the cornerstone of communication. Most people hear - you have to actually listen.”
• “Kindness is not niceness. Kindness and goodness have one thing in common: benevolence.”
• “Observation itself is a form of communication.”
• “Every move is a signature... make it count.”
• “Your emergency is not my emergency. Take a beat, be polite.”

If you enjoyed the episode, hit subscribe. We'll see ya for 0117 in a few weeks!

“I grew up with puppetry and voices and weird little characters. I never really let that go — I just found ways to turn it into a life.” - Nate Begle

In this episode, we're joined by Nate - He's a voice actor and puppeteer with over two decades of experience in storytelling across stage, screen, and sound. His career has spanned live theme park shows, national commercials, animation, and narration work for over 30 audiobooks. Nate has collaborated with major creative institutions, including James Patterson, The Jim Henson Company, Walt Disney Entertainment, and Sesame Street. Deeply rooted in performance, character work, and voice, Nate brings a grounded and authentic presence to everything he creates. He allows the characters, not the performer, to take center stage.

Nate and I nestle in for a tender, playful, and witty conversation about a life built around performance. We talk discovering creative purpose early, navigating years of invisible work, and learning how to keep showing up for the craft even when no one is watching.

We talk about his roots in Midwest community theater, how Fraggle Rock cracked open a lifelong fascination with puppetry, and the reality of building a career from bits and odd jobs to full-time creative expression. Along the way, we dive into themes like staying grounded while performing, the therapeutic power of play, self-belief in the face of doubt, and the surprising joy of working just off-camera.

From humor and nostalgia to identity and intention, this conversation brings small insights that build into something honest, warm, and very real.

More notable quotes from the episode:
- “A lot of people think voiceover is just ‘talking,’ but it’s not. It’s acting. It’s truth-telling. It’s intention.”
- “It’s like, if you see something that’s not available where you’re at - then make it.”
- “There’s a moment where you stop trying to get it perfect and start asking if it feels true. That’s when you know you’re doing the work.”

For more on Nate Begle, head over to his IMDB here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4662429/
Checkout Nates website here: https://www.natebegle.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NateBegle
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-begle-785155bb/

Hit subscribe, we'll see ya next episode.

Ravinder Taylor is a UK-certified psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist, trained at the National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. She holds a Bachelor of Science in microbiology and has spent over 30 years researching human behavior, subconscious programming, and self-empowerment. She has co-authored more than 200 personal development audio programs and two books, and worked extensively alongside New York Times bestselling author Eldon Taylor in research, editing, and program development.

Ravinder Taylor is a longtime explorer of the human mind. She authored the book Mind Training: The Science of Self-Empowerment, and she joins us for a rich and layered conversation about inner transformation, healing, mindset, and the truth behind what actually works when it comes to becoming who you truly are.

In this episode, Ravinder shares her incredible story of healing herself from rheumatoid arthritis—without medications—by combining subconscious programming, hypnosis, spiritual perspective, placebo research, and relentless curiosity. She walks us through the science-backed benefits of optimism, the daily practices that truly shift your mindset, and the real psychology behind affirmations, rituals, and manifesting.

We also touch on:

• Hypnotherapy, trauma resolution, and subconscious programming
• Growth vs fixed mindsets and the Neuroscience behind habit change
• The role of free will (or lack thereof) in transformation
• Media manipulation, subconscious priming, and being aware of your inputs
• Optimism, journaling, diaphragmatic breathing, and the power of smiling
• The journey of becoming the best version of yourself—without the fluff

Notable Quotes from Episode 0114 – Ravinder Taylor

“I wanted to give people the why—not just another list of what to do. When you understand why something works, you stop outsourcing your power.”

“You don’t always have to know which thing healed you. Sometimes it’s the accumulation, the ripening—your belief meets your action, and something finally shifts.”

“Free will isn’t free—you have to take it. Most of our minds are running on autopilot, but we can interrupt the programming and rewire it intentionally.”

“Healing isn’t about becoming perfect. It’s about removing what blocks your authentic self from expressing.”

“Smiling is underrated medicine. It shifts your brain chemistry, helps others feel seen, and reminds you that you’re safe, here, now.”

This is one of those episodes that’s packed with tools, reminders, and encouragement for anyone working on themselves. Ravinder brings grounded wisdom from both scientific and experiential lenses, and delivers it all with heart and clarity. I highly recommend grabbing a physical copy of her book 'Mind Training - Science of Self-Empowerment'

📖 - https://a.co/d/g189zZ7

🌍 Website: https://ravindertaylor.com

📱 Facebook: @RavinderKTaylor

📸 Instagram: @ravindertaylor

🕊️ Twitter/X: @Ravinder_Taylor

🎧 If you're enjoying these conversations, please share, subscribe, and rate the show. We'll see you next episode :)

In this episode of The Junkyard Love Podcast, we meet Wendy Cole, a 67-year-old Transition Mentor who fully transitioned after 65. Wendy shares her inner perspective from her years living as a married man and father while grappling deeply with identity, societal expectations, and secrets that visited her sleep. Wendy shares stories of how she embraced her true self later in life, and we discuss her intensive internal exploration, self-work, her time in therapy, friends along the way, meditation, Joe Dispenza, reshaping limiting beliefs, creating new identities, telling the truth, and more.
Wendy invited me to think differently, and I had a great time exploring the heart and mind of this unorthodox teacher. Her story offers us deep insight into the human being's profound ability for change - at any age.

Some quotes from Wendy:

• "The greatest freedom I've discovered wasn't physical—it was mental. Changing my thoughts and beliefs changed everything."
• "If you've never looked in the mirror and questioned your actual gender identity, 'I should have been a boy,' or 'I should have been a girl,' if you've never done that, I don't expect you to fully understand the depth of the distress."
• "My therapist challenged every one of my thoughts, every one of my beliefs in myself."
• "When you're able to finally align your outside with your inside, the sense of peace and joy is indescribable."
• "Every limiting belief I confronted was like shedding a layer; underneath, I found who I truly was."

Guest Bio - Wendy Cole:

Wendy Cole is a Transition Mentor dedicated to supporting individuals navigating significant life changes. Having personally transitioned around age 67, Wendy uses her transformative journey and deep empathy to guide clients toward embracing their authentic selves. Her mentoring approach combines mindfulness, visioning, and intentional energy shifts, helping others confront fears and discover joy in their true identities. Wendy believes deeply in the power of inner work, emphasizing that the mental and emotional aspects of transition are just as vital as the physical ones. Through coaching, speaking engagements, and sharing her powerful story, Wendy inspires individuals to embrace their journeys boldly and authentically.

Connect with Wendy:

• Website: wendycolegtm.net
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm
• YouTube: youtube.com/@wendycole8326

Demystifying The Transgender Journey
Website: https://thetransgenderjourney.com
On YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thetransgenderjourney
On Podbean: https://demystifyingthetransgenderjourney.podbean.com/

If you enjoyed this episode of The Junkyard Love Podcast, drop me a subscribe!
Maybe you'll enjoy some of my upcoming episodes. See ya soon with the next guest!

In this heartfelt episode of The Junkyard Love Podcast, I reconnect with one of the most influential mentors of my life—my high school drama teacher, David Crayk. We dive deep into creativity, teaching, personal growth, and the power of human connection. David shares his journey from being a young dreamer to a teacher, the impact of mentorship, and the role of kindness in shaping students' lives. We also explore the intersection of spirituality, fitness, and the evolving world of technology in education. This conversation is full of wisdom, laughs, and deep insights. If you've ever had a teacher who changed your life, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts!

"David Crayk is a teacher, poet, writer, bodybuilder, disc golfer, kid whisperer, spiritual advisor, and traveler - inspiring all those that cross his path to “dare to be different” in pursuit of their dreams."

Nate is a husband, father, stunt-bike rider, motivational speaker, videographer, inspired leader, and an honest man.

He joins us to engage in a deep, introspective conversation about personal growth, spirituality, and masculinity. We explore themes of overcoming adversity, finding purpose, and the importance of fatherhood and personal accountability. The discussion centers on Nate's transformative journey from a risk-taking lifestyle to a more purposeful existence, emphasizing the significance of faith, commitment, and continuous self-improvement. Throughout the conversation, we challenge societal norms and encourage listeners to focus on internal development, rather than external validation.

Some notable quotes from the episode:
"The weight that you feel that makes you want to end the game is purpose and responsibility." - Nate Tanzman
"If you want what you say you want, expect it to be difficult." - Nate Tanzman
"Most of the stuff that we're supposed to do, we will never receive credit for. But that's what you're supposed to do." - Nate Tanzman
"If you are not raising warriors in your homes, sons and daughters that have discernment, your lineage is doomed." - Nate Tanzman
"I feel like everything is trying to tell us in some way. Stop thinking about yourself and serve other people." - Nate Tanzman
"Serving the image of you is not the same thing as serving you." - Jacob Rhines
"Every action you take is a vote for the person you want to be." - Referenced by Nate Tanzman

For more on Nate, find him on socials here:
https://www.instagram.com/nastynate_jr/
https://www.instagram.com/thegoodfightclubco/
https://www.instagram.com/oneshotmedianw/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0BMh7ytNDc
https://open.spotify.com/show/5L3tpbX0mCWORS9P28ES7n?si=45930642b77e445b

Please react with the podcast and follow if you've enjoyed the show.
For more Junkyard Love and more on the host, Jacob, head over to - https://www.instagram.com/jacobfromtheinternet/

See ya next episode! lots of great guests booked, can't wait to share!! Hit subscribe!!