Steve Bhaerman is an internationally-known author, humorist, and workshop leader. For the past 18 years, he has written and performed as Swami Beyondananda, the “Cosmic Comic.” Swami’s comedy has been called “irreverently uplifting” and has been described both as “comedy disguised as wisdom” and “wisdom disguised as comedy.”
As the Swami, Steve is the author of three books, Driving Your Own Karma (1989), When You See a Sacred Cow, Milk It For All It’s Worth (1993), and Duck Soup for the Soul (1999). Swami’s nationally-syndicated spoof advice column, Ask the Swami, has been read by millions, and his recent State of the Universe Address was reprinted in publications as diverse as Funny Times and Magical Blend Magazine.
Swami’s latest mission is to revitalize the body politic by turning spiritual “devotees” into political “votees.” He has founded the Right to Laugh Party (“one big party, everyone is invited”) and launched the Citizens for Precedent Campaign (“let’s choose a new ‘precedent’ – government of the people, by the people and for the people where the government does our bidding, not the bidding of the highest bidder – and a new President will surely follow”).
Swami’s alter ego Steve Bhaerman has had a varied career as teacher, author, and workshop leader. A graduate of Brooklyn College and Antioch-Putney Graduate School of Education, he was the co-founder of an alternative high school in Washington, D.C. when he was in his early twenties, and co-authored a book on his experiences, No Particular Place to Go: Making of a Free High School (Simon & Schuster, 1972). A political science major, he later taught history to autoworkers at Wayne State University in Detroit as part of the Weekend College. He also taught creative writing at University of Michigan (1976-86), worked for several years as a free lance writer, and is the co-author of a successful self-help book, Friends and Lovers: How to Meet the People You Want to Meet (Writer’s Digest Books, 1986).
In 1980, Steve co-founded Pathways Magazine in Ann Arbor, one of the first publications bringing together holistic health, personal growth, spirituality, politics and community. The Swami was a regular comedy feature in Pathways, and helped launch Steve’s career as the cosmic comic Swami. For the past 18 years, Steve has designed and led workshops on Comedy as a Healing Art, and has presented at numerous educational, psychological, spiritual and business groups. He currently resides in Santa Rosa, California with his wife Trudy.
