Replace ego with the eternal. Trade selfishness for service—and self-absorption for unity. Together, let’s explore the spark of divinity that resides within us all.

Meet Raghunath Cappo.

Punk rock icon. Spiritual warrior. Bhakti yoga devotee.

A teen in search of meaning, Ray Cappo fled his suburban Connecticut enclave for New York City—and found community among the misfits of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. He fell in love with punk rock, so he started a band and a record label. Success soon followed. By the late 1980’s, Youth of Today had thousands of fans, cementing Ray as a leading voice and trendsetter at the bullseye of hardcore culture.

However, a growing existential itch led Ray to call it quits. At just 22, he walked away from his band and label and decamped for India—a spiritual pilgrimage that led him to the holy village of Vrindavan.

It was there that Ray fell in love with the wisdom and traditions of Bhakti yoga.

It was there that he would remain for the next six years, living as a monk.

It was there that Ray became Raghunath.

This is the incredible story of a modern day yogi.

But it’s also about the search we all go on. The journey for personal meaning beyond the ego. And the quest for universal consequence beyond the material.

It’s about the timeless that lives and breathes within all of us—that which is eternal, and past our limited senses.

It’s about transcending the illusions that hold us back. What it means to truly devote oneself to greater truth. And the modern day challenges of trudging the path towards higher consciousness.

All told, it’s about what it really means to be a spiritual being having a human experience.

If you’ve enjoyed my conversations with musicians John Joseph & Toby Morse, spiritual leaders Guru Singh & Radhanath Swami, or modern seekers Andy Puddicombe, Jason Garner & Russell Brand, then I’m confident this will be your jam.

To read more click here. You can also watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Thank you to Robert Sturman, Perry Julien, Sherry Sutton & Davy Greenberg for the portraits & photo use permission.

Let the Jedi Warrior training begin.

Peace + Plants,

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Thanks to this week’s sponsors:

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SHOW NOTES:

• Raghunath Cappo: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
• Podcast: Wisdom Of The Sages
• Supersoul Yoga: Website
• New York Times: From the Mosh Pit to a Life in Balance
• New York Times: Yoga Teachers Behaving Badly
• Rolling Stone: Air Jordans, Hockey and Hardcore: How Punk Embraced Sports
• Sonima: The Flight of His Life
• Organic Hudson Valley: Supersoul Farm
• Kerrang: Clean Living And High Thinking: How Hardcore And Hare Krishna Can Work Together

I'm proud to announce my new book 'Voicing Change'. To learn more & pre-order now, visit, richroll.com/vc

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