Unscripted, exploratory, and refreshingly honest, the Free Radical Podcast invites listeners into real conversations that bridge spirituality and everyday life. With a mix of insight, humor, and heartfelt questioning, Swami Padmanabha and his guests explore what it means to live with depth, courage, and sacred curiosity.
Airing 10 am (edt)
1st and 3rd Wednesdays
of each month on YouTube

The Free Radical Podcast is a creative encounter among like-minded and like-hearted spirits, regardless of their background or affiliation—or even non-affiliation. Following the call of our 21st Century spirituality, we embrace a trans-institutional commitment to spirituality rather than an institutionalized version of it. It is not so much about the demarkation of buildings but the exploration of hearts, not so much about fitting in but about deeply belonging—not so much about mere holiness but about wholeness as well. And it is the freedom born in the fire of these shared hearts who deeply belong to a process of becoming fully whole, fully persons, that creates the sacred space to step into new ways of being, deeper ways of being, radical—to the core—ways of being….and being what?….Being fully integrated individuals, whose humanity contextualizes their spirituality.Swami Padmanabha is an author, monk, and spiritual mentor who has just published his second book, called “Radical Personalism: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion.”
The format of the podcast is not an interview as much as spontaneous exploration in dialogue, encouraging a multi-trait interdisciplinary method of approaching how we understand something—of looking at it from different angles and perspectives. We don’t expect to agree on everything with each person, but we do expect to use our differences as a way to approach each other, rather than an excuse for further distancing. The time has come to let down the draw bridges and learn how to deeply relate with ourselves, each other, and the world in meaningful ways. This experience of mutual enlightenment can be also called “Collective Introspection.” This joint reflection is probably “the highest form of worship and communion. Restricted to the individual, this power of reflection remains limited and rudimentary. It is only in connection to kindred spirits that we can discover our own depth and wholeness. In other words, the deepest form of reflection can be developed only in communion with others. It is essentially a social phenomenon.” (excerpt from Radical Personalism: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion”).
The Free Radical Podcast attempts to invoke sacred space and sacred conversation through deep expressive exchanges with like-minded souls with whom we share one same purpose in mind and heart, that purpose being to align our lives with the loving will of the Sweet Absolute, and to compassionately point to those things that need to be addressed for that miracle to continue happening in each of us.
Please join the conversation. It won’t be the same without you.
In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, we sit down once again with dear friend and brother, mentor, author, and Vaishnava creative Deva Madhava Das for a profound conversation on initiation, masculinity, and the spiritual journey toward wholeness.
Drawing from years of experience building intentional spiritual community through the Harmony Collective in Michigan, Deva Madhava explores the importance of rites of passage for modern men, the role of elders and brotherhood, and why initiation is not a single event but an ongoing process of transformation. Together, we discuss the wounds and challenges many men carry, the wisdom traditional cultures preserved around initiation, and how authentic community helps shape integrated, spiritually grounded human beings.
This conversation also touches on the unique spiritual strengths women bring into communal and devotional life, the necessity of bearing witness to one another’s struggles, and the sacred responsibility of growing into maturity with honesty, humility, and support.
A rich and deeply human dialogue on tribe, belonging, spiritual formation, and what it truly means to become whole.
Connect further with Deva Madhava:
Instagram: / @devinordeva
FaceBook: / deva.madhava.das
YouTube: / @bookman108
Substack: https://substack.com/@devao
Email: De**@******************ve.org
▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .
~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels
▶ YOUTUBE
▶ WEBSITE
▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon
▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM
~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels
▶ WEBSITE
▶ YOUTUBE

WHY MEN NEED TO BE INITIATED—AS MEN | Free Radical Podcast ep78 | Deva Madhava | 9/16/26
THE GOD WHO IS LOVE | Free Radical Podcast ep77 | Mirabai Starr | 9/2/26
PUSTHI MARGA: SECRETS OF THE BLESSED PATH | Free Radical Podcast ep76 | Krishna Kinkari | 8/19/26
THE TRANSFORMATIVE LIFE OF ETTY HILLESUM | Free Radical Podcast ep75 | Patrick Woodhouse 8/5/26
SIMPLICITY AFTER COMPLEXITY: The Maturation of Bhakti—Free Radical Podcast 74–Vraja Kishor 7/15/26
FROM CONTROL TO RELATIONSHIP: A New Vision of God | Free Radical Podcast ep73 | Sheri Kling 7/1/26
WHEN MUSIC BECOMES PRAYER | Free Radical Podcast ep72 | Havi (Ilan Chester) - 6/17/26
SOUL FRIENDSHIP & THE CONTEMPLATIVE PATH | Free Radical Podcast ep71 | Carl McColman 6/3/26
RESPONSE-ABILITY & THE ARCHITECTURE OF SAFETY | Free Radical Podcast #70 | Madhava - 5/20/26