Reflections on Spiritual Tourism and Journeys of Self-Discovery with Jens Augspurger [interviewed by Daillen Culver and Megan Douglas]

Abstract

In this episode, we speak with Jens Augspurger, PhD candidate in Religious Studies at SOAS and a doctoral fellow of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (German Academic Foundation). Jens takes us through his curvy research journey looking at ‘spiritual tourists’. He speaks about why we connect to certain places; self-discovery and ‘belonging’; the complexities of ‘cultural appropriation’ and acknowledging privilege; the challenges of researching your own communities; when research leads to cynicism; and why he chose to walk away from his yoga practice and finding contentment in stripping away ‘disillusionment’ through his research