The Hoffman Podcast Hoffman Institute Foundation

Award-winning storyteller in television, film, and literature, Matthew Weiner, is a recent graduate of the Hoffman Process.



Matthew is the creator, executive producer, writer, and director of the television show, Mad Men. Matthew shares that his biggest fear in doing the Process was losing his creativity; if he healed his trauma, he'd no longer be creative. Now on the other side of the Process, Matthew knows his fear was unfounded because, through his deep work of transformation, he learned that making art is part of healing trauma.



As a comedy writer, Matthew shares that often negative self-statements get a laugh. And yet, that inner negativity, including when it is pointed at ourselves, is, as Matthew says, "not sustainable." Releasing harmful negative patterns and the negative love we learned as children brings freedom and a lightness that is hard to imagine until you discover it within yourself.



A particularly beautiful and wise reflection from Matthew comes when he speaks about childhood. He shares that, as children, we see ourselves as a "supporting player" in our parents' lives, not realizing that each of us is actually "the star" of our childhood.



Toward the end, Matthew shares the importance of reflecting on his experience during the Process and after. Post-Process, people have told him he's different, his voice has changed and he's softer. Like many of our guests, Matthew sees value in this process of reflection through conversation on personal transformation. We know there is also great value in witnessing another's experience. We hope you enjoy this wise, reflective conversation with Matthew and Drew.

More about Matthew Weiner:

Matthew Weiner is a nine-time Emmy Award winner and five-time WGA Award-winning storyteller in television, film, and literature. Among his range of credits are two of television’s most successful and critically lauded shows:  creator, executive producer, writer, and director on Mad Men, which was distinguished with the Peabody Award, and executive producer for The Sopranos. Weiner was also the creator, executive producer, writer, and director of the original contemporary anthology series, The Romanoffs, set in seven countries around the globe.



Weiner’s debut novel, Heather, The Totality, was published by Little, Brown and Company. You can discover more about Matthew Weiner here.





As mentioned in this episode:

Esopus Magazine article.



Quote:

“Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I don't have anything on paper despite years of constant rejection. In showbiz, all bad news has come through agents and in the form of phone calls. Even early on. I don't know that I would have saved them if I had gotten them. They're like bad reviews for me, best skimmed through and then briefly obsessed over before being mentally discarded. I've come to realize rejection is now part of my process. I am not used to it by any means, nor do I expect it, but it both sharpens my resolve that my ideas are new and also drives me to professionally outlive the resistance of the gatekeepers. If I wait patiently they will either move on, reconsider, or become brave enough to try something new. Rejection, as painful as it is, is nothing more than a delay.“ - Matthew Weiner



Mindful Self-Compassion (Kristin Neff and Chris Germer)

Listen to Kristen Neff on the Hoffman Podcast.

Listen to Chris Germer on the Hoffman Podcast,



Livia Soprano

David Chase

Terry (Terrence) Winter

Robin Green

Mitch (Mitchell) Burgess



TM (Transcendental Meditation)



About the song, Try a Little Tenderness

Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding

Fawlty Towers: Don't mention the war!

Wizard of Oz



Hoffman Teacher, Barbara Comstock

Listen to Barbara Comstock on the Hoffman Podca...

Visual thinker, author, and Hoffman Process grad Brandy Agerbeck shares her ideas on creativity, visual thinking, and innovative ways to get what's rustling inside us out onto paper.



Brandy speaks with light-hearted wisdom on creativity: what it is, tools to apply in service to it, and the challenge we face from what she calls the 'inner and outer critic.' She's been in touch with her creative spirit from a very young age, so she holds an approach to creativity stemming from a vast archive of lived experience.



Brandy came to the Process to unload the heavy baggage she carried from her childhood, her mother's death, and the relationship she had with her father. As an atheist, she had no idea what to make of the idea of a spirit guide. But in the spirit of the Process, she said, "Well, this is uncomfortable. I don't have an answer for this. So, let's see who shows up." This is the openness that Brandy brought to her Process and that she brings to the classes she teaches. You'll love hearing who showed up in response to this open invitation.



If you're looking for some great tools, powerful insights, and a generous spirit around creativity and learning to move forward with your creative ideas and dreams, pull out a piece of paper, grab a pen, and settle in for this conversation with Brandy and Liz. You'll come away with useful, practical tools and nourishment for your Spiritual Self.

More about Brandy Agerbeck:

As a child, Brandy immersed herself in drawing for hours. Back then, she drew anything her bucking bronco of a brain could dream up, creating a safe escape between herself and the piece of paper.



Decades later, Brandy Agerbeck still delights in drawing, now as an international speaker and visual thinking pioneer. Built off her 2013 TEDx talk, Shape Your Thinking, Brandy broke down the complex and conceptual skill set into learnable pieces. Bundled together in her latest book, The Idea Shapers: The power of putting your thinking into your own hands, she teaches you visual thinking as your lifelong tool to shush your inner critic, organize your thoughts, and erase overwhelm.



Curious to learn more? Join Brandy at her monthly visual thinking Q+A, Drawing as a Verb.



Discover more about Brandy here. Follow her on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.





As mentioned in this episode:

OTTO

The symbol for OTTO, Brandy's Spirit Guide, that she had tattooed on her wrist after graduating from the Process.



Visual Thinking



Baby Butler -

Read one woman's experience with a baby butler.



Graphic Facilitation



Spatial Reasoning



Kinesthetic Learning



Doodle/Doodling



Inner Critic



Quadrinity Check-in/Morning Quad Checks and Evening Appreciation and Gratitude: Join us on Instagram for a daily Quadrinity Check at 8:00 a.m. PT and an Appreciation & Gratitude practice at 6:00 p.m. PT.

Neuroanatomist, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, joins Drew on the podcast to share her latest insights on the brain, from the inside out. Occasionally, we host guests who are not Hoffman Process graduates. Dr. Taylor is not a Process graduate but shares vital science and insights about the human journey of transformation. Her knowledge of the brain can guide us to a deep sense of peace through active, personal choice.



With her profound expertise in brain anatomy, Dr. Taylor was able to study her own stroke while it was happening. Over eight years, she slowly worked her way back to full brain functioning. She has come to understand the four parts, or characters (as she calls them) of the brain. Dr. Taylor suggests we get to know each of these characters intimately. She suggests we name them and listen to their needs. When each part is heard, it can lead us to inner peace because every part is understood and valued for what it does and how it feels. This can replace our stress, fear, and anxiety with feelings of joy and peace.



Our brain is designed to help us grow and meet challenges. When we know our brain from the inside out, we can find the deep peace we yearn for. And, we can be part of the change toward lasting peace for everyone. We hope you find this fascinating and insightful conversation with Dr. Taylor and her wisdom a useful tool as you navigate your life.

More about Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor:

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard-trained and published neuroanatomist now affiliated with the Indiana University School of Medicine. In 1996, she experienced a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery spent 63 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list. Her most recent 2021 book is WHOLE BRAIN LIVING: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life.



Dr. Taylor loves educating everyone about the beauty and resiliency of our human brain, and how we can live a more peaceful and satisfying life. In 2008, she gave the first TED talk to go viral on the Internet. Her talk now has well over 29 million views. In  2008, Dr. Taylor was chosen as one of TIME Magazine's “100 Most Influential People in the World.” Furthermore, she was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series” webcast that same year.



Learn more about Dr. Taylor and listen to her many talks on the brain here on her website. Follow her on Facebook. Watch reels on the four parts of the whole brain living on Instagram.





As mentioned in this episode:

Schizophrenia



Neuroanatomy



Craniotomy



Left and right Hemispheres - talk by Dr. Taylor



2008 TED talk by Dr. Taylor



Your Left Brain is a Bully - talk by Dr. Taylor



Unleash Your Right Brain - talk by Dr. Taylor

Globally recognized Executive Chef, consultant, and author, Doug McNish, began his amazing career when he was 15 years old. Decades later, after winning numerous accolades and awards, Doug yearned to come to know his true self. When he arrived in Petaluma to do the Hoffman Process in 2023, his highest intention was to find out who he truly is.



Doug's journey is a story of the transformative power of self-love, determination, and persistence we find within when we are serious about making changes in our lives. Once weighed down by insecurities and unhealthy habits, in his darkest moments, Doug found solace in food and substances, leading to a struggle with obesity and addiction. Even though he didn't know where it would take him, Doug was serious about changing his life. His work before, at, and after the Process has led him to a place of strength, sobriety, and unwavering self-acceptance.



Doug shares, "No matter how far we've strayed from our true selves, redemption is always within reach. With courage, self-love, and a willingness to change, we can rewrite our stories and emerge stronger, happier, and more authentic. We are worthy of a life filled with joy, purpose, and fulfillment."

Content Warning:

Please note that this episode mentions childhood traumatic experiences, addictions, and disordered eating. It is marked explicit for a few f-bombs. It might not be suitable for all listeners.

More about Doug McNish:





Doug McNish began honing his skills at the age of 15, quickly learning all the intricacies of the food service industry. Adept in his field, by the age of 20, Doug knew that he needed to make a change after

watching footage of a slaughterhouse. He went vegetarian, and months later adopted a fully vegan lifestyle. He positioned himself as a pioneer in the vegan food movement, courageously aligning his career path with his morals at a time when veganism was relatively unknown.



Since then, Doug has become a globally recognized Executive Chef, consultant, and author. He’s been featured on national and international television, regularly consults, inspires, and educates international audiences, and has authored multiple cookbooks. His bestselling Eat Raw, Eat Well, won a Gourmand Award for the Best Vegetarian Cookbook in the world. Raw, Quick, Delicious, Vegan Everyday, and Comfort Food Recipes for a Vegan Lifestyle all won the Gourmand Award for Best Vegan Cookbook in the World.



In 2017, Now Magazine’s Reader's Choice Awards awarded Doug the title of Best Chef in the City in his hometown of Toronto, Ontario. As a pioneer in the vegan movement, Doug’s work has helped make vegan cuisine go mainstream, devoting himself to his vocation and activism in the name of ethics, health, and the environment. Follow Doug on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.





As mentioned in this episode:

Jamie Oliver



Gordon Ramsey



Kimberly Carroll



Scooter Braun



Jay Shetty



Eckhart Tolle



 



 

You’re most likely familiar with Dr. Dan Siegel and his pioneering work to understand the mind and help us live more joyfully. You probably aren’t familiar with his childhood story in which his joy and innocence set in motion the death of something he dearly loved.



When Dan arrived at the Hoffman Process retreat site and stepped out of his car, he was immediately greeted by one of the rabbits who lives on the over 180 acres there. When he saw this rabbit, an array of feelings and sensations swept through his body. A few days later, as Dan’s Process was well underway, a fawn and its mother would open the door wider into the deep work of Dan’s Process.



The Hoffman Process offers a science-based, courageous week of transformation. It’s a week of experiential learning incorporating everything, including the land and everything alive. It opens the door to what Dan calls “the plane of possibility,” also referred to as Love by Dan. With one foot in the practical science and the other in the world that opens us to the spiritual aspects of our nature, we step into the possibility and opportunity to heal what has often followed us nearly our entire lives.



In this nearly-an-hour conversation, Dan shares his journey of studying the mind and the results and insights of his decades of research and practice with his clients. Drew, our host, and Hoffman teacher Marc Kaplan join in for this amazing conversation. Marc was Dan’s teacher at the Process and together they share insights into much of what transpired for Dan. Dan’s deeply delightful and joyful qualities thread their way through this conversation. What a gift.

More about Dr. Dan Siegel:









Dr. Dan Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. He is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute, which focuses on the development of mindsight and teaches insight, empathy, and integration in individuals, families, and communities.



Dr. Siegel has published extensively for both the professional and lay audiences. His five New York Times bestsellers are: Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence, Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human, Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain, and two books with Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.: The Whole-Brain Child, and No-Drama Discipline. His other books include Personality and Wholeness in Therapy (coming November 2024), IntraConnected, The Developing Mind, The Pocket Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology, Mindsight, The Mindful Brain, The Mindful Therapist, and Becoming Aware. He's also written The Yes Brain and The Power of Showing Up with Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D. Parenting from the Inside Out with Mary Hartzell, and NowMaps with Deena Margolin, LMFT, and NowMaps, Jr.



Dr. Siegel also serves as the Founding Editor for the Norton Professional Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology, which currently contains over 80 textbooks.



For more information about his educational programs and resources, please visit, DrDanSiegel.com and MindsightInstitute.com. Follow Dr. Siegel on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.







More about Marc Kaplan:













Marc’s life purpose is to support people in finding and using their authentic voice. In addition to teaching the Hoffman Process, Marc is an esteemed music educator, producer, conductor, and coach. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Political Science from The George Washington University.



“The Hoffman methodology is the foundation of my spiritual practice. It helped me discover that I have choices, enabling me to step into my dignity, and live my life from a place of love.”

When Marc first did the Process in 2011, he envisioned being a father,

Darla Murray Loomis has been a seeker for much of her life, traveling the world to find what she longed to find. Each place she went, she found something meaningful. But, Darla didn't find what she was looking for out in the world - she found it within, what Darla calls this treasure inside herself.



When Darla came to the Hoffman Process, she'd already found this treasure. What brought her to the Process was the realization that she had emotions stuck inside ready to be set free. Darla was ready to free herself through the work of the Process!



Through the work of the Process, the cathartic work, especially, Darla found the freedom she was looking for. She took the opportunity afforded by the strong container of the Process to acknowledge, feel, and express her anger. Darla came to respect her anger and know that it has a purpose.



Darla shares how doing the Hoffman Process "unclogged the channel", the channel through which the divine source expresses itself through her. As an artist and creative, she keenly knows the need to keep this channel open.



This is a truth-telling conversation about how difficult it can be to live a surrendered life, be authentic, and speak the truth of your being. This is Darla's intention. She speaks of it with sincerity and humility.

More about Darla Murray Loomis:

Darla Murray Loomis has created nurturing, creative spaces and places in the beauty and spa industry in small businesses for over three decades. She's a third-generation entrepreneur in her family. As a successful business owner, author and artist Darla has been a leader, teacher, and mentor inspiring other women to honor their feminine heart to guide a profitable business, and to create workplaces that create harmony between people, the planet, and profits for the business of life. Darla lives by the clarity of her example, demonstrating a balance between work, family, self-care, fun, and exploration.



Darla is a teacher and mentor empowering women creatives and entrepreneurs. She has traveled the world studying different spiritual traditions to continue her transformation and healing. She loves sharing the way, through her personal adventures and transformational journey to inspire others to create a life they can call their own, while authentically recovering our voices and self-expression. Darla explores her deepest and truest self through the art of play and creativity. Darla believes all that nurtures strengthens. She lives in Telluride, Colorado, with Peter, her husband of 23 years. She loves art, mountain biking, hiking, and traveling. Find out more about Darla at TruthBeautySpirit.com.





As mentioned in this episode:

Ah Haa School for the Arts in Telluride, CO



The movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe



The Feminine/Masculine or Yin/Yang Sides of Creativity



Quote Drew references:

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it.



"It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.” ― Martha Graham, American modern dancer, and choreographer.



Flow-state, named by the psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in 1970.