The Spiritual Psychology of Acting Podcast Podcast By John Osborne Hughes and Jordan Turk cover art

The Spiritual Psychology of Acting Podcast

The Spiritual Psychology of Acting Podcast

By: John Osborne Hughes and Jordan Turk
Listen for free

The Spiritual Psychology of Acting is a course for actors, both newcomers and those professionals seeking something more. In this podcast, creator of The Spiritual Psychology of Acting, John Osborne Hughes chats with his co-host and student, actor Jordan Turk. Each week, John and Jordan discuss the philosophy, principles and techniques of great acting; sharing and exploring knowledge relating to the actor, the actor's life, and working in the industry.

© 2026 The Spiritual Psychology of Acting Podcast
Art Entertainment & Performing Arts Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • The Map of Consciousness Part 2: From Force to Power
    Apr 23 2026

    Send us a Message - let us know what you think of the episode


    Why do some people live in constant anxiety, while others face the same situations with courage?

    Why are some driven by pure ambition and desire, while others seem strangely calm and grounded?


    According to psychiatrist and researcher David R. Hawkins, it’s not random.

    He proposed something called The Map of Consciousness, a framework that suggests human emotions and worldviews exist on a measurable scale, from the most destructive states of mind all the way up to the most expansive and enlightened.

    In the previous episode of this mini-series, we explored the very bottom of that map: the heavy emotional territories of shame, guilt, apathy and grief.

    But in this episode, we start climbing.


    Today we’re moving through the levels of Fear, Desire, Anger and Pride, before crossing a fascinating turning point in Hawkins’ model. The critical threshold of 200.

    Below that line, people are driven by what Hawkins called Force, where life is often a struggle.

    Above it, something shifts.

    We enter the territory of Power.

    And that’s where we begin to stop fighting life quite so hard and start engaging with it in a completely different way.


    So, in this episode, as we climb up the levels, we explore what these states look like in our lives and how they show up again and again in the stories we love to watch.

    Because some of the most unforgettable characters in film, television and theatre live inside these levels.

    Characters ruled by fear or chasing desire.

    Characters burning with anger or whose pride becomes their downfall.

    And characters who against all odds find the courage to rise above it.


    Book a Live Intro Seminar for the SPOA:
    https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/courses/online-intro-seminar/



    Support us on Patreon:
    www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

    If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing podcast@spiritualpsychologyofacting.com

    If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

    Follow us:

    Instagram:

    SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

    John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

    Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

    Facebook:

    SPOA - https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualPsychologyOfActing


    An Awakened State Production


    Support the show

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 30 mins
  • The Map of Consciousness Part 1: The Anatomy of Suffering
    Mar 13 2026

    Send us a Message - let us know what you think of the episode

    What if human suffering wasn’t random?

    What if there were actually a 'map', a framework for understanding why certain people remain trapped in cycles of shame or anger, while others seem able to rise above the same circumstances and live with courage, and joy?

    In the 1990s, psychiatrist and researcher David R. Hawkins proposed something radical.

    He suggested that human emotions, motivations, and worldviews exist on a measurable scale of consciousness, ranging from the most destructive states of mind all the way to enlightenment.

    He called it The Map of Consciousness.

    Now, at first that might sound a bit abstract or 'woo-woo', but stick with us. Because instead of judging people morally, what the map gives us is a surprisingly practical way to understand the mechanics of human behaviour.

    So, in this 3 part mini series, we’re exploring all the levels of Consciousness, starting with the very bottom of the map.

    Because in this basement level are four emotional states that can often keep us locked in suffering.

    Shame.
    Guilt.
    Apathy.
    Grief.

    For some, these aren’t just passing feelings. They’re entire worldviews that colour how we see ourselves and others around us.

    And some of the most powerful stories ever told, in film, TV, and theatre, are about characters trapped in these states, trying to climb their way out.

    So, in this episode, we’re exploring what these levels actually look like in real life and how becoming aware of them might help us begin to move beyond them.


    Book a Live Intro Seminar for the SPOA:
    https://spiritualpsychologyofacting.com/courses/online-intro-seminar/



    Support us on Patreon:
    www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast

    If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing podcast@spiritualpsychologyofacting.com

    If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

    Follow us:

    Instagram:

    SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

    John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

    Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

    Facebook:

    SPOA - https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualPsychologyOfActing


    An Awakened State Production


    Support the show

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 10 mins
  • The Power of a Human Storyteller with Special Guest - Elise Arsenault
    Jan 22 2026

    Send us a Message - let us know what you think of the episode

    Today we’re diving into an area of the industry experiencing somewhat of a boom – audiobooks. We wanted to speak to someone who not only understands that world, but who’s shaping it from the inside.

    Our guest in this episode is Elise Arsenault – she’s an award-winning audiobook narrator, actor, coach, and entrepreneur. Throughout her career, she’s narrated close to 200 audiobooks, as well as providing voiceover for commercials and video games.

    Elise is also the founder of The Global Actor, host of the Global Actor podcast, and creator of the The Great Audiobook Adventure – a program that’s specifically designed to help actors break into and build thriving careers in the audiobook industry.

    Most recently, she delivered a fantastic TEDx talk titled, The Power of a Human Storyteller in the Age of AI. If you haven’t seen or heard it yet, it’s a heartfelt, timely argument for why human voices still matter.

    So, today, we’re exploring all of it: Elise’s journey, her craft, the ever-evolving audiobook industry, and exactly what role humans still play in a world that seems to be increasingly full of synthetic voices.


    TEDx talk (The Power of a Human Storyteller in the Age of A.I.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDlR76DPkSs

    Elise's website: https://theglobalactor.com/

    The Great Audiobook Adventure: https://audiobookadventure.com/home/

    The Global Actor Podcast: https://theglobalactor.com/podcast/


    Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheSpiritualPsychologyofActingPodcast


    If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can do so by emailing podcast@spiritualpsychologyofacting.com

    If you have any feedback, thoughts, topics you think we should cover in future episodes or questions about the Spiritual Psychology of Acting…whatever it is, we’d love to hear from you.

    Follow us:

    Instagram:

    SPOA - https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_psychology_of_acting/

    John Osborne Hughes - https://www.instagram.com/john.o.hughes1/

    Jordan Turk – https://www.instagram.com/jordan.turk/

    Twitter:

    SPOA - https://twitter.com/spiritualacting

    John Osborne Hughes - https://twitter.com/JOsborneHughes

    Jordan Turk - https://twitter.com/jordantheturk



    An Awakened State Production

    Support the show

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 19 mins
No reviews yet