Sacred Lessons in Violence Prevention with Cuco Rodriguez

Sacred Lessons in Comedy with Chris Spencer

In this episode of Sacred Lessons, host Mike de la Rocha sits with Chris Spencer, comedian, writer, producer, and actor, for a heartfelt conversation about comedy, vulnerability, and the truths we often hide behind laughter. Together, they explore why so many men learn to make people laugh before they learn to express their feelings. From marriage and fatherhood to the healing power of brotherhood, Chris reflects on how trusted friendships give men permission to ask for help, speak honestly about their emotions, and become more fully themselves. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Sacred Lessons in Ink with Bryan Ramirez

In this episode of Sacred Lessons, host Mike de la Rocha sits with Bryan Ramirez, founder of Reservoir Tattoo Studio, for a deeply personal conversation recorded while Bryan tattoos a Mesoamerican serpent, a symbol of transformation, healing, and rebirth, onto Mike's arm. Together, they explore why the tattoo chair has become one of the few places where many men feel safe enough to tell the truth about their lives, and how tattoo artists often become unexpected therapists, witnessing grief, heartbreak, and healing one story at a time. From Chicano identity and entrepreneurship to ritual and the power of being seen, Bryan reflects on why tattoos are about far more than ink, they're about marking the moments that change us.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Sacred Lessons in Pride with Carlos Guzman

In this episode of Sacred Lessons, host Mike de la Rocha sits with Carlos Guzman, founder of the influential clothing brand Brown N Proud, for a heartfelt conversation about pride, culture, and identity. From immigrating from México to building a movement that has helped tens of thousands embrace their roots, Carlos reflects on the healing power of representation, faith, and entrepreneurship. Together, Mike and Carlos explore how culture can become medicine, why so many people struggle to feel seen, and what it means to create spaces where our communities can show up fully as themselves.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Sacred Lessons in Grief with Marisa Renee Lee

In this episode of Sacred Lessons, host Mike de la Rocha sits with Marisa Renee Lee, author of Grief Is Love and Waiting for Dawn, for a deeply personal conversation about loss, uncertainty, and what it means to keep loving after someone is gone. Drawing from the loss of her mother, the heartbreak of losing a child, and her own journey through illness and uncertainty, Marisa shares why grief is not something we get over, but something we learn to carry with grace and compassion. Together, they explore the myths we've been taught about mourning, how men experience grief, and how to find hope when the future feels uncertain. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Sacred Lessons in Power & Patriarchy with Anna Malaika Tubbs

In this episode of Sacred Lessons, host Mike de la Rocha sits with Anna Malaika Tubbs, New York Times bestselling author of The Three Mothers and Erased for a powerful conversation about patriarchy, masculinity, and the stories that shape our understanding of power and identity. Together, they explore how systems of gender, race, and hierarchy are woven into our culture, how those systems impact men and women alike, and what it takes to unlearn beliefs that no longer serve us. Drawing from history, research, and lived experience, Anna invites us to question what we've been taught and imagine a more honest, connected, and liberated future. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.