Rabbi Dan Ain: Modern Judaism, God & the Freedom to Create

Rabbi Dan Ain: Modern Judaism, God & the Freedom to Create

Rabbi Dan joins Jonathan Hewitt on The Spiritual Ninja Podcast for a deep heart-to-heart conversation about Judaism, God, love, creativity, service, and the courage to live your unique spiritual path. Rabbi Dan shares how early childhood questions about death and existence opened a lifelong spiritual search. He reflects on growing up in Jewish tradition, studying philosophy, experiencing 9/11 in Manhattan, and feeling called to become a rabbi so he could serve others in moments of deep need. Together, Jonathan and Rabbi Dan explore the essence beneath religious tradition, including Martin Buber’s I-Thou relationship, the divine image as the creative spark within every person, the 613 commandments, and the Jewish phrase Na’aseh V’Nishma — “we will do and we will hear.” This conversation also touches on AI, social media, parenting, uncertainty, criticism, community, and what it means to live from love rather than fear. At its heart, this episode is about discovering God, love, and purpose through relationship, action, creativity, and the courage to be fully yourself. MORE ABOUT RABBI DANhttps://moontowerminyan.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2ZOSVIzWmU2UWxQNEgzMGpJV0NSeFpRQzN5QXxBQ3Jtc0trbS1PRWpUNFpVX3VIUmk2dXZiRzhiUS1fcVlXTWVlazVBaF83QVhENURVMHRLcG5Ma1hNU05yVDJjVW92eEFXdGZKZGF1NTJjSUpuZHItYUljc2NiNXBEN1VqNHJmR195RHY0VWhVQ0JDTGV6VTNQWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmoontowerminyan.org%2F&v=LQ6fo4dvcdg]MORE ABOUT JONATHAN HEWITT & LIFE KI-DOhttps://lifekido.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa09HWGlvSDF5UDh3WnM4Z0VUREJIeXZUYXR6QXxBQ3Jtc0trYWlNaXhXUWxmSk9XQjdNa0VKbTBVMG5IUllJbnZGbUdLN0taSHRRYnBWdUxPbURDRkZfZmhaQWZ2ZGxTRlJkanhobVhjUFJkSXZHY2tUOUNydkZGbE9LVlFZYUEyS2tBaWxSbVYwWHh4SUhmU3N5UQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flifekido.com%2F&v=LQ6fo4dvcdg]Family Personal Developmenthttps://lifekido.com/family-life-skills/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTZzblhGZ0JrSm9IcVVlX2ZGUW9CRkt5U2FkUXxBQ3Jtc0tudHYwdWI3ekdpRkhtNmRGSkMybV84LVFmZ0hKWUhsOGEtWEIzZUlkSkRTSTlhOERvR3JDT3dWcXRsSEdYcmNnZ0llT1dYUXFIanQxR29sbU80cmZUdzhxOUY4RGUxLXRmTFJicUVfVGtFX1B6ODhwdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Flifekido.com%2Ffamily-life-skills%2F&v=LQ6fo4dvcdg]Spiritual Ninjahttps://spiritualninjapodcast.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnZqSXVPaFdNUm9TOV96TTF3QXFwUnVBaDQtUXxBQ3Jtc0ttMG9wSGhFTDI0S0NKeTk0UURVTzl5UzkxTGJWUUREZ3k0emdQYjBfMU50aERXaFpnajZEcXRMd29HVzNkOVk3TDZNR2liVTR1U0hQVHhabDBncmFFNjRFdlQ2LXJBWl9nU3lyc25ycWFEQ2JuS19Raw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fspiritualninjapodcast.com%2F&v=LQ6fo4dvcdg]

From Prison to Spiritual Freedom: Timothy Harper on Surrender, God's Love,

In this powerful episode of The Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan sits down with Timothy Harper, who spent 37 years and 4 months in prison before being released on September 25, 2025. Timothy shares his deeply personal spiritual journey from abuse, anger, pain, survival, and darkness to surrender, forgiveness, meditation, service, and a profound relationship with God. He speaks about becoming spiritually free even while physically incarcerated, learning to watch his thoughts and emotions through meditation, and discovering how kindness began to melt the ice around his heart. This conversation explores spiritual freedom, faith, breath, silence, remorse, healing, service, and the possibility of transformation even after deep suffering. Timothy’s story is not only about prison — it is about the human condition, the walls we build, the pain we carry, and the love that becomes possible when we surrender. The Spiritual Ninja Podcast features deep, heartfelt conversations with people who embody spiritual maturity, lived wisdom, and real expertise in their path. MORE ABOUT TIMOTHY HARPERhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVY3LWlRSTNqODVST21Fb01OV2xlVmtaZHplZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsSmp4Wmw3dUU2cXk3ekNyYWdGMmFMaGdpVGtRRVJfbEdDdUd4ODluUFhzZjd0anVqNk92NFBFUGhBRTRqajVxeGdWQnQ2dTMyQ25pQ1lTcXlPd2o2QVh3S1BiU09EWXY1NnJIZ08xcDh1MWU3ZHZyYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fprofile.php%3Fid%3D61581480532444&v=olpfoA_7Ugc]MORE ABOUT JONATHAN HEWITT & LIFE KI-DOhttps://lifekido.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVRxLTJJSDBRNk9DUDdBMjQtMWFWT1gzdE5CQXxBQ3Jtc0trTDd4T2JvcVVsR01rajExWkVJc3pFRE5WTHRRQmN3T0pabnFoMGdkelJvdEJQUE9NbzUyVkpXRm9EOHZpVnNwT0g0V0F1VG54d3JTaWthVVlNTnltVkYwVVlHeW5UT1FGQXl4QTJTdDRqNS1sTEZiUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flifekido.com%2F&v=olpfoA_7Ugc]Family Personal Developmenthttps://lifekido.com/family-life-skills/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWM1LXNyTFJWNEZkbFFldXhWSUQtSGlDcjFBd3xBQ3Jtc0tuQnBxX2JPMFpzc2F0b0FISVhoUlFad0o5bEFSMEN3bnpSa0VwaHdHV0FqRnZ3YXk3ZHZsYjJHQ0VjWTZDMU9nNTFid250MGJsMkNHb2RDbXoyZWF3eEthT19CRG1rNkhXS0VNdVRSZFlYekVCRHc3cw&q=https%3A%2F%2Flifekido.com%2Ffamily-life-skills%2F&v=olpfoA_7Ugc]Spiritual Ninjahttps://spiritualninjapodcast.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3VkYklSUFQwSV9famNzeDBLZUt1RWNKNF9Qd3xBQ3Jtc0tsMi1WeENkdTRqY21VRnlZMEkyS1ZxeFMtXy1XemtoOEpsMHJrSl83Mkh5RmZubkRmdFRfYl90QlpSS2hBdGxzQThHaXF0aTA0VzFNc0V3TXltSHpyMkZiRFctX3RXdGdFTXJTTFRhSHlhdll4U2stTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fspiritualninjapodcast.com%2F&v=olpfoA_7Ugc]

You Are Enough: Meditation, Prison Dharma & Awakening with Buddhist Teacher Terry Conrad

In this deeply moving episode of The Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt speaks with Buddhist practitioner, artist, chaplain, and longtime prison meditation teacher Terry Conrad about meditation, awakening, love, compassion, and the simple but profound truth that we are already enough. Terry shares how his spiritual path began through childhood experiences in nature, exposure to Japanese art and Buddhist teachings, and later deepened through practice with Lama Surya Das, Vipassana retreats, and years of contemplative work inside Texas prisons. Together, Jonathan and Terry explore what it means to “arrive” in meditation, how to be with ourselves without judgment, why awakening is integrity with reality, and how love can be found even in the most difficult places. This conversation is a powerful reminder that spirituality is not separate from everyday life. It is the practice of breathing, listening, softening, loving, and living with wisdom and compassion. As Terry shares: “We are enough. We are love. We are compassion. We are wisdom. That’s who we are.” Learn more about Jonathan Hewitt and Life Ki-do:https://lifekido.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa05zQUtMb2pBTWc4cFpIcjJmZXZoMVJ1aGFOUXxBQ3Jtc0ttbkRKYTZSaU9NYU5uVEI2aGN5MDhnWlF6ZzViTFRRMGpOOXdWZzF0ZWhxMlNkMFF0N2hyZjNfR0RBQ185bHRWLXMyLUpFQlgtNjloTmhKZWNzWUdwZjBULW8zQlEtLXpLaERjWFJ5cEVMQ0NMT0RQWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flifekido.com%2F&v=MbpCCS3KVgw]Family Personal Developmenthttps://lifekido.com/family-life-skills/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbW9VdXk0T1RwYy1GQjBKdzVNbDdwZ1F6LTNXUXxBQ3Jtc0trOVNXZEo5SjBYZnlQOU00cW9IZ2hlVk9zOFpfN3BnN1c4UUlhNG5lSEc1cy1YUHB4dmRqX0dkY0tHVjZ5Z0ZDbm02c0kxSERmRUhSeVluYTgybmp1RXNpcjVYZkVfcEp5SFNUUWl6ZTQ0V2pOZzdQTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flifekido.com%2Ffamily-life-skills%2F&v=MbpCCS3KVgw]More Spiritual Ninja Episodeshttps://spiritualninjapodcast.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2V0R3dJWmxiMjVpQlZzTUJXdHFxZFZuTVRXQXxBQ3Jtc0tuNk1Ocjd1V2lDbjMwMjNGX0lNYS1BRE9MY0tFeFVwRzVrUmhMRnAtdUxVTk5VS0x2cTktUm5pMUhsNEl3eXhFQW9RV05vTFFyUHQ1elhRa1dqWnVnMHJhMThSYjFjOWhjYXNnNktXSFBFb3c1Y2JfSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fspiritualninjapodcast.com%2F&v=MbpCCS3KVgw]

When Success Isn’t Enough: Faith, Surrender & Finding YourCalling

In this powerful episode of The Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt speaks with Adam Roach, founder of ILoveCoachingCo, about the journey from outward success to deeper significance. Adam shares his story of : * professional tennis * business success * real estate * coaching * fatherhood * faith * and the inner wake-up moments that led him to ask deeper questions: Who am I beyond performance? What does true success really mean? And how do we learn to listen to God, surrender control, and live from a deeper calling? This heartfelt conversation explores the “pose” we often create to protect our wounds, the difference between success and significance, the power of quiet, prayer, spiritual community, and how faith can become a source of real strength in family, leadership, and daily life. Jonathan and Adam also discuss fatherhood, spiritual leadership, Jesus, love, accountability, and why surrender is not weakness — but a pathway to a deeper, steadier strength. In this episode, we explore: * Success vs. significance * Letting go of performance as identity * Faith, surrender, and listening to God * The power of quiet, prayer, and daily walks * Moving from self-reliance to spiritual trust * Fatherhood and spiritual leadership * Love, standards, and accountability * Why faith is more than belief * Finding your true calling through service More about Adam Roach https://ilovecoachingco.com/people/adam-roach Learn more about Jonathan Hewitt and Life Ki-do: https://lifekido.com/ Family Personal Development https://lifekido.com/family-life-skills/

Conscious Parenting, Spiritual Presence & Remembering Who We Are with Dr. Carrie Contey

In this episode of The Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt speaks with Dr. Carrie Contey, a parenting expert, coach, speaker, and Ph.D. in clinical psychology with an emphasis in prenatal and perinatal psychology. Carrie shares the childhood moment that awakened her lifelong connection to babies, children, human development, and consciousness. From holding a five-day-old newborn at age seven to becoming Dr. Carrie Contey, her path has been rooted in honoring children as whole beings and helping adults reconnect to their own inner knowing. Jonathan and Carrie explore conscious parenting, emotional healing, spiritual embodiment, relationships, presence, and the simple practices that help us return to love and aliveness. Together, they discuss how to slow down, feel what we feel, listen more deeply, and live with greater trust in ourselves, our children, and life itself. This conversation is for parents, teachers, coaches, spiritual seekers, and anyone interested in living with more presence, love, and connection. Learn more about Carrie Contey:https://www.carriecontey.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEg0UGZISHlLNGRVcmRKeWZfY2V5QlRYd2ltUXxBQ3Jtc0trYi11Yi1qVUJxVlBSZ24tcHA4WWdPM2w1TG9rTTAtQ2ktZEZYbjQ5WjN6NjRpX3F4bk53cnREcDhXVEJoVERiamo4T3VBN3lVcGpVWXdETHp3WUwzMFhjVDNCZGh1SlVUX2tBNkM2eTBRYkNHLUtzSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carriecontey.com%2F&v=ZO7y6gu8esg]Learn more about Life Ki-do:https://lifekido.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbk1nall6Q3hrd2w4aW10WjU4VFR0ZGNOR2diUXxBQ3Jtc0trV29JNk9fOFNXcjdpb0prWGRXSGtZN1hXamQtRjJPSzNEWWt1SFhfOTBheEhudUlZcHpXMjdMNTMtbUxSNGpaQ2FVUjQtbzMwSWNfeGZCNl9MZGh4SVNIcXpWYTFWaFM0N3BjZFRRaG5vNTUzWHU2MA&q=https%3A%2F%2Flifekido.com%2F&v=ZO7y6gu8esg]Life Ki-do Family Friendly Personal Development Systemhttps://lifekido.com/family-life-skills/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGxDem9Ja214a1dndFhDZWdfREtZbmJPM25xd3xBQ3Jtc0trTlh6cnAyNi1XUnJUZ09SSlpONEw2aWYxTkJobU1UMnZ2SDNFbDI4RGxPdWJ2U3ZLajlKakh6Zkx3SDdDYldXa2YzNnJUdWg3MHdOXzJIbmZoamhsb3FtZXJ4clF3T2VTTHlHX0JMM09kYVAwdnNoRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flifekido.com%2Ffamily-life-skills%2F&v=ZO7y6gu8esg]Listen to The Spiritual Ninja Podcast:https://spiritualninjapodcast.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1FFcXhhWU5yNUxpMWxMZ2I0QmItbkYwMTJId3xBQ3Jtc0tsdm5Vdmx4eEY0VzJ0aFFhQ19SRU5TeE1aMXBCS1p5X2U1UjNhcWNkcG1xUWdSSnExUVh1d1dkLXZHZ0VGQWNkVlg2eGpqZUdJd1hBLWFLZzJzSEltM0ljVTNMeUt2MnppdHF1ZGx1MDJaRzU4Zlc5OA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fspiritualninjapodcast.com%2F&v=ZO7y6gu8esg]