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OM and Beyond: Explore The Science of Sound and Mantra
See how ancient Vedic wisdom meets modern science. Explore with Dr. Stella Wuttke how sound vibration heals energy blockages, restores balance, and transforms the body, mind, and spirit through mantra practice, tuning forks, and the fascinating science of sound therapy.
About Dr. Stella Wuttke
Raised in Vienna and now based in Santa Barbara, Dr. Stella Wuttke brings together a background in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, meditation, and sound-based practices in her work supporting nervous-system regulation, emotional balance, and personal transformation. She studied psychology at the University of Vienna and the University of Bamberg and spent roughly fifteen years in academia researching neuroplasticity, perception, and EEG-based brainwave dynamics, including postdoctoral research and teaching at the University of Jena.
Alongside her scientific career, decades of meditation practice, Kriya Yoga, and extensive travel through Asia gradually shaped a more contemplative and integrative approach to healing and consciousness. Today, her work combines neuroscience-informed sound healing, meditation, neurofeedback, and contemplative practice, with a particular focus on stress, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, sleep difficulties, and heightened sensitivity. She is the co-founder of the Infinite Potential Institute and the founder of AwakeningStillpoint.
Stella is a long-term meditator, meditation teacher in the Kriya Yoga tradition of Paramahansa Yogananda and Roy Eugene Davis, and is a minister of the Center for Spiritual Awareness, Lakemont, GA.
Dr. Stella Wuttke
Show Notes
Video: Quantum Fields: The Real Building Blocks of the Universe - with David Tong
According to our best theories of physics, the fundamental building blocks of matter are not particles, but continuous fluid-like substances known as 'quantum fields'. David Tong explains what we know about these fields, and how they fit into our understanding of the Universe.
Dr. Trujillo’s Comments
“Dr. Stella Wuttke brought an enormous amount of scientific background as well as personal experience using sound healing to our conversation. With the advances in quantum field theory, where everything in the universe including our bodies is made up of ripples in a vibrational field, it’s not hard to imagine that sound can have an effect on the body. The Vedic description of Om as the fundamental vibration of all creation is describing this same reality. We discussed how individuals can pay more attention to what they “resonate” with, and use mantras and other forms of sound for self-healing.“
The Yoga Hour Listener Comments
“In this illuminating conversation, Dr. Laurel Trujillo and Dr. Stella Wuttke, PhD, explore the science of sound healing — and how quantum physics is catching up to what ancient Vedic tradition has long understood about the power of vibrational frequencies. They discuss how sound waves move through the body's energy pathways — known as the nadis — to clear blockages and restore balance. For me the most striking is the reminder that we don't just hear sound — we feel it. As anyone who has stood near a speaker at a live concert knows, sound vibrations are absorbed through the skin just as much as through the ears, making the body itself a resonant instrument.”
Explore Yoga Therapy for Addiction Recovery
Bring forth healing from the body’s own intelligence.
Yoga Therapist Thomas Klepper shares yoga therapy tools to support healing in addiction recovery. Learn how nervous system dysregulation drives cravings—and practices to restore health, wellness, and mind-body balance.
Thomas Klepper has had advanced training in somatic therapy, yoga therapy, and addiction treatment. He is an experienced yoga teacher, Holistic Addiction Treatment Professional, Embodied Regulation Therapist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Candidate.
Thomas teaches about Yoga Therapy for Addiction Recovery in the Loyola Marymount University Yoga Studies Program. He has worked as an independent contractor across multiple mental health and addiction treatment settings in Los Angeles while building his private practice. Additionally, Thomas is a sitarist studying Indian classical music. His interest in raga, musicology, and the relationship between sound and nervous system states informs his sound healing work.
🔗 Learn more about Thomas Klepper: https://thomasklepperhealing.com/
🌅 Discover West LA Somatic Addiction Treatment: https://www.westlasomatic.com/somatic-therapy-addiction-west-la
Dr. Trujillo’s Comments
“I enjoyed this conversation with yoga therapist Thomas Klepper about yoga therapy’s tools that help those recovering from addiction. This includes all forms of addiction: to drugs, alcohol, social media, gambling, and others. Thomas has a thorough understanding of the effects of addiction in the brain and the impact of yoga therapy to reverse these brain changes. We discussed the effects of yoga asana (postures) on rebuilding portions of the brain that have been damaged, as well as helpful concepts from yoga philosophy including the importance of vairagya, dispassionate non-attachment. Thomas’ final message was hopeful and uplifting: change is possible.”
The Yoga Hour Listener Comments
“This was a helpful and inspiring conversation between Thomas Klepper and Dr. Trujillo about how yoga therapy can aid in addiction recovery. I appreciated learning the distinction between yoga therapy and other forms of treatment, as well as how the tools of yoga philosophy can be used in recovery. Their discussion of brain function, behavior patterns, and underlying dual diagnoses was especially informative for me as a layperson. Most of all, the conversation offered a hopeful message: that the brain can heal from addiction for mind and body balance.”
Thomas Klepper
Journey into the Heart of Bhakti Yoga
Edwin Bryant, author of Bhakti Yoga, returns to discuss this classical path of yoga centered around love and devotion for the Divine. Through stories from the Bhagavata Purana, the practices of Bhakti yoga engage us and open our heart.
Edwin Bryant received his Ph.D in Indic languages and Cultures from Columbia University, where his thesis culminated in his first book: The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture (Oxford University Press, 2001). He taught Hinduism at Harvard University for three years, and is presently the professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University where he teaches courses on Hindu philosophy and religion. He has published eight books, and authored a number of articles on the earliest origins of the Vedic culture, yoga philosophy, and the Krishna tradition.
📚 Find the book discussed in this episode: Bhakti Yoga: Tales and Teachings from the Bhagavata Purana
🔗 Edwin has a series of recorded classes and ongoing courses, all for free, on edwinbryant.org
DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: If you are someone who enjoys attending kirtan or chanting the names of God, this conversation with Edwin Bryant about his book Bhakti Yoga will help you deepen your understanding of this sacred yogic path of devotion to God. We discussed the many practices of bhakti yoga, including hearing (or reading) about God, kirtan as a communal practice, japa as an individual practice, serving God and surrendering to God. Listen in and allow your heart to open.
THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This is an engaging conversation with Edwin Bryant on Bhakti yoga and I learned many new things to take into my practice. There are many "flavors" of bhakti as there are infinite forms for God or Bhagavan. Bhakti is service or seva that is aimed at developing love. Take the name of God, whatever that is for you and listen intently to know God above all other desires.
Edwin Bryant
Welcome the Abundance of the Sacred Feminine
Erica Bassani takes us on a journey into the sacred through the voices of women across spiritual traditions. Through these intimate conversations we explore devotion, resilience, and the balance of strength and surrender in modern life.
Erica Bassani is a writer based in Italy. A graduate of the Academy of Storytelling in Turin, she spent a year living in a Theravadan Buddhist monastery at the age of 23. Since then, she has turned to female spiritual teachers from diverse traditions to help her navigate her inner journey. She created the Women Awakening Project—an initiative that highlights the wisdom of female spiritual role models and explores spiritual practice through the lens of women’s experiences—to share their wisdom and create a bridge between generations of seekers.
📚 Read the book discussed in this episode: Women in Love with the Divine
🔗 Learn more about Erica: https://www.womenawakeningproject.com/
✨ Discover Erica’s work on Facebook and Instagram
DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: This conversation with Erica Bassani about her book Women in Love with the Divine will enrich listeners understanding of the divine feminine and bring wisdom to all, regardless of gender. We discussed her interviews with women leaders from Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, and Jewish traditions, illuminating the importance of balance between our masculine and feminine sides as illustrated by the Taoist symbol for the balance between yin and yang. We discussed that in Buddhism, wisdom is feminine, and that there can be real strength in softness. I found this conversation to be rich and thought provoking, and recommend it to listeners.
THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This conversation really flowed well and allowed Dr. Trujillo and Erica Bassani to discuss a number of beliefs and practices related to the role of the feminine in spiritual wisdom and awakening. So many great takeaways for any gender.
Erica Bassani
Invite the Light: Healing, Wholeness, and Awakened Living
Health and healing begin with a spiritual foundation. Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian explores how prayer, spiritual awareness, and divine intelligence guide the healing process, helping us move through challenges and discover the deeper wholeness already present within life.
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian is an acclaimed Kriya Yoga teacher, award-winning author, poet and minister who has served seekers of spiritual enlightenment from all walks of life and religions for over forty years. She has published several books and programs about meditation, mindfulness, and spiritual living. Her published works include the award-winning the Jewel of Abundance, Living the Eternal Way, and Living for the Sake of the Soul, as well as a volume of spiritual poetry The Moon Reminded Me. She is the founder of The Yoga Hour podcast and also hosts Kriya Yoga Today podcast. She is the founder and spiritual director of The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, a Kriya Yoga meditation center with world headquarters in San Jose, California.
Learn more about Yogacharya O’Brian: ellengraceobrian.com
Listen to Yogacharya O’Brian’s Satsang series: “Health, Healing, and Awakened Living” (remaining dates are April 12th, May 3rd, and June 7th)
DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: My conversation with Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian about the spiritual basis of healing is wonderfully timely as there is so much need in this moment for healing ourselves, our communities, and our world. I appreciated Yogacharya’s framing that healing is returning ourselves to an awareness of our original wholeness which extends beyond the physical body to encompass mind, heart, and soul. We discussed three steps of healing: intending to heal, believing that it is possible to heal, and having a practice that quiets the mind and allows our inner light to shine. Also included is a 5 step prayer for healing that listeners will find useful for healing at all levels. I highly recommend this episode.
THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I really enjoyed the discussion Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian had with Dr. Laurel Trujillo on how health and healing begin with a spiritual foundation. The key concept that resonated with me is that having a practice that quiets the mind allows connection to intuition/discernment. Look at how nature does it. The actual guidance comes from within. It was particularly powerful to view healing not as a cure, but as bringing us into our innate wholeness. This episode is powerful, giving actual steps to take toward the healing process of self, relationships, the world. A great thanks to Yogacharya O’Brian for sharing her insights to actualize the healing process through steady spiritual practice and the belief that healing is possible.
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian
Find Healing and Vitality with Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yoga
Drawing from the earth-based wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine, yoga, and meditation, guest Jennifer Raye offers modern insights into using yoga postures, healing foods, herbal medicine, meditation, and other practices to balance the body and mind in an accessible and holistic way.
Jennifer Raye is an internationally recognized Chinese Medicine practitioner and yoga and meditation teacher. She holds a doctorate in Traditional Chinese Medicine with professional licensure in acupuncture and herbal medicine. Her unique approach also includes integrating Ayurveda, holistic nutrition, somatic studies and therapeutic movement. She maintains a private medical practice and teaches online and in person.
This episode discusses Jennifer’s book, Wisdom of the Earth, Wisdom of the Body: wisdomofthebodybook.com
Learn more about Jennifer: jenniferraye.com
DR TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: Jennifer Raye has done a wonderful job of integrating Chinese Medicine, yoga, and Ayurveda in her book Wisdom of Earth, Wisdom of the Body, which carried into our conversation. I love the view that we are microcosms of the larger world, and that changes in the outer world such as seasons also affect us. To me, this is a demonstration of the Oneness that is at the heart of yoga philosophy. In addition to discussing basic principles such as vital energy (qi or prana) flowing through channels in the body (meridians or nadis), we discussed imbalances that might occur in winter and spring, and how to make lifestyle changes that help us return to balance.
THE YOGA HOUR LISTENER COMMENTS: If you were ever curious about Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and Yoga this is the podcast for you! Jennifer Raye is a very well studied practitioner of these modalities and in this engaging conversation she shares her passion and knowledge for our listeners.
Jennifer Raye
Healing the Earth with Ancient Wisdom
Explore how the spiritual principles of yoga offer hope for our ecological crisis. Dr. Christopher Chapple reveals ancient wisdom for healing ourselves and our planet—inner and outer—through Earth-awareness, mindful living, and inspiring eco-activism.
#kriyayoga #ecology #yamas #niyamas #bhagavadgita
Christopher Key Chapple
Christopher Key Chapple is Doshi Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology and founding director of the Master of Arts in Yoga Studies at Loyola Marymount University. He has written more than twenty books, including the book we are discussing today Embodied Ecology: Yoga and the Environment. He serves on the advisory boards for the Forum on Religion and Ecology (Yale), the Jaina Studies Centre (London), the Dharma Academy of North America (Berkeley), and the International School for Jain Studies (Delhi)
WEBSITE: bellarmine.lmu.edu/yoga
THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This was a delightful conversation helping the listener understand how the teachings of yoga can help us live a life that better cares for the self, the earth and all of its inhabitants. Christopher Chapple has a conversational storytelling style that you could listen to all day.
DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: This discussion with Christopher Chapple about his new book Embodied Ecology encourages us all to pair our contemplative practices of yoga and meditation with action on behalf of the environment. We discussed how the yogic ethical principles of nonviolence, non-possession, and purity all lead us to concrete action in the outer world: to minimize harm to animals, to consume only necessities, and to be mindful of pollution and avoid it. This episode also includes Chris reading some passages from the Bhagavad Gita that describe the qualities of a yogi that are inspirational.