Rev. Mikey Noechel, MS is the guiding teacher and co-director of Wild Heart Meditation Center. In 2020, Mikey received lay ordination and empowerment to teach as a Dharmacharya (Dharma Teacher) in both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist traditions through the authorization of Ven. Pannavati Bhikkhuni and Ven. Pannadipa Bhikkhu. Mikey was given the name Rogahari Sokatura which means, “healer of the broken hearted.” Through this empowerment, he is committed to bringing the Buddha’s teachings into nontraditional settings such as addiction treatment centers, jails, and a variety of settings.

Mikey also regularly teaches residential retreats, weekly classes, and workshops. He holds a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Troy University and has been trained to facilitate meditation groups through Against The Stream Buddhist Meditation Society under the guidance of JoAnna Hardy and Vinny Ferrero. Mikey lives in Nashville, TN with his wife Cassie, their dog Durt McGurt and kitty cat Mafia.

Kit is a queer identifying first generation Filipinx American. Her journey as a mindfulness practitioner began in her hometown of Houston, TX (Akokisa/ Karankawa territory) at Chung Tai Zen monastery. Since moving to Nashville (Muscogee Creek/Yuchi territory) in 2007, she has predominantly practiced and trained with Wild Heart. Kit graduated from Belmont University with a bachelor of social work and brings years of non profit management to the organization. She has also worked as a burlesque performer, using body positivity as an embodied practice of activism and storytelling. Kit is a co-facilitator for Nashville People of Color Sangha, a meditation group for BIPOC, and was the founding board chair of Asian Pacific Islanders of Mid TN.

Andrew is the former guiding teacher and co-director at Wild Heart . He facilitates weekly meditation groups, monthly workshops and intensive study courses. Andrew has spent several years developing trainings related to the intersection of Western & Buddhist psychology for dedicated practitioners, as well as professionals in the fields of education and mental health. Andrew has trained with Wild Heart’s founding teacher, Dave Smith, and spent several months in meditative training on silent retreat practice. In Spring of 2017, Andrew graduated from Community Dharma Leadership training through Spirit Rock Meditation Center, where he received authorization to teach the Dharma. Andrew has guest lectured at several universities in the greater Nashville area.

Rachael is a long time dedicated practitioner and the former co-director of Wild Heart. Her teaching integrates Buddhist wisdom and Western psychology, with an emphasis on extending practice off the cushion. Having practiced across traditions, she weaves somatic, heart centered, and creative practices together to support awakening through body, speech, and mind. Her personal practice is supported by regular retreat and the accountability of working with a meditation mentor. Rachael is most at ease outside and finds great joy in parenting.

Don is a Nashville native and has been practicing meditation since 2013, finding his way to Wild Heart. He recently received Jukai (precepts) and his Dharma name Kojin, which means “luminous compassion” or “light of compassion” from Roshi Joan Halifax of Upaya Zen Center. His current teacher is George Haas with whom he is studying to facilitate Ideal Parent Figure Protocol, a meditation-based approach to treating attachment injury. Don owns and operates an IT consulting firm in Nashville.

Roy formally started his meditation practice in 1993 within the Zen Buddhist tradition, at times serving on the Board of Directors of the Chapel Hill Zen Center in North Carolina and Ancient Dragon Zen Gate in Chicago. In Chicago, he acted as Ino (Zendo manager) and Work Leader. Roy also occasionally facilitates meditation sessions and previously led meditation at various prisons in North Carolina including its Death Row. Roy started practicing at Wild Heart in 2018, is married, has three children and three grandchildren, and is a practicing cybersecurity and data privacy attorney at Bass, Berry & Sims in Nashville.

Callan Dwan is a meditation facilitator and musician in Nashville, TN. She first came to the practice through Wild Heart in 2016 and has been an active member of the Sangha ever since. She has seen the practice work in her own life and hopes to share the presence, kindness, and compassion that can be cultivated through meditation with the community. She co-facilitates the Friday night weekly group, has been a guest speaker at Vanderbilt University, and sits residential retreats to support her practice. She loves cats, playing guitar, and spending time in nature.

Maddie is a recent graduate of the Wild Heart Facilitator training and has been practicing for over 6 years. They have a heart for sharing in the Dharma, especially with the LGBTQ+ and music communities. Coming to meditation through the recovery process, Maddie has found great solace and peace within the teachings, and hopes to be a part of spreading them outward, in all directions so that all may know true freedom. When not knee deep in Dharma, you can find them hiking with their dog and wife, watching Bob's Burgers and touring the country as a recording artist.

Ryan has studied and practiced meditation since 2011 and became dedicated to Buddhist practice after sitting retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh. His approach is informed by his practice and study of Insight Meditation and Viniyoga, and influenced by Zen, the Pali Canon, Yoga philosophy, and recovery models. He has facilitated meditation groups at the Davidson County Correctional Development Center and One Dharma Nashville.

Andrew holds certification to teach and facilitate meditation from Naropa University in Boulder, CO, and Wild Heart Meditation Center in Nashville, TN. Inspired by the practical and participatory style of Wild Heart, Andrew brought it back to his hometown of Detroit.

He is in the process of completing his Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wayne State University, and has a passion for integrating psychology into Buddhist teachings. Andrew loves outer space, running, hip-hop, punk, long meditation retreats, and still rides a skateboard to class.

Wild Heart Detroit meets at Konnected Fitness every Monday at 6:30pm Eastern. Questions? Email Andrew here.

If you trace us back to our roots, you’ll find Dave Smith. In 2010, Dave started a once-a-week “Intro to Meditation” group at the 12th South Dharma Center in Nashville. For several months, Dave would often show up to the group with no participants, put rent in the dropbox, and go home. It is because of his confidence in the transformative power of the Dharma that he continued to show up, week after week, until a small Sangha began to form. That Sangha grew into a robust Buddhist community in Nashville. We are forever grateful to Dave and his steadfast commitment to our community. He has planted many seeds and spent countless hours tending to the field. It is because of his initial steps that we enjoy today’s fruit, Wild Heart Meditation Center.

Dave Smith now lives in Paonia, CO with his family. He teaches retreats and continues to offer workshops and events through his organization, “Secular Dharma Foundation”.

Peter Kastaris has been practicing meditation since 2018. After practicing in various Nashville Sanghas, he was introduced to Wild Heart Meditation Center when former co-director Rachael Tanner-Smith gave a talk at Belmont University where he was a student at the time. Peter is passionate about buddhist practice and using it as a means to uncover our inherent goodness to lead a more compassionate and wise life. His favorite activities include going on long retreats, eating Greek food, and salsa dancing.