n this deeply expansive and soul-stirring conversation, Dr. Jennifer Mullan welcomes renowned Buddhist teacher, author, and activist Lama Rod Owens to From Root to Bone. Together, they explore what it means to live, love, and lead from the marrow—where truth, grief, joy, and liberation all coexist.
From reflections on spiritual lineage and ancestral connection to the radical act of choosing joy in a world shaped by systemic harm, this episode invites listeners into a layered dialogue on healing, responsibility, and becoming. Lama Rod shares insights from his journey through Buddhism, activism, and personal transformation, emphasizing the importance of sitting with discomfort, embracing brokenheartedness, and turning pain into medicine.
Dr. Mullan and Lama Rod also unpack the tension between collective liberation and individual healing, the myth of “goodness” as a tool of control, and the necessity of play, pleasure, and vulnerability in movement work. Through stories, laughter, and truth-telling, they offer a powerful reminder: we are not just here to survive—we are here to feel, to connect, and to live fully.
This episode is an invitation to soften, to listen deeply, and to remember that even in collapse, joy is not a betrayal—it is a practice of freedom.
Connect with Lama Rod Owens - http://www.lamarod.com/