Spirituality and Politics with LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin and Ben Decker

10/27/22 • 77 min

Have you ever wondered if spirituality and politics ever could or should mix? In this episode, you will hear directly from LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin on the matter in a historically defining moment. Two weeks ago, a secretly recorded conversation about redistricting, made international headlines, which included racial slurs about Bonin’s adopted son. "I knew it [the recording] was a lot bigger than my son. It was dripping with ugly, deliberate, anti-black racism," Bonin said.
“I’ve had a couple different things that have really shaped my perspective on public service and shaped my spirituality. The thing that I get from the experience of getting sober 27 years ago, is that I have absolute, just unequivocal faith, that profound change is possible - in people, in the city, even in our broken politics, I have seen myself transform from someone unrecognizable, to where I am today. I have seen people that society has written off, just transform themselves into model parents, people I look up to. My sobriety has been a big part of my spiritual journey.”
- Councilmember Mike Bonin on The Modern Spirituality Show
“What I love so much about your political legacy is that you read as one of the people that really tried and really made a difference for a lot of people. You made a difference in actual individual people's lives.”
- Author Ben Decker to Councilmember Mike Bonin on The Modern Spirituality Show
Big thanks to our sponsor Open for bringing you this episode. Open is a mindfulness app built to transform your life. Experience the power of combining breathwork, meditation, sound, and movement to strengthen your mind-body connection. Practice with the best teachers in the world – anywhere, anytime. You can experience Open for 30 days free with Ben Decker’s promo code DECKERVIP, or claim here: http://withopen.com/deckervip
Learn more about Mike Bonin here:
Representing Westside neighborhoods on the City Council since 2013, Mike has been a leader in taking on LA’s toughest challenges, unafraid to advocate for bold, transformative solutions on homelessness, affordable housing, climate change, transportation, and public safety. An accomplished advocate for his district, Mike has been a champion of neighborhoods, a force for smart, responsive government, and a progressive problem solver.

Listen to Mike Bonin’s What’s Next Los Angeles:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-los-angeles-with-mike-bonin/id1538289887
Mike Bonin’s website:
https://11thdistrict.com/about-mike/
Follow Mike on Instagram:
https://instagram.com/mikebonin?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Hoffman Institute:
Deepen Your Meditation Practice with Books by Ben Decker:https://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-W-Decker/e/B07C9WKP8J
Work with Ben Decker:
https://bendeckermeditation.com/
Watch episodes on Youtube:
Contact The Modern Spirituality Show:

Host/Executive Producer:
Ben Decker
Twitter.com/BenDecker
Instagram.com/BenjaminWDecker
[email protected]
Producer:
Ansley Weller
[email protected]

Previous Episode

The Rise of the Heart with Jessie May Wolfe & Ben Decker

As automation and technology continues to rapidly replace our human skills, emotional intelligence has never been more critical. Empowering the heart of you and your team of people gives you the leading edge that can help guide you towards inspiring shifts.
"When we remember that connection is our greatest currency, we can empower the necessary action to turn the tides. When people feel their contribution matters, you embolden them to give their best and everybody wins."
- Jessie May Wolfe on The Modern Spirituality Show

This week's guest is Jessie May Wolfe, founder of The HeartRise Movement. Jessie May builds bridges, transforms people and evolves cultures. Jessie May works with leading brands including Amazon, Soho House, Uber and UCLA, that understand how important it is to lead with the heart in today’s fast-paced world. If you, your company or community, would like to explore more about the intersection between business, spirituality and heart centered innovation, be sure to tune into this inspiring episode between author and founder, Jessie May Wolfe and 4x bestselling author & meditation/mindfulness expert, and your host of The Modern Spirituality Show, Ben Decker. Once you learn the Language of the Heart, you can connect with and empower more people and serve the global spiritual awakening that is taking place around the world.
Big thanks to our sponsor Open for bringing you this episode. Open is a mindfulness app built to transform your life. Experience the power of combining breathwork, meditation, sound, and movement to strengthen your mind-body connection. Practice with the best teachers in the world – anywhere, anytime. You can experience Open for 30 days free with Ben Decker’s promo code DECKERVIP, or claim here: http://withopen.com/deckervip
Learn More About Our Guest & The HeartRise Movement:
Jessie May Wolfe is a world traveler that ignites hearts everywhere she goes from London to Hong Kong, Montreal to Los Angeles ~ including Australia, Kenya, India, Costa Rica, Mexico to name only a few.
From Wellness to Tech, Sports to Advertising, Real Estate to Non-Profit, and Education, HeartRise ignites the heartbeat of culture ~ offering a fresh take on heart-powered leadership.

Heartrise for your company:
https://www.heartrisemovement.com/corporate-programs
Follow Jessie May on Instagram
Order Jessie May's book, High On Heart
https://www.heartrisemovement.com/heartrisebook
Book a visionary coaching session with Jessie May:
https://www.heartrisemovement.com/founder

Deepen Your Meditation Practice with Books by Ben Decker:https://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-W.-Decker/e/B07C9WKP8J?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000
Work with Ben Decker:
https://bendeckermeditation.com/
Contact The Modern Spirituality Show:

Host/Executive Producer:
Ben Decker
Twitter.com/BenDecker
Instagram.com/BenjaminWDecker
[email protected]

Producer:
Ansley Weller
[email protected]

Next Episode

Becoming a Magician with Jade Tailor and Ben Decker

Our guest this week is actress Jade Tailor who starred as Kady in the Syfy / Netflix critically acclaimed drama series, “The Magicians.” The network’s top scripted series was based on Lev Grossman’s best-selling trilogy. Jade's character, Kady, was a fan-favorite who suffered from loss and addiction and attended a secret university specializing in magic. You will learn the role spirituality plays in Jade's acting career, music and production company. She also discusses her work as a domestic violence counselor and keynote speaker and the role her creativity played with her own healing journey.
"When you're bashing one, you're actually bashing all because you just create more division. So how can we just create more more oneness more, more love for all humanity? I think we still subscribe to these archaic beliefs that we're still at war with one another. Instead of like, we're all just human beings doing the best that we know how in this physical human experience, like, on this spiritual journey, can we can we just love each other?"
- Jade Tailor on The Modern Spirituality Show
Learn more about our guest here:
Jade has also appeared in Steve Bochco’s TNT series MURDER IN THE FIRST as well as the NBC series AQUARIUS, playing the love interest to David Duchovny. She also appeared in the series TRUE BLOOD (HBO) and VEGAS (CBS).
A true multi-hyphenate, Tailor is currently writing, producing and directing projects under her production company, Eyeris Entertainment, a platform for women to tell their positive, inspirational stories. She is also a singer and songwriter known for her raspy, blues voice. Tailor recently released a single, 'All The Blood Runs Red' and is currently working on an album.

Off screen, she is an Ambassador to the Women’s History Museum and is involved with several non-profit organizations including The New Hollywood, NOW: National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood, #MeToo and Times Up. She is also a certified life coach, domestic violence counselor, facilitator and keynote speaker for various self-development and empowerment organizations such as Atlas and MITT.

Jade Tailor IMDB:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2466188/
Follow Jade on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jade.tailor/
Press:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKOYriBgD2A
Deepen Your Meditation Practice with Books by Ben Decker:https://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-W-Decker/e/B07C9WKP8J
Work with Ben Decker:
https://bendeckermeditation.com/
Book a trip to Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica on March 26th -April 2nd 2023, a special retreat hosted by Ben Decker. Experience Ayahuasca Plant Medicine at the First Ever Medically-Licensed Resort to offer this sacred shamanic experience, Rythmia Life Advancement Center. Enjoy a week of deep transformation with four plant medicine ceremonies led by shamans trained in the Columbian tradition and plant medicine preparation and integration workshops.
https://rythmia.com/ben-decker.html

Want to watch this episode? Subscribe to our Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcE0Cr7KOWwXlVOYXvaYyTw
Contact The Modern Spirituality Show:

Host/Executive Producer:
Ben Decker
Twitter.com/BenDecker
Instagram.com/BenjaminWDecker
[email protected]
Producer:
Ansley Weller
[email protected]