Living the Tao: The Podcast That Walks the Path
Living the Tao is a Taoist podcast hosted by Mikel Steenrod. It blends ancient wisdom and modern practice, offering parables, personal stories, and spiritual strategies from the Four Ascendant Tradition. Episodes explore healing, perception, the social mind, and emotional clarity in a format designed for practical transformation.
More than a podcast—it’s a doorway into spiritual clarity, self-mastery, and the forgotten intelligence of nature. Each episode reveals the living heart of Taoism—not as an abstract philosophy, but as a rhythm you can actually move with.
Some episodes retell ancient parables. Others deliver straight talk on emotional self-regulation, healing, power, and perception. Whether it’s decoding a Taoist view of death or explaining why your routines might be sabotaging your calm, Living the Tao isn’t about spiritual fluff—it’s about usable wisdom.
🔐 Want access to every episode and direct AMA sessions? Subscribe to the full archive →
What You’ll Hear
This podcast draws directly from the Four Ascendant Tradition, sharing oral teachings usually reserved for advanced students. Themes range from energetic cultivation to strategy, ritual, and healing. It’s all grounded in the idea that wisdom must match time and place to have power.
You’ll explore:
🌀 Wu Wei vs. Pretending to Relax
🌊 Surface vs. Substance
🔥 How to recognize power—yours and others’
🕯️ The role of the sage, the mother, and the medicine
🧭 Why the “Social Mind” must be seen, not obeyed
🎙️ Listen to the latest public episodes on Spotify, Apple, and more →
Parables That Teach Like Mirrors
📖 Episode 124 – Confucius and the Ferryman
A Taoist retelling of the classic encounter across the River of Stones. Here, Confucius—symbol of method and propriety—confronts a drunken-looking ferryman who seems to row without order or intent. Yet they arrive safely. The ferryman says only:
“To fight always is to be blind. To follow always is to be swept away. One must know when to push and when to drift.”
This episode dissects Taoist training in time, flow, wu wei, and substance-vs-surface perception.
🩺 Episode 129 – That Good Medicine
One of the deepest dives into Taoist healing theory to date.
Mikel retells the Parable of the Three Healing Brothers, where the greatest healer is unknown because his patients never get sick.
“The greatest healers make sure no one ever calls their name.”
From there, we meet the “Mother” and the “Medicine”—archetypes found in both human and natural communities. Trees have them. Animals have them. Taoist lineages had them. Their presence determines the wisdom and healing potential of a place.
Beyond Listening—Living
The podcast is the gateway. But the journey continues through:
Longform articles breaking down major episodes
Transcripts and quote analysis for in-depth study
Direct AMA sessions with Master Steenrod (subscriber-only)
What Makes Living the Tao Different?
It’s unscripted. It’s alive. It’s delivered from someone who has practiced and taught for decades.
You won’t hear made-for-retail Taoism here. Instead, you’ll hear the transmission of a lineage, filtered through humor, direct speech, and deep stillness.
You may not agree with everything. That’s fine. Taoism was never about agreement—it’s about seeing what is.
Where to Start
Start with episodes that resonate with you—or try these listener favorites:
Ep 2 – “Acceptance”
Learn why acceptance is the foundation of perception.Ep 124 – “Confucius and the Ferryman”
A layered tale of timing, power, and spiritual perception.Ep 129 – “That Good Medicine”
Explore Taoist healing ideals, from direct intervention to silent wisdom.Bonus Ep 5 – “The Myth of Escape”
A reflection on why running isn’t freedom—and what actually is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Living the Tao is a podcast hosted by Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod. It explores Taoist teachings through stories, spiritual practices, and real-world applications.
You can find Living the Tao on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major platforms. Subscribers can also access exclusive content through the archive.
No. The podcast is designed for everyone, whether you’re new to Taoism or have been practicing for years.
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