Mindrolling with Raghu Markus

Raghu Markus is joined by Michael Leach, the first-ever Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer of the White House, for a conversation on how to have faith over fear in the face of uncertainty.
Grab a copy of Michael’s book, Faith Over Fear, to learn more about harnessing your own resilience.
In this episode, Raghu and Michael take a journey through:
Closing the gap between faith and fear
Seeing faith as an action rather than a feeling
How freedom comes when we loosen our grip on ego, fear, and identity
Surrender and choosing presence even when outcomes are unclear
The book The First 90 Days and what culture truly means
Michael’s time working in the White House with the Biden-Harris administration
The meaningful pivot from our preference to our purpose
Enduring and adapting through the many changes we face socially, politically, and personally
Breaking down the wall between ‘us’ and ‘them’, taking inspiration from Ram Dass’s There Is No Other
Giving ourselves ‘the fear test’ and looking inward before we judge another person
Considering the cost of unity and choosing listening over labeling
Forming ourselves so that we are not driven by fear
“Whatever you're not changing you’re choosing, but here's the truth about change: it's not secured in a single election or moment of triumph. Democracy is an ongoing experiment, constantly tested by shifts in power, societal challenges, and the choices we make to protect (or erode) progress. It's not about ensuring nothing changes when you leave, it's about ensuring that what truly matters can endure when everything does. The key is not permanence, it's resilience” –Michael Leach
About Michael Leach:
Michael is a nationally respected strategic advisor, public sector leader, and culture builder whose career spans the NFL, national politics, and the White House. He currently serves as CEO & Co-Founder of BridgeTrust Partners, an advisory firm specializing in leadership development, inclusive strategy, and transformative partnerships across industries—from sports and healthcare to tech, media, and government.
Michael began his professional journey in the National Football League, serving as Assistant to the Head Coach of the Chicago Bears and later managing Labor Relations at NFL Headquarters, where he played a key role in administering and enforcing the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement. In 2019, he was appointed Chief People Officer and Head of Diversity and Inclusion for the Biden-Harris campaign, helping build the most diverse general election team in U.S. history. He later became the first-ever Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the White House, serving as Special Assistant to the President. Michael is also now an author! Faith Over Fear, a book on resilience and faith in uncertain times, was released in February 2026.
Reach out to Michael via his website, where you can find his social media and contact information as well as learn more about his speaking engagements, career coaching, and more.
“It's really through our surrendering that God does his establishing. God is unable to establish if we don't surrender. If your hands are closed and someone is trying to give you a gift, it's going to be really hard to receive that gift if you don't first open your hands. That's literally the nature of faith. I first have to release what's in my hand in order for God to release what's in his hand.” –Michael Leach

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a world shaped by collective crisis, Raghu Markus and Dr. Thomas Hübl come together to explore inner connection and healing trauma.
Interested in learning more about trauma? Grab a copy of Releasing Our Burdens, Thomas’s co-authored book with systemic family therapist Dr. Richard Schwartz, HERE
This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Thomas discuss:
Thomas’s early call to meditation, spirituality, and a life of service
Living within a global ecosystem shaped by overlapping crisis dynamics
Returning to ourselves when we are overwhelmed by fear and pain
Understanding how trauma shuts down parts of the self as a survival response
Examining the lasting effects of trauma on both the mind and body
The genetic transmission of trauma across generations
The role of restorative practices in healing trauma and reversing symptoms
Digesting trauma instead of becoming stuck in survival patterns
Cultivating compassion, patience, and trust in the healing process
The power of presence as a foundation for trauma recovery
How healing even one part of the self creates fertile ground for deeper integration
Spiritual trauma and how it creates a misalignment within our inner and outer lives
Supporting one another in reconnecting with our most powerful resource: inner connection
About Thomas Hübl PhD:
Thomas Hübl, PhD, is a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator who works within the complexity of systems and cultural change, integrating the core insights of the great wisdom traditions and mysticism with the discoveries of science. Since the early 2000s, he has led large-scale events and courses on the healing of collective trauma. Hübl is the author of Attuned: Practicing Interdependence to Heal Our Trauma—and Our World, and Healing Collective Trauma: A Process for Integrating Our Intergenerational and Cultural Wounds. He is also the co-author of Releasing Our Burdens with Dr. Richard Schwartz. Hübl has served as an advisor and guest faculty for universities and organizations, as a coach for CEOs and organizational leaders, and is currently a visiting scholar at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. Keep up with Hübl’s upcoming events and livestreams HERE. You can also follow Thomas on Instagram!
“What does trauma do? It shuts down a part of ourselves so that we can survive or go through very painful moments better. But the aftereffect, if it’s not being taken care of, is a sense of disconnect from ourselves. So, then we try to fill that hole with all kinds of other stuff that is not authentic to us, that is over consumerism, that is not feeding each other, that is creating all kinds of side effects.” –Thomas Hübl, PhD
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Author & human rights lawyer Anu Gupta sits down with Raghu to explore meeting division with “soul force”—the compassionate, spiritual power that lives within us all.
Learn more about Anu’s project, Soul Force for the 21st Century
This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Anu have an in-depth conversation on:
The precipice of our karma and how past negative actions are coming to a head globally
Anu’s recent work in South Africa with racial healing and dissolving borders
How Artificial Intelligence lacks ethics and moral virtues
Resisting commodification and profit-driven systems through awareness and conscious choice
How modern society has dulled our innate human capacity to care
Returning to our shared primary identity as human beings rather than focusing on what makes us different
Buddhist teachings on interconnectedness and the illusion of separateness
Meditation as an antidote for the negative habits that we have stored within ourselves
Navigating Kali Yuga with Bhakti yoga and merging with the divine
Finding the divinity in every single human being
Keeping the faith and remembering that uncertainty does not have to be dangerous
How small acts of kindness can add up to global change
The PRISM acronym that Anu discusses in his book, Breaking Bias
“Recognize that everything that happens is perfectly designed to open up your eyes, your mind, your heart, to one thing or another that you need in this lifetime.” –Raghu Markus
About Anu Gupta:
Anu Gupta is a human rights lawyer, scientist, scholar of bias, meditation teacher, and the founder and CEO of BE MORE with Anu, a professional development company that trains corporate, nonprofit, and government leaders to advance inclusion and wellness by breaking bias. He is also the author of Breaking Bias: Where Stereotypes and Prejudices Come From and the Science-Backed Method to Unravel Them(2024), with a foreword from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Check out Anu Gupta on Substack, Linked in, and Instagram.
Interested in working directly with Anu? Head over to Bemorewithanu.com to learn more.
“It’s really a spiritual power that we all have as human beings, as a spirit in this body suit; it's the loving strength of will to confront injustice and violence without mirroring. That is what we must reinvigorate within ourselves, but also between ourselves. That soul force, to see it with kindness and compassion and when we divert from it, to be able to call ourselves and others back on that path.” –Anu Gupta
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reflecting on Ram Dass’s core teachings, Hanuman Dass and Raghu Markus discuss the immense power of love, service, and compassion.
Check out There is No Other for more of Ram Dass’s teachings on the path to harmony. Also, stay tuned for the release of Hanuman Dass’s forthcoming book Be Yourself, formed out of his conversations with Ram Dass.
This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Hanuman Dass have a conversation on:
Hanuman Dass’s experience growing up in a deeply connected, matriarchal family
Living spirituality in everyday life, household puja, and devotional practices
How karma dictates our lives and puts us right where we are supposed to be
Hanuman Dass’s relationship with Ram Dass and becoming inspired to serve through food donation
The Upanishads, self-inquiry, and Ram Dass’s perpetual devotion to Maharaj-ji
Compassion as the direct road to enlightenment
Empowering those we help rather than impoverishing them or pitying them
Reflecting on the dharma of humanity and our shared responsibility to one another
You can now watch Bridge of Grace to learn more about KK Sah, a Maharaj-ji devotee and close friend of Ram Dass. Click here to learn more.
About Hanuman Dass:
Hanuman Dass is the founder of the UK-based charity Go Dharmic (GD). GD’s core mission is global hunger relief, supported by their humanitarian crisis response work and campaigns for environmental action, poverty alleviation, education, and plant-based and organic diets. Hanuman Dass was inspired into service through his relationship with Ram Dass, whom he met in his 20’s. GD's founding ethos is based on the philosophy of Sanatana Dharma. Their mission is to “Love All. Feed All. Serve All.” Check out the GD website for more information and stay in touch with Hanuman Dass on social media. Pick up a copy of this guide to the Hanuman Chalisa created with Hanuman Dass
“I feel lightest here, I feel happiest in service and love…drink is nice, you go up and down. Drugs might be nice, you go up and down. But, love is forever, you can stay in that space.” –Hanuman Dass
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we pause to remember the life, presence, and artistry of a friend of the show who will be deeply missed.
Recorded in 2021, this conversation features Grammy-winning artist John Forté in his first appearance on the podcast. John and Raghu talk about the spirit of music, the highs and lows of success, and John’s experience headlining the Ram Dass Soul Land Music Series.
John Forté (January 30, 1975 – January 12, 2026) is survived by his wife and two children. If you’d like to offer support, a donation link is available here: Honoring John Forte by Supporting His Family
This special episode features an inspired conversation on:
Community as the spirit of music: John Forté’s Brooklyn upbringing in the economic downturns of the 70s and 80s
The emotional, mental, and physical hardships of struggling to get by in an underserved community
Perseverance through love: John’s inspiration for his musical career
John’s highest highs, lowest lows, & what it is like to start over
John’s friendship with the iconic Ms. Lauryn Hill, linking up with The Fugees, and their co-creation of a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum record, The Score
John's stint in prison, where in his cell, his refuge and musical rebirth came in the form of an acoustic guitar
Music as internal alchemy and Ram Dass’s influence on John’s song Gong Guru from his album Riddem Drive
Venturing further into spirituality: John’s deep affinity for wisdom teachers like Ram Dass, Terence McKenna, Alan Watts, and Abraham Hicks
Listen to John’s other visit to the Mindrolling Podcast on Ep. 405 and a conversation about resonance, integration & catharsis on this special Ram Dass Fellowship with host, Jackie Dobriska, available on Ep. 124 of the Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast.
About John Forté:
John Forté is a Grammy-winning recording artist best known for his work with the hip-hop group, The Fugees, writing and producing songs on their multi-platinum record The Score. After a stint in prison while riding the volatile waves of success and failure, John coupled his refuge of music with messages of wisdom and love from inspirational spiritual teachers. Listen to John’s album Riddem Drive, and don’t miss him on the Soul Land Music Series: Songs & Stories Inspired by Ram Dass.
“My journey with music has been the relationship of having it, experiencing it, seeing it morph and take on different colors and shapes. It showed me from a very early age that collaboration was going to be the key for the source of my continued inspiration—working with others, finding that harmony—that’s the spirit of it. The spirit of music is community, it’s communication, it’s air itself.” –John Forté
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.