“In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.”
-Baba Dioum
Professor Phoenix is the spin-off of our beloved fiction-focused book club, The Inky Phoenix. Professor is the educational sibling to Inky, highlighting books about yoga, spirituality, justice, as well as LGBTQ+ and BIPOC authors.
A new title is announced every 1-2 months. Once the club is ready, we gather on a Zoom meeting, where Kathryn interviews the author before opening the conversation to the club. Professor Phoenix is ideal for seasoned or aspiring teachers, or simply anyone with a thirst for knowledge and a desire to cultivate inclusivity and change.
Our Current Professor
JIVANA HEYMAN
The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body
Explore Our Previous Content
Professor Phoenix: Dr. Akilah Cadet
Dr. Akilah Cadet is the Founder and CEO of Change Cadet, an organizational development consulting firm that embeds belonging into overall company culture, identity, and strategy. Dismantling white supremacy through storytelling is at the core of her work as a leader, speaker, author, creative director, producer, writer, editor, and co-owner of the Oakland Roots and Soul soccer teams. Listen along as Kathryn, Dr. Akilah, and Haus members discuss Dr. Akilah's book, White Supremacy is All Around: Notes From a Black Disabled Woman in a White World, and dive deeper into topics such as: the power of words, the correlation between capitalism and white supremacy, navigating microaggressions in the work place, how to build a soft life as a Black woman in a white world, inclusive language, and more!
Professor Phoenix: Natalie Haynes
Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth is a female-centered look at Olympus and the Furies, focusing on the goddesses whose prowess, passions, jealousies, and desires rival those of their male kin, including Athene, Aphrodite, Hera, Demeter, Artemis, the Muses, and Hestia. Infused with Haynes's engaging charm and irrepressible wit, Divine Might is a refreshing take on the legends and stories we thought we knew. Listen along as Kathryn, Natalie, and fellow Haus members expand on Divine Might, including topics such as female rage, muses vs. furies, myths created through the male gaze, defying marriage and societal norms, and of course, Taylor Swift. This conversation is not to be missed!
Professor Phoenix: Miles Borrero
Miles is a trans-masc, genderfluid, Latinx, NYC-based yoga teacher, writer, and craniosacral therapist. Throughout his many lives, he’s been Catholic, Jewish, and a frequent guest at Krishna's house, and he has lived life as a boy, a girl, a woman, a man, and something in between. Now as a senior yoga teacher, Miles is passionate about dismantling the systems within ourselves that keep us small. In his memoir, Beautiful Monster: A Becoming, Miles takes you on his singular journey through breaching the boundaries of gender — across generations, cultures, and borders — to become his truest, most authentic self. Listen in as Kathryn, Miles, and members of the Haus family discuss Miles' exquisitely crafted memoir.
Professor Phoenix: Elise Loehnen
Elise is a writer, editor, environmental activist, social justice advocate, and the host of the podcast, Pulling the Thread. She’s co-written 12 books, was the chief content officer of Goop, and the editorial projects director of Conde Nast Traveler. Elise's first novel under her own name, On Our Best Behavior, is a groundbreaking exploration of the Seven Deadly Sins — ancient ideas of morality that still control and distort women’s lives today. Listen along as Kathryn, Elise, and fellow Haus members expand on topics present in Elise's novel, including our complex relationships with pride, gluttony, envy, freedom, and more!
Professor Phoenix: Indu Arora
Indu Arora is a Yoga and Ayurveda teacher, mentor, and author. She has been sharing about Yoga philosophy, Yoga Therapy, and Ayurveda for the last two decades across more than 50 cities worldwide. Her teaching style is rooted in empowering and inspiring students to awaken the inner Guru. Listen in as Indu, Kathryn, and fellow Haus members discuss Indu’s full scope of work and topics including: the many approaches to yoga, practicing devotion, the birthplace of appropriation, how to heed your calling, and the pursuit of the true self.
Professor Phoenix: Kerri Kelly
Tune into our conversation with Kerri Kelly: author, wellness disruptor and activist, community organizer and mobilizer, yoga teacher, social justice advocate, and founder of CTZNWELL, a movement committed to democratizing well-being for all. Kerri, Kathryn, and members of the Haus discuss Kerri's book, AMERICAN DETOX. We cover America’s toxic "wellness" culture rooted in perfectionism, whiteness, individualism, what it means to be 'accountable', and how to reduce harm.
Professor Phoenix: Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian
Join Kathryn, Dr. Sundar, and members of the Haus family as we discuss and explore Dr. Sundar's studies on Pranayama breathwork, as well as his Tedx Charleston talk: The Science of Yogic Breathing. Follow along as Dr. Sundar details his upbringing, his practice, and how both led to his Pranayama research. Bonus: Dr. Sundar leads us through a Pranayama exercise!
Professor Phoenix: Kate Fagan
Kate, Kathryn, and Haus members discuss and explore the intersection of Women’s sports, Title IX, and the intersection of gender and the LGBTQ+ community. Conversation is inspired by her books WHAT MADE MADDY RUN, THE REAPPEARING ACT, and ALL THE COLORS CAME OUT as well as three linked essays on the registration page.
Professor Phoenix: Ryan Holiday
Ryan, Kathryn, and Haus members chat about Ryan's 9th book, STILLNESS IS THE KEY. Drawing upon a wide range of history's greatest thinkers, Ryan gives readers accessible examples of how to cultivate stillness in our day-to-day. Follow along as topics addressed in Ryan's scope of work are further explored, including memento mori, amor fati, catastrophizing, foreboding joy, the act of saying "no," and more!
Professor Phoenix: Jacoby Ballard
Jacoby, Kathryn, and the Haus of Phoenix family chat about Jacoby's book, A QUEER DHARMA: Yoga and Meditations for Liberation, out now. Listen along as topics addressed in A QUEER DHARMA are further explored in an interactive conversation, including: the application of Buddhist teachings in our daily lives, the importance of community, Queer representation, and more.
Professor Phoenix: Seane Corn
Seane, Kathryn and members of the Haus community chat about Seane's book, REVOLUTION OF THE SOUL, out now. Filled with deeply raw honesty and swelling with support, Seane and members of the Haus family share touching experiences related to their own growth and personal evolutions.
Professor Phoenix: Jessamyn Stanley
Jessamyn, Kathryn and members of the Haus community chat about Jessamyn's highly anticipated second book, YOKE: My Yoga of Self Acceptance, out now. Filled with a series of deeply honest, funny, and gritty autobiographical essays, YOKE explores issues of self-love, body-positivity, race, sex, and sexuality.
PROFESSOR PHOENIX AUTHORS + TITLES
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![Jessamyn Stanley Kathryn Budig]()
JESSAMYN STANLEY
AUTHOR OF YOKE
FIND THEM ON @MYNAMEISJESSAMYN
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SEANE CORN
AUTHOR OF REVOLUTION OF THE SOUL
FIND THEM ON @SEANECORN
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JACOBY BALLARD
AUTHOR OF A QUEER DHARMA
FIND THEM ON @JACOBYBALLARD
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RYAN HOLIDAY
AUTHOR OF STILLNESS IS THE KEY
FIND THEM ON @RYANHOLIDAY
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KATE FAGAN
AUTHOR OF ALL THE COLORS CAME OUT
FIND THEM ON @KATEFAGAN3
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DR. SUNDAR BALASUBRAMANIAN
AUTHOR OF PRANASCIENCE
FIND THEM ON @PRANASCIENCE
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KERRI KELLY
AUTHOR OF AMERICAN DETOX
FIND THEM ON @KKELLYYOGA
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INDU ARORA
AUTHOR OF MUDRA: THE SACRED SECRET
FIND THEM ON @INDUARORAOFFICIAL
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ELISE LOEHNEN
AUTHOR OF ON OUR BEST BEHAVIOR
FIND THEM ON @ELISELOEHNEN
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MILES BORRERO
AUTHOR OF BEAUTIFUL MONSTER: A BECOMING
FIND THEM ON @MONKIMILES
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NATALIE HAYNES
AUTHOR OF DIVINE MIGHT
FIND THEM ON @NATALIEHAYNESAUTHOR
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DR. AKILAH CADET
AUTHOR OF WHITE SUPREMACY IS ALL AROUND
FIND THEM ON @CHANGECADET
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JIVANA HEYMAN
AUTHOR OF THE TEACHER’S GUIDE TO ACCESSIBLE YOGA
FIND THEM ON @JIVANAHEYMAN
