In this week’s episode of The Light Watkins Show, we dive into the captivating journey of Josh Linkner, a figure synonymous with innovation, resilience, and the power of creativity. Raised in Detroit, Josh's early challenges shaped a relentless drive for achievement and a passion for music, leading him from piano lessons to the smoky jazz clubs of his youth. His narrative is a testament to leveraging one's unique traits to carve a distinctive path.Josh's entrepreneurial spirit emerged early, from selling illegal fireworks to pioneering ventures in the tech space, eventually steering him towards venture capitalism with a compassionate twist through Mudita Venture Partners. This venture fund, emphasizing joy in others' success, reflects Josh's broader ethos of generosity and impact.Central to Josh's story is his advocacy for "big little breakthroughs," the idea that small, consistent innovations can yield significant results. This approach demystifies creativity, making it accessible to all, and underscores his efforts to unlock the creative potential within everyone. Through his books, speaking engagements, and the ImpactEleven community, Josh inspires individuals to harness their creativity for meaningful impact.Listeners will be treated to a rich tapestry of insights on navigating life's challenges with creativity and purpose. Josh's philosophy of giving generously and not keeping score resonates throughout his endeavors, offering a powerful blueprint for personal and professional fulfillment. This episode is not just a journey through Josh's life but an invitation to explore the transformative potential of creativity in our own lives.

In this episode, we're keeping it real about how something as simple as giving up alcohol can unexpectedly transform your life. Imagine this: One day, you decide to stop drinking, not because you have to, but just to see if you feel any different. What unfolds isn't just a series of changes in habits, like swapping beer for more water or exploring vegetarian meals, but a surprising journey towards self-discovery and clarity you didn't know was missing.Our host, Light Watkins, shares personal stories with a no-nonsense approach, from the initial skepticism about cutting out alcohol to the profound impact it had on health, mood, and even relationships. This isn't your typical wellness guru spiel. It's about real-life experiences, the kind that makes you think, "Hey, maybe I could try that." Whether you've toyed with the idea of reducing your alcohol intake or you're just looking for ways to feel a bit more connected to yourself and the world, this conversation is for you.We're not promising miracles or a one-size-fits-all solution. But through honest reflections and a bit of humor, we'll explore how making different choices can lead us to live more fully and perhaps stumble upon happiness in places we least expected. Join us for a chat that's as relatable as it is eye-opening.

In this compelling episode of The Light Watkins Show, host Light Watkins is joined by Danny Morel, a remarkable figure whose life story is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, introspection, and embracing one's roots. Born and raised in the vibrant yet challenging streets of New York City, Danny's journey is one of overcoming adversity, cultural heritage, and the relentless pursuit of self-discovery and success.As the eldest of three boys in a traditional Latin household, Danny navigates through his early experiences with a deep sense of responsibility, shaped by the values instilled in him by his Ecuadorian and Dominican parents. His narrative takes us through the pivotal moments of his life, from the hardships of his family's breakup to the entrepreneurial ventures that defined his path to success. Danny's story is not just about financial achievement; it's a deeper exploration of redefining masculinity, leadership, and breaking free from societal expectations.Listeners will be inspired by Danny's profound wisdom, garnered through years of personal growth, as he shares insights on how to embrace one's identity, the importance of facing one's fears, and the journey to finding one's purpose. His reflections on the challenges of traditional roles, the power of big thinking, and the courage to pursue one's dreams offer valuable lessons on how to live a life of authenticity and fulfillment.This conversation with Danny will not only inspire but challenge the way we think about success, identity, and the power of our own stories to shape our destinies. Through Danny Morel's eyes, we see a world where adversity becomes strength, and where every individual has the potential to transform their life, just as a butterfly emerges from its cocoon, ready to soar.

In this week’s episode of The Light Watkins Show, host Light Watkins is in conversation with Taryn Toomey, founder and the creative force behind "The Class" – a revolutionary exercise methodology that marries fitness with mindfulness. This episode offers a profound look into Taryn's extraordinary journey from a challenging childhood, navigating the vibrant world of fashion, to her transformative experiences in Peru that led her to create The Class. Taryn's story serves as a powerful illustration of resilience, the pursuit of one's true calling, and the impact of embracing community and personal practices to find one's path.Taryn discusses her venture into the fashion industry, her initial forays into yoga and mindfulness, and how these experiences culminated in the inception of The Class. Taryn's approach to blending intense physical exercise with emotional release and mindfulness offers refreshing insights for anyone on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery.Moreover, this episode sheds light on the significance of inner strength, following one's instincts, and the transformational power of community building. Taryn's candid discussion about her evolution, both personally and professionally, is not just her story, but a blueprint for anyone seeking to navigate their own life's challenges and aspirations. Her unique perspective on success, which transcends monetary achievements, emphasizes a deeper, more introspective understanding of personal fulfillment and well-being.You will find Taryn's narrative relatable, inspiring, and a compelling example of how blending diverse life experiences can lead to creating something truly groundbreaking and impactful. This episode is a must-listen for those intrigued by the interplay of physical wellness, emotional well-being, and the relentless pursuit of one's passions.

In this week’s episode, Edwin Raymond, a former NYPD officer and author of "An Inconvenient Cop," is back to offer an in-depth look at his remarkable journey from a troubled childhood in Brooklyn to becoming a police officer and, ultimately, a courageous whistleblower. Raymond's story is not just a personal narrative; it's a window into the complexities and challenges of policing in New York City. The episode explores Raymond's firsthand experiences with racial profiling, both as a civilian in his neighborhood and later as an officer in the NYPD. Listeners are given a rare glimpse into the realities of police training, the systemic issues within law enforcement, and the controversial quota system that impacts police-community relations. Raymond's decision to expose these injustices, despite the personal and professional risks, paints a picture of a man deeply committed to truth and justice. His transition into activism and his plans to reform law enforcement practices through his Justice Minded Alliance initiative are both inspiring and a call to action. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the intricacies of law enforcement, the importance of standing up for what's right, and the power of individual conviction in instigating meaningful change.

In this week's episode, we shed new light on midlife, transforming the dreaded "crisis" into a phase of immense growth and self-discovery. Our guest, Chip Conley, seasoned entrepreneur and founder of the Modern Elder Academy, shares his inspiring journey and profound insights into making midlife a period of unparalleled transformation.Discover how Chip's personal and professional challenges led him to create the world's first midlife wisdom school. This episode delves into the stages of midlife, comparing it to a caterpillar's metamorphosis into a butterfly. We tackle societal pressures, the importance of nurturing friendships backed by science, and the deep fulfillment of creating work that resonates with our souls.Listen as we explore the trials of midlife, from personal loss to identity crises, and how these challenges can catalyze profound reflection and growth. We also discuss rediscovering purpose, pivoting towards a life aligned with our core values, and the concept of 'middle-essence,' drawing parallels between adolescence and midlife.Finally, we share transformative experiences from the Modern Elder Academy's Baja retreats, highlighting the power of vulnerability, awe, and supportive communities. This episode isn't just a conversation; it's an invitation to view midlife with potential and positivity. A must-listen for anyone navigating or looking forward to this transformative life phase, offering wisdom, support, and inspiration. Join us and redefine your midlife journey!

This week's podcast episode dives deep into the emotional turbulence of rejection. Whether it's a love gone sour or a career setback, this episode speaks to the universal sting of being turned down and transforms it into a stepping stone for personal growth.The episode begins with an honest exploration of the elusive quest for closure. It challenges the listener to see beyond the craving for one last conversation, highlighting this desire as a subtle hope to reignite lost connections. As it progresses, the podcast navigates the complex emotions of heartbreak, underscoring the importance of building resilience through self-awareness.A key highlight is the concept of surrender, inspired by spiritual teachings. It reframes acceptance not as defeat, but as a courageous letting go, opening doors to transformation. The podcast also introduces practical strategies like the seven-day no contact rule, emphasizing self-care and emotional recuperation.Intriguingly, it delves into the Mandela Effect in relationships, revealing how our memories can selectively and idealistically distort past events, impeding our growth. The episode then shifts to view every relationship as a spiritual lesson, equating the end of a relationship with a graduation of sorts - a completion of an important life chapter.The episode concludes by inviting listeners to the Happiness Insiders community, fostering a sense of belonging and shared growth. It's packed with actionable advice, from meditation to reflective exercises, aimed at not just overcoming rejection but thriving in its aftermath.This podcast is more than a discussion; it's a comprehensive masterclass in healing from rejection, blending personal stories, spiritual wisdom, and pragmatic tips. It's a guide for anyone eager to turn the pain of rejection into a powerful journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

In this week’s episode, we journey through the life of Hector Marcel, a man whose story embodies resilience, transformation, and the pursuit of inner peace. Born in politically turbulent Argentina, Hector's migration to Australia marks the beginning of an extraordinary life journey, reflecting the universal themes of displacement and belonging.From his early dreams of architecture, influenced by a childhood friend, to a career in high-pressure fashion photography, Hector's path is a testament to the fluidity and unpredictability of life's ambitions. His narrative is not just a personal history but a mirror reflecting our own shifting dreams and aspirations.The episode takes a profound turn as Hector shares his transition from skepticism to embracing Tibetan Buddhism. This change was not just philosophical but deeply personal, reshaping his understanding of anger, reactions, and the self. Hector's insights into Buddhism offer listeners practical wisdom on personal growth and inner peace, highlighting his transformation from a practitioner to a teacher in the tradition.Particularly enlightening is Hector's discussion on meditation, which he likens to a flight simulator for the mind. He eloquently explains how meditation can be a tool for mastering emotional responses and reshaping reality.As the episode draws to a close, Hector delves into the awakening process and the challenge of transforming habits. He outlines the phases of awakening and the importance of imprinting positive karma through conscious actions. His personal anecdotes not only bring these teachings to life but also make them relatable and applicable, providing listeners with a framework for their own journey towards self-discovery and inner peace.

Today's episode is like a cozy fireside chat, where we're looking back at some of the most mind-blowing, heart-touching conversations of 2023.Our theme for the annual retrospective? "Betting on Yourself." You know, that moment when your heart whispers, "Hey, there's something here!" And instead of shushing it, you lean in and say, "Alright, let's dance with this idea." We've got snippets from incredible folks who took that leap, reshaped their lives, and found their purpose.Tune in to hear from: Humble The Poet, the hilarious Kyle Cease, the truth-spitting Africa Brooke, the soulful Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith, the dissect maestro Cole Cuchna, and the poetic Mark Nepo.Each clip is a bite-sized burst of inspiration, around 10-15 minutes. Check the show notes for episode numbers, and maybe, just maybe, you'll be diving into their full stories. Ready for a dose of courage? Let's roll!

Entertainment is one of those industries and careers where you might only get your “big break” much later in life. But could it be worth it to leave a stable, high-paying job to venture into the arts for the very first time?Today's guest, Sarah Cooper, would answer with a resounding “Yes!” Sarah began working in tech design and at the ripe age of 32, she made a career switch that changed her life forever. Thanks to the folly of Donald Trump who inspired her videos that went viral on TikTok, Sarah became a comedian and later, an author.In today's conversation, Sarah explains how her habit of journaling when she was young helped her as a stand-up comedian and author as well as what inspired her to write her latest book, Foolish. We discuss how she found the courage to leave a steady income for the uncertainty of entertainment, how her tech background influences the work she does today, what it's like to become a celebrity overnight, and how her spirituality fits into the picture.We also explore how to navigate relationships after finding fame, the perils of trying to dismantle societal norms, what our guest learned from her memoir writing process, and how she views success today compared to before all the glitz and glamour. 

After a near brush with death, today’s guest committed himself to lead a life filled with purpose and, perhaps more importantly, to empower others to embark on a similar journey. His aim? To draw from his life experiences and develop easily digestible lessons, clear action steps, and straightforward frameworks to assist you in shaping the life you have always yearned for.In this episode, we are joined by Jordan Tarver, the author of You Deserve This Sh!t, a self-help book that promises to help you get unstuck, find your path, and become the best version of yourself. Join our conversation to hear Jordan’s inspiring story about the pivotal moment that shifted his perspective on life and purpose, the importance of being intentional, and why journaling is a cornerstone of self-awareness.We also dive into the meaning behind his book’s title and unpack the entire process of writing, publishing, and marketing it. Furthermore, he elaborates on how he got into keynote speaking, his speaking regiment, and current topics. To hear more from Jordan about pursuing change, why self-awareness is the first step in doing so, and how journaling can help, be sure to tune in now!

By society’s standards, success largely refers to playing the game of capitalism. But what does being successful truly mean to you? This episode is dedicated to exploring what it means to live a more fulfilled, more successful life.We touch on self-realization as a mechanism for creating your personal definition of success, questions to ask yourself to determine whether or not you are in alignment with your values, and the role of comfort and helping others in producing fulfilling lives. Touching on masculine and feminine life paths and considering what it means to fill your own cup first, we create a roadmap towards a new definition for a fulfilling life. By the end of this conversation, you will come away with a more useful definition for success which you can in turn use to inspire others. 

The subject of reincarnation may be a divisive one, but that does not mean there are not serious scientific researchers that are still working in this field. Joining us on the podcast today is none other than Dr. Jim Tucker, a top expert on past life memories and reincarnation.Dr. Tucker is based in North Carolina and we get to have an amazing conversation with our guest about the subject at large, his journey through the field, as well as his reflections on what the study might bring us in the future.We get to explore some real examples from Dr. Tucker's work, stories that he has published in his books, and these examples really lend credence to this kind of endeavor. No matter what your beliefs on the subject, these anecdotes are sure to make you think twice about your assumptions, and possibly even reconsider what you thought you knew.Dr. Tucker maintains a strict, scientific approach to his work, with no past life memories of his own, and merely a fascination with the investigation of others' experiences. We get to talk about the commonalities between the cases, the results of disparate families connecting, and also the reality of public perception of these phenomena. So for all this, and a whole lot more, join us for this fantastic conversation!

Today’s guest is a prime example of finding your purpose and forging your own path no matter what life throws at you. Julio Alvarez is a Founder, Speaker, Coach, and Podcaster who is on a mission to help other leaders navigate uncertain times with a calm head and courageous heart.We begin our conversation with an exploration of Julio’s childhood, including his favorite toys and activities as a youth, the family dynamic he grew up in, and how his idea of success differed from those of his parents.Then, we jump into Julio’s professional journey as he explains how he adjusted to leaving home at a young age, what he learned from his first job in sales, how he built unshakable self-belief, what separates working at massive organizations like Google and Apple from jobs at their smaller counterparts, and what he learned from obsessively studying Oprah and how she deals with people.Julio is also extremely vulnerable in opening up about his Adderall addiction, how he’s overcome the struggles of being “the other” in every environment he’s worked in, how he took ownership of his sexuality, and the moment when coaching revealed itself as his destiny. We also learn about what Julio hopes to achieve with his podcast, Let’s God with Julio, and how a snowstorm in London brought him to his soulmate. 

In today's episode, we're joined by the incredible Dan Harris, a former ABC news anchor, journalist, meditation advocate, and bestselling author. Through books like 10% Happier and Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics, as well as his 10% Happier app, Dan has made meditation accessible to the masses.Join us as he unfolds his journey, recounting a fateful morning in June 2004 that led him to embrace meditation, how he found time to write a book amidst a busy life, and the backstory behind the title 10% Happier.We explore thoughts on different terms including karma, destiny, reincarnation, and enlightenment, how he found his meditation teacher and the weight that relationship carries. If you want to hear more from Dan, including what he learned from the shocking results of a 360 Review, be sure to tune in now. Enjoy. 

Today, we’re joined by returning guest, Steven Reed, a childhood friend and the first Black mayor of Montgomery, Alabama. He's here to discuss his new book, First, Best: Lessons in Leadership and Legacy from Today's Civil Rights Movement, which delves into his backstory in ways we haven't explored before.This episode also goes beyond that and serves as a somewhat practical guide for anyone considering a journey into local politics. It's easy to criticize and complain when faced with local issues, but the real change-makers roll up their sleeves or support those who do.In our conversation with Steven, we explore his remarkable journey, from childhood experiences to dramatic moments, as well as his challenges in politics and how seemingly unrelated experiences like running a sandwich franchise and crunching numbers at American Airlines prepared him for mayoral leadership.Steven also shares his thoughts on the real-world differences between running for mayor versus running for probate judge, the weightiness of responsibility that comes with becoming mayor, and so much more. Every step in our journey has a purpose, and we’re on a journey to uncover how it all connects. Thanks for listening!

In today’s episode, we focus on one of the most popular topics in the Happiness Insiders community: relationships. We delve into the intricacies of personal growth and preparation for a fulfilling relationship based on the first two of six modules from the Preparing for the One Masterclass.The ultimate goal of this masterclass is to encourage individuals to take practical steps to improve themselves in various aspects of life to attract healthy, fulfilling, and compatible relationships. The course provides a structured approach for participants to address each area of their lives to align with their mission statement.Learn about the six integral ways to get into “relationship shape.” From the spiritual to the financial. we cover everything you need to know! We also unpack the significance of understanding one's mission, aligning life decisions with your mission, finding self-inspiration, fostering a genuine path toward self-improvement, and more.This episode acts as a compass for harmonizing the twin journeys of self-discovery and the pursuit of meaningful, fulfilling connections. To discover the roadmap to transform your life through a purpose-driven approach while preparing yourself for “the one,” tune in now!

Today’s guest, Ken Nwadike explains, what we need more of is love, empathy, and peace – and a simple hug can go a long way. Welcome back to The Light Watkins Show as we encourage you to use today’s episode as a guide for finding your center, pressing reset, and ensuring that your mind and heart are in the right place for you to be most useful and effective as a vocal activist against all wars. Ken Nwadike returns to the show to further explain why he decided to take it upon himself to be a pillar of calm in a world set on chaos. Ken founded the Free Hugs Project, a non-profit organization that centers on facilitating peace between two conflicting groups, and he goes into detail on how he enters conflict zones and how he approaches the leaders on either side.We discuss the importance of differentiating between various political groups and agendas, how Ken’s activism has evolved in the past decade, the difficulty and nuance of navigating tribal narratives, and why most Americans are more concerned with and vocal about Gaza than they are about other wars around the world.Ken also walks us through why world peace starts with loving your family, how he overcomes criticism, how we can all rise above trivial online disputes, and why those who know more about the nuances of conflict should take charge in resolving them. If you’re looking for a way for your voice to be heard, you’ve come to the right place. 

Is the pursuit of monetary abundance leaving you unsatisfied? Are you worried about having regrets in life? In this episode, we embark on an incredible journey with Bridget Hilton and Joe Huff, the authors of the inspiring book, Experiential Billionaire. While they're not actual billionaires, their wealth lies in the extraordinary experiences they've pursued.Join us as we uncover the profound impact of experiences on their lives and how these experiences have made them wealthy in more ways than one. Bridget and Joe are far from privileged individuals. Hailing from blue-collar backgrounds in Flint, Michigan, and Southern California, they initially followed conventional career paths.What makes their story so intriguing is how they transitioned from the nine-to-five grind to becoming fervent proponents of experiential living. In this conversation, we explore the idea of building momentum in life through novel experiences, why playing it safe is a dangerous thing to do, and how the value of experiences outweighs any monetary abundance.We delve into the pivotal moments in each of their lives that got them on the path to pursuing experiential wealth, the motivation behind writing the book, and how they are able to continually take leaps of faith in themselves. We also discuss their entrepreneurial journeys, the concept of a “treasure map”, the principles and framework of an Experiential Billionaire, the steps to living with no regrets, and much more! Tune in and discover a different kind of wealth that will change your life for the better with Bridget Hilton and Joe Huff!

Joining us on the podcast is Tracee Stanley, who was the guest on Episode 43, Radiant Rest with Tracee Stanley. Drawing inspiration from 28 years of dedicated practice and study in yoga and tantra, she offers practices aimed at rekindling the awareness of one's true self, enabling access to the eternal, powerful, wise, and deserving aspects within.She crafts sacred environments that foster clarity, self-devotion, and the momentum required for steering away from detrimental patterns, guiding individuals towards living harmoniously with the inner guidance of their souls.  During our conversation, we delve deeply into the philosophies and ideologies of sacred yogic practices and rituals that aid in rediscovering one's true self, as detailed in her latest book, The Luminous Self: Sacred Yogic Practices and Rituals to Remember Who You Are.We explore the concept that your authentic self is revealed rather than defined, the parallel between self-forgetting and collective amnesia to a virus, and Tracee provides valuable guidance on navigating the diverse array of existing practices.Our discussion also encompasses Samskaras and Vāsanās, the role of therapists in activating your true self, and the significance of self-inquiry. Tune in to discover more about psychic knots, the wisdom of the Dagara Tribe of West Africa, The Luminous Self training, and so much more!

Kris is a New York Times best-selling author, and her seventh book offering, I’m Not a Mourning Person, cements her status as “a force of nature” as quoted by O, The Oprah Magazine. She joins us today to explain how cancer was the catalyst for her venture into wellness and beyond, and we begin our conversation with Kris explaining why she is still so passionate about writing after already having numerous written accomplishments. After taking us through a day in her life, Kris shares her childhood ideologies and the ones that she still carries with her today, how her many jobs in entertainment helped to form her worldview, the ins, and outs of her fateful cancer diagnosis, and how she found herself in the presence and company of Oprah. Our guest then opens up about what she learned from having to take care of her father who was also diagnosed with cancer, how his words changed the direction of her life, her advice on how you can support a loved one with a terminal illness, and the many surprising truths that can be found in I’m Not a Mourning Person.We are grateful to Kris for her vulnerability and honesty throughout this captivating conversation, and there is much for you to learn from hearing about her writing process and the underlying spirituality behind how she landed on a title for her book. 

Everything in life is a story. From birth, we project stories onto our lives of what we want, how we think the world operates, and what we think we deserve from our time on Earth.These stories may be our own, but we often adopt the stories of those around us usually in the hopes of fitting in, and often to detrimental effect. How we interpret and use these stories will determine whether we are living a life of presence and gratitude or one riddled with avoidable tribulations.Welcome to Light’s 8th solo episode as we explore the unyielding and undeniable power of story. Through the retelling of a Watkins’ family trip, we learn that everything in life is a mere construct of what we’ve chosen to believe, and Light explains how researching weekly riddles made him realize just how arbitrary most of our belief systems are. We uncover the true strength of the stories we tell ourselves by examining board games, capitalism and law, cultural and societal constructs like the calendar and time zones, how stories are innate from birth, and how stories play out in our relationships.If you’d like to know how to begin living your own story instead of the ones you’ve been told all your life, try starting with gratitude. Thanks for tuning in!

Generational curses can cling to us like sweat on a humid summer’s day. And while how we are raised does mark us for life in a certain way, we also have the agency to rewrite the script and forge a new path of health and abundance.Stephen Scoggins is a prime example of breaking free from generational traumas to lay new foundations of victory and hope. He joins us today to share his life’s journey as a testament that success is just a matter of mental resilience and fortitude (and a whole lot of G.O.D!).Stephen explains the rules that govern his life and how they are rooted in truth and transparency, before diving into detail about what it was like growing up in the Scroggins’ household.We discuss the skills that he learned as a teenager in construction and how they still help him today, how he found his faith and life’s purpose, what it means to overcome adversity, and a deep examination of the relationship between having the right mindset and living in abundance.Stephen believes that money is not a key marker of success, and he gives some advice on how to deal with money within the family dynamic. Stephen’s stories are as colorful and full of life as the characters in them, and because he lives his life in acts of service, this conversation is another charitable offering for which we are extremely grateful! So, tune in now, open your mind and heart, and enjoy. 

The most important battles are not being fought in the octagon, on wrestling mats, or in the boxing ring – they are taking place at home, in the workplace, and in the hidden sanctuaries of those who have long been forgotten. And today’s guest, MMA fighter-turned-humanitarian Justin Wren, has answered an innate yet magical call to be a champion for those who cannot fight for themselves. Justin is the founder of Fight for the Forgotten, an NPO dedicated to defending the weak, loving the unloved, and empowering the voiceless worldwide. Coupled with his inspirational podcast, Overcome (which focuses on overcoming childhood trauma to find your purpose), Justin uses his platforms to give voice to those who can’t speak for themselves while actually implementing long-term projects of sustainability and opportunity. We begin our riveting conversation with Justin detailing his relationship with Joe Rogan and how Joe has helped him widen his audience, why vulnerability and synchronicity were the keys to surviving the Brooklyn Bridge, why he decided to reach out to Joe and other platforms to share his story, and the story of his life and how he found himself in a battle with depression and addiction. Our guest also explains how bullying led him to wrestling and how the sport ultimately gave him all the confidence in the world! Then, we hear all about Justin’s trip to The Congo, including the supernatural vision that led him to Africa, his harrowing journey flying into the war-torn area, how this experience changed his perception of success and everything that Justin remembers about the endearing Bambuti (Mbuti) Pygmy’s and other African tribes.Justin has so many wonderful stories to share, and after his invigorating tales of passion and perseverance, we have just enough time for him to walk us through the incredible work being done by his organization, Fight for the Forgotten, and how it’s become the master of building wells for communities in need. You are absolutely going to love this one, so press play now! 

Every day, we are offered opportunities to choose between surviving and thriving. When faced with adversity, we can choose to give up or we can choose to enlarge our sense of things when pain and fear make us feel small. Sometimes, all it takes is a shift in perspective. Today’s guest is Mark Nepo, a beloved poet, master teacher, and New York Times bestselling author who has been called one of the “most spiritually influential” people alive today. In his most recent book, Falling Down and Getting Up: Discovering Your Inner Resilience and Strength, Mark invites readers to view adversity from a different viewpoint and navigate the challenges of life by transforming them into opportunities for deepening and renewal.In this episode, Mark shares his experience of coming face-to-face with his mortality when he was diagnosed with cancer, the perspective it gave him on life, and how it led him to become a “student of all paths.” We take a deep dive into the shifting meaning of success, what it means to find your God-given element, and how to follow the truth that’s in your heart. We also touch on how Mark retrieves his poems and books rather than authoring them, views pain, grief, and fear as teachers, and more. Filled with humble insights and wise words, Mark’s new book (and this conversation about it) will encourage and inspire people from all walks of life. So, tune in and join us today!

Humans have a complicated relationship with food. What was once a harmonious exchange of hard work (hunting and gathering), nutrition, and social interaction has now become a whirlwind of fast food and eating in isolation. But as today’s guest, Shawn Stevenson explains in his new book, Eat Smarter Family Cookbook, eating healthy can be simpler and way more fun than you’ve ever imagined! Shawn is a renowned author, speaker, and podcast host with a background in science and biology, and we learn about how food saved his life. We discuss the polarities in America regarding food and healthy eating, how some pharmaceutical companies get away with murder, the ins and outs of bioavailable foods, and how to create your own healthy food environments (blue zones) at home.To wrap up this intriguing conversation with one of the most well-read health experts we’ve ever had the pleasure of hosting on this show, Shawn explains where you can start when thinking about making healthier food choices, which food contagions to avoid and their healthier alternatives, and how the Eat Smarter Family Cookbook is different from and a cut above all the rest! 

In this week's episode, host Light Watkins delves into the remarkable journey of Tami Simon, the visionary founder of Sounds True – the publishing company responsible for bringing Light's 4th book, Travel Light, into the world. Tami's unconventional path began while working at a greasy Chinese restaurant, ultimately leading her to heed an inner calling and start recording spiritual teachers in her town. This catalytic decision paved the way for the birth of Sounds True, where Tami collaborated with a business-savvy partner to publish influential works by spiritual luminaries such as Eckhart Tolle and Michael Singer. Uncovering the essence of Tami's journey, the episode explores the mission behind Sounds True and its commitment to amplifying messages that resonate as authentically true. Light engages in a conversation with Tami, unveiling insights into the heart of Sounds True, its initiatives, and the enduring relevance of her story, even though the original interview dates back to 2021. You are invited to join in and draw inspiration from Tami's profound narrative, reaffirming the transformative power of embracing authenticity on the path to purpose.

What does it take to start a successful YouTube channel? And how does that differ from building it once you’ve got it off the ground? Joining us today is return guest Robert Brix Glover, a health and fitness YouTuber whose first video (which documented his remarkable weight loss transformation) went viral and garnered him thousands of new subscribers back in 2016. Today that video has over six million views — and it’s not even the most viewed video on his channel! We first had Brix on the podcast back in 2020, where we chatted about his childhood, his weight loss journey, and the inner transformation that changed his life. In today’s conversation, we get into the backstory of how he built his YouTube channel, what he takes into account when choosing his subject matter, and how he plans to take his content to the next level. We hear from Brix about the lessons that have been instrumental to his YouTube evolution before discussing the details of how you can earn a six-figure income on YouTube as a full-time content creator. Brix also shares his perspective on creating content that incorporates the people and events in his life, why authenticity is central to his approach, and the transformative effect that his personal version of monk mode has had on him. If you’re interested in learning more about how to gain traction as a content creator, or if you want to put your ideas out there but you’re not sure where to start, then you won’t want to miss out on this game-changing conversation!

On the show today is a very special guest; none other than Light's brother, Drew Watkins! As a creative director for Turner Sports and Bleacher Report, Drew has been involved in some of the most-watched sports-based content in the last 20 years, and it is quite likely that you have seen a lot of Drew's work without even knowing it. In this conversation, we get to hear all about the early seeds of Drew's interest in video and creating recordings, and how the vibe in the Watkins home influenced his outlook on life. Drew also shares a bit about his years at college and the interesting challenges he faced during this period, through to his transition into the professional sphere. The most emblematic element of Drew's career is his philosophy on creativity, and hearing about his approach to making content and producing pieces that are exciting and apt is truly inspiring. There are so many relatable lessons for listeners to grab onto, and the message here of following a passion in interesting directions is a very strong one. Press play and hear it all!

Join us for a special re-airing of an inspiring episode featuring Sharon Salzberg, a renowned New York Times best-selling author and teacher of Buddhist meditation. In this captivating interview, Sharon takes us on a profound journey through her life, revealing the transformative power of meditation in the face of adversity.Starting with her daily meditation routine, Sharon shares how her difficult childhood played a pivotal role in shaping her into one of the most influential meditative teachers in the United States and the western world. She opens up about the loss of her mother, her estranged relationship with her father, and the profound impact her immigrant grandparents had on her upbringing.As the conversation deepens, Sharon discusses her discovery of philosophy and meditation during her college years, and her transformative travels to India, where she encountered enlightening experiences and wise teachers. Returning to the United States, she embarked on a mission to establish a center in Barre, facing numerous challenges as she blended Eastern teachings with Western ways of living in a brand new community.Throughout the episode, Sharon delves into the significance of mindfulness, meditation, and Metta (loving-kindness), sharing anecdotes and wisdom acquired from her extraordinary journey. The discussion also touches on how the pandemic has affected her teaching and how she has adapted to a rapidly evolving world.Don't miss this opportunity to revisit Sharon Salzberg's incredible story of resilience and discovery. Tune in today to immerse yourself in the profound wisdom of one of the most influential meditation teachers of our time.

For today's episode, listeners are getting some more great insight into Light's new book, Travel Light. The format here is a punchy compilation of conversations from Instagram Live with a bunch of amazing personalities and people from Light's network and past podcast guests. So if you want to hear Light getting asked some powerful questions by a few of the best minds and souls out there, you have come to the right place! Featured here are Africa Brooke, Robert Brix Glover from Brix Fitness, Simona Von Woikowsky, who is the illustrator of Travel Light, Adriene Mishler from Yoga with Adriene, Jesse Israel, Bozama Saint John, Leon Logothetis, Tara Stiles from Strala Yoga, Steven Pressfield, Rosario Dawson, Will Cole, and Light's editor, Diana Ventimiglia! The clips cover topics such as the inspiration for the book, its most fundamental concepts, the genesis of its ideas, the format and writing process, listening to the heart voice, and much more too. Tune in to hear it all!

Spiritual minimalism is a concept that our very own Light Watkins has led his life by and is exceptionally helpful in finding your true self and achieving happiness and success. Welcome to the seventh solo episode with Light. Today we are delving into his new book, Travel Light: Spiritual Minimalism to Live a More Fulfilled Life, and reminding you of the seven principles of spiritual minimalism. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about the book, the themes throughout all of his books, the process of getting a book deal, how he leveraged relationships with podcast hosts as a marketing strategy and much more! Light reminds us what spiritual minimalism is before sharing its seven principles and how he came up with them by embracing curiosity. Often, people who follow their hearts are belittled and, in this episode, our host explains why the heart plays an important role in decision making and he shares his interesting take on imposter syndrome as a positive thing. We even learn about his podcasting journey. Lastly, we get special insight into how to preorder Travel Light and how to enter an amazing competition to win some of the items Light has carried with him throughout his spiritually minimalistic journey. To hear all this and be inspired to find your own way without comparing yourself to others, press play now!

We all have an inner truth that every so often nudges us into directions, whether we are aware of it, or not. We may find, however, that we do not necessarily often listen to or follow those inner nudgings, but as we dive into the story from today’s episode, we see how powerful it can be to trust life and see where it takes you. In our conversation today, we welcome back Kute Blackson. Kute is a transformational teacher, a sought-after inspirational speaker, and the bestselling author of two books, The Magic of Surrender and You Are The One. Born in Ghana, he had a multicultural upbringing as the child of a Japanese mother and a Ghanaian father. At the age of 18, Kute left everything he knew behind and followed an inner nudging that sparked a cascade of events leading him to become a spiritual legend. As you tune in to this episode of the Light Watkins Show, you’ll join us on a journey as we talk about the anatomy of a leap of faith, how to follow your heart and inner nudgings, and practical steps and advice about how to start listening to your deeper inner truth and ultimately discover your purpose. 

Today, we are joined by Shona Vertue, creator of The Vertue Method and trainer of the stars, to share her holistic fitness journey. We discover how she chose life over gymnastics just as the Olympics entered her purview, and where that life took her. She opens up about how a patronizing counseling experience at a young age sparked her interest in psychology and shares a transformative "cult" encounter that introduced her to the profundity of the Eastern path. The Vertue Method aims to challenge limiting beliefs and help people optimize their overall health through flexibility, strength, fitness, mental health, and mindfulness. Shona shares the genesis story of the method, emphasizing the significance of holistic living and sharing insights into her principles of nutrition. Shona has succeeded in living her life in alignment with her authentic self while meeting her practical needs by creating a thriving business and engaged online community. Tune in to learn more about her journey and discover how you, too, can gain traction online, embrace a holistic approach to your well-being, and unlock your true potential.  

What does it take to shift your path and find success in doing what truly lights you up on the inside? We are joined today by an amazing individual whose journey and dedication to pursuing meaningful work is something to be inspired by. Cole Cuchna is the host of Dissect, an incredibly well-received podcast aimed at countering our scrolling culture. A serialized music podcast where he examines a single album every season but doesn’t merely discuss the musical arrangements of the songs in these albums, but talks about the history, the culture, the philosophy, and the storytelling done by the musicians as well as the impact of the times in which those songs were created. In our conversation with Cole today, we hear about his childhood and significant moments that impacted his path through life, his thoughts on the hard-work ideology taught to him by his parents, and what eventually led him to leave his band and the touring lifestyle. He shares how he faked his way into his music program, the debate that ensued post-graduation, and the story behind falling in love with coffee. We then dive into the birth of Dissect, and he walks us through his process of gathering insights and interpretations for each song on the album. Cole’s story is relatable, and his journey is proof that you don’t have to choose between following your passion and paying the bills. To hear why he believes Beethoven and the likes stood the test of time, don’t miss out on this great episode. 

In this episode of The Light Watkins Show, we are re-airing the captivating interview with renowned film director Ava DuVernay. Known for her groundbreaking work in movies like "Selma" and "13th," as well as the hit TV series "Queen Sugar," Ava has become a force in the industry. Host Light Watkins takes us through Ava's inspiring journey, from her upbringing in South Central Los Angeles to her career in PR and her eventual leap of faith into directing and storytelling.Ava shares how she overcame challenges, downsizing her life and making sacrifices to pursue her passion for filmmaking. Despite picking up a camera later in life, Ava's dedication to telling diverse and important stories shines through. She discusses the creation of her nonprofit organization, Array, which focuses on distributing films by people of color and women.With numerous awards and nominations under her belt, Ava's message is clear: it's never too late to pursue your dreams. She emphasizes the importance of using your voice and platform to uplift others, a mission she has embraced throughout her career. Join Light Watkins as he delves into the remarkable life and work of one of today's most influential creative voices, Ava DuVernay.

In 2022, Marianne Williamson relinquished her bid to become the next president of the United States of America. There years later and this prolific author (affectionately known as Oprah’s advisor) is back at it again, this time in an attempt to don the nation’s presidential crown at the end of 2024. Marianne believes that the political status quo will not disrupt itself, so it’s up to spiritual candidates like her to bring about healthy, systemic change for all. Marianne joins Light on the show today to discuss how A Course in Miracles changed her life, the ins and outs of her decision to get into politics, why she believes that systemic change for the better is still possible, and how her current presidential race differs from the previous one. We explore the intrinsic link between spirituality and politics and how spiritual seekers can support their representatives, and end with a deep examination of the bipolar consciousness of America. Marianne is one of Light’s real-world inspirations and after you hear this enlightening conversation, she’s bound to climb up your list of motivational superstars! Enjoy.   

We are so happy to welcome back Martinus Evans, Founder of the Slow AF Run Club. Since our last conversation, Martinus' amazing journey and inspiring story have kept unfolding and progressing, and in today's episode, we speak about his new book, his online community, his different business avenues, and his perspectives on success right now. Martinus has always been about taking things to the next level, and that is probably why running is such a strong and apt metaphor for his life. We get into his thoughts on “going through the fire,” reliance on self, making the right sacrifices, and also how he schedules his time; all of which listeners will find highly actionable and motivating. Martinus unpacks his framework of values, goals, and habits, and how the synergy of these three components can truly drive you forward. If you want to catch it all from the one and only Martinus Evans, be sure to join us for this essential episode! 

Spiritual minimalism can be simply explained as minimalism from the inside out. It is seven basic principles that serve as a guideline toward doing more with less in an effort to live a more fulfilling life. Today, in Light’s 6th solo episode, he breaks down the seven principles of spiritual minimalism and how they can be used as a framework for understanding relationships. After introducing his upcoming book, Travel Light, our host explains the joys of flâneuring, why “relationships” is an ever-relevant topic, and why the illusion of separation can be a source of confusion in how you relate to relationships. Then, we explore the essence of minimalism before Light clarifies how each of the seven principles of spiritual minimalism can help you foster meaningful relationships. Ultimately, practicing stillness and cultivating your heart voice (the first principle) will activate all the other principles, as you begin to take action in nurturing the learning opportunities that come with every relationship while being deliberate to be present in every moment. And remember to pre-order your copy of Travel Light to stand a chance to win one of Light’s personal-item giveaways — each with its own unique and memorable backstory! Thanks for tuning in. 

Welcome back to the Light Watkins Show as we bring you the second half of Light’s chat with his father, attorney Donald V. Watkins. The conversation resumes with Donald explaining how going to prison as a Black man in the 1960s was as good as attaining a Ph.D. While in prison, Donald found himself rubbing shoulders with many innocent men who were mostly there as a result of poor legal representation. He took it upon himself to be their voice in the darkness and he describes the tactics that he used to free 47 of his fellow inmates, as well as the intricacies of why the criminal justice system in America is failing. We learn how the prison staff received Donald’s charity toward the other inmates, why he never stopped writing and publishing articles, how his legal acumen saved his life, and the best and worst moments of his time in incarceration. Our guest then shares some very useful tips for how to find and properly vet a lawyer that you want to work with, before detailing how he would change the criminal justice system and why his plan to own an NFL team is not as audacious as it seems when you consider his tenacity for working hard to get what he wants! Finally, after two remarkable, informative, and emotional podcast episodes, the sensational Donald V. Watkins offers some important advice for green-eared lawyers who are looking to make their mark on the world. Tune in for all this and more!

This week’s episode is very special as Light finally gets to interview his lifelong inspiration: his father. It’s an absolute pleasure to introduce to you, Mr. Donald V. Watkins. Understandably, Light and his father have a lot to discuss, so the conversation with Donald will be a two-part series. In part one, we learn about Donald’s childhood of growing up in a close-knit community in the South during the civil rights movement, with loving parents who demanded a high work ethic, and with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a Sunday-school teacher and Rosa Parks as a close family friend!  Donald recounts his first memory of experiencing direct racism and how his teachers taught him to be resilient against it, before explaining how he got into architecture and why he eventually left it to study law. We hear about a special custodian who mentored the black students of Alabama State College, what Donald learned from his days as an attorney, what inspired him to run for city council, and how he fought back against police misconduct while he was in office. Donald’s life could be written as a movie, and you can get a glimpse of him as an attorney in action in Episode 4 of season 1 of the Netflix series, Trial by Media. We wrap up part one with Donald V. Watkins by exploring his incredible 154-case win streak, how he ended up in prison, and why he believes that prison was his finest hour as a lawyer. Be sure not to miss this riveting, wonderful, wholesome conversation, and be on the lookout for part two! Disclaimer: Please note that this episode contains graphic accounts of racism and prejudice. Please listen with care. 

Today’s guest, Steve Izen, is a true inspiration who made his mark on the world by getting everyone around him to follow in his steps and embrace the idea of impermanence. After hearing of his grandfather’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Steve began to toil with the idea of how we are all constantly experiencing highs and lows and the aim is for us to find balance. That seed grew into his company Lokai, a bracelet brand that combines actual water from Mount Everest with actual water from the Dead Sea (the highest and lowest points in the world) to preach the word that life is ever-changing, and one should always seek internal peace and balance in an otherwise chaotic world. We talk about how Steve’s idea of success has changed from when he was younger to now, how he thought up Lokai, why many retailers rejected Lokai at the start, and how word-of-mouth was crucial to Lokai’s success. We explore the value of community, Steve’s hiring process and Lokai’s manufacturing process, why Steve prioritizes family and friends over everything else, and the ins and outs of the other company he founded, Elements of Balance. Steve truly is an example of how to work hard, earn well, and give money to charity and time to the people you love. You do not want to miss this remarkable conversation!

In this episode of the podcast, host Light Watkins is in conversation with Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith. Beckwith is the founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, California, which has a congregation of over 9,000 people a week. He is also known for his work in the film and book called The Secret, which is about the law of attraction.The episode dives into Beckwith's life story and his journey toward spirituality. He shares how he found his calling and created the Agape International Spiritual Center, as well as the foundational principles of affirmative prayer. Beckwith's experience growing up in a family with a probate officer turned judge father and a mother with psychic powers also shaped his perspective on life and spirituality.The conversation covers Beckwith's new podcast, Take Back Your Mind, which is designed to guide listeners back to their minds and away from worry, doubt, and fear. The episode is full of inspirational stories and insights that will leave listeners feeling empowered and motivated to live their best lives. If you're looking for a transformative and inspiring conversation, this episode with Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith is not to be missed.

The natural world has so much to teach us, and the different ways we are able to interact with it in the modern context, offers endless inspiration. Today on the show we welcome documentary filmmaker, Louie Schwartzberg, to talk about his intriguing life and career, and what has inspired his amazing films, such as Fantastic Fungi and Gratitude Revealed. The child of Holocaust survivors, Louie felt the impact of his family's trauma acutely, and in our chat, he talks about how this shaped many parts of his upbringing, in both positive and negative ways. He shares his recollections of his early fascination with plants and film and the events that led up to his exploring early time-lapse photography.Louie underlines his prioritization of learning through watching and doing, and his desire to tell different kinds of stories. We also get into the practical steps that allowed him to build a career and reputation. Louie remains hopeful of building a movement that can change the world and believes that our gratitude is central to this project. So to hear it all from this amazing guest, be sure to tune in!

Imagine falling in love unexpectedly and then after only six short years together, you get the news that your wife has 15 months to live. Today’s guest, Ray “Willie Qool” Singleton is no stranger to knowing love and loss. With experience in singing, sales, and social media influencing, Ray quickly became ‘America’s Husband’ when a video of him singing to his wife with cancer went viral. Join us today as we discuss Ray’s upbringing, influences, time at college, years as a salesman, and so much more. Ray describes the incredible story of how he met his wife. He goes on to share how they handled her cancer diagnosis, touching on communication in their marriage, and staying positive in tough times. When Ray and Roslyn were invited to the Ellen Show, they became overnight celebrities, and in this episode, he shares how his social media community supported him and his wife through the last days of her life. He tells us about how music kept him going and the peaceful way his wife left this earth before telling us what he feels his purpose is and what is next for him. To hear from this incredibly talented and inspirational man, tune in now!

We’ve come full circle here on The Light Watkins Show as today, we are joined by this podcast’s very first guest! Leon Logothetis is an explorer, TV show host, speaker, and author, and he is here with us to chat about his latest book, Go Be Brave. After a quick recap of Leon’s extraordinary background, he tells us how he defines bravery and courage, his earliest memory of having to be brave, his extroverted and introverted selves and the one that is closer to his true self, and the correlation between being yourself and speaking your truth. Then, we hear about the power of the truth diary and taking action, how to use nature to reconnect with your humanity, why taking action is more important than understanding the concepts in Leon’s book, and what Leon believes is the most fundamental and non-negotiable aspect of being brave. We end this delightful and inspiring conversation with an exploration of the type of bravery that is needed to build long-lasting relationships, why our guest is closer to his life’s goal of marriage than he’s ever been before, and why you should be comfortable saying both yes and no, and knowing when to say them.  Enjoy!

Today we are joined by international speaker, consultant, coach, podcaster, and unapologetic champion of honesty, Africa Brooke! Africa was born in Zimbabwe before moving to the UK, and we get to hear all about our guest's early years, challenges, and paths of self-discovery. Having struggled with an alcoholic father, Africa herself fell into a pattern of substance abuse, and she generously talks about what this looked like and what it took for her to break out of these habits. She explains the impact that learning about self-sabotage had on her, as well as the power of sharing her story publicly. From there, the conversation transitions to her outspoken comments on transcending the confines of wokeness and cancel culture, and how stepping into her truth changed things for her in so many ways. Listeners will come away with some inspiring and fearless thoughts on purpose, truth, making peace with contradictions, and intentionality; all things we can all use a bit more of! Africa also talks about the central role that ritual plays in her life, finding her voice as a storyteller, becoming a better listener, and much more, so tune in now!

In the chaos of life, it’s easy to get caught in the mess of it all, forgetting that your pain and struggle can actually be turned into a motivational message of strength and perseverance. Today’s guest has valiantly turned her mess into her message, and it is a pleasure to be joined by fitness influencer, speaker, coach, @NYCfitfam creator, and the founder of The Big Ask Method, Jamie Hess. After Light and Jamie reminisce about when they first met, we get a sense of Jamie’s childhood and what it was like growing up with a celebrity mother, and how horseback riding saved her life. We discuss an injury that sent Jamie down the drug rabbit hole, how her drug use affected her relationship with her mother, the dangers of some prescription and harm-reducing drugs, and the definition of a high-functioning drug addict. Our guest then walks us through how she adopted a lifestyle of gratitude, her journey to finding fitness as a vocation, why she decided to be vulnerable in sharing her story, and the blind date that eventually led to 11 happy years of marriage! We discover how Jamie and her husband George started NYCfitfam, what they did to grow the account, how Jamie fell into an eating disorder (and how George helped her through it), and the ins and outs surrounding her decision to make her unhealthy relationship with food public. Finally, Jamie explains how she became a coach and why coaching also needs a dedicated, self-motivated student, before she offers listeners of the show a 20% discount that they can apply to her upcoming Reset Retreat!

If you want to hear the uncut, 3-hour long, full interview with Adriene Mishler, join Light's online community, The Happiness Insiders Community: http://community.lightwatkins.comOnline health platforms were already on the rise before the pandemic of 2020, but we have seen a sharp uptick in the utilization of video classes and communities since quarantines have kicked in. One such community was built by Adriene Mishler, and had humble beginnings as a yoga class hosted on YouTube in the early 2010s. 'Yoga with Adriene' grew steadily after a slow start, and by the time 2020 came around Adriene was the highest searched yoga content on the internet! She has built a huge community which she helps instruct from her living room. To give you an idea of her impact, she has been called 'the Mr. Rogers of yoga'! Having been born into a theatre family, Adriene has a lifelong passion for performance and connection to an audience. We hear from her about her earliest memories of the theatre, how this grew into a career in acting, and how this career led her to pursue teaching yoga. Constantly juggling a number of intense projects has kept Adriene on the go from a young age, and it is only through her consistency and a deep desire that she has made it through challenging times and reaped the rewards of the hard work. We see how her authenticity led to the videos she was publishing eventually catching fire, to the point where she now has 7 million subscribers on YouTube, with over 600 million views on her channel! This is a beautifully meandering conversation about this process of growth, the obstacles that Adriene encountered, and the lessons she learned along the way. Adriene talks about the role of her angels in the journey and what it means to contribute to the future of yoga! Listen in with us today for this amazing conversation!

Bringing the focus back onto Light, and in particular his new book, Travel Light, this episode expands on the ideas of spiritual minimalism, following inner guidance, and the process of writing a book. Light first coined the term 'spiritual minimalism' while reflecting on the last couple of years and his backpack lifestyle, his decreasing need to accumulate possessions and material items, and the gifts that present themselves in each of life's situations. The episode starts off with some helpful insights and tips about the process of publishing a book, either through the self-publishing route or by way of traditional publishers. Listeners can expect some great information on where to focus one's energy, and the steps that enable an author to get a book out into the world. From there, Light starts to delve into the subject matter of Travel Light, tacking the ideas of choicelessness, the benefits of a unique idea, finding comfort and discomfort, and much more. So if you want to hear all of this and more on the background of book number four from Light Watkins, be sure to listen in!

Life can be extremely challenging at times, throwing hurdles and obstacles at us that often seem insurmountable. But if you can acknowledge ‘the suck’ and find a way to sit in the discomfort, then you will have a better chance at regaining your joyful spirit! This episode explores themes of domestic violence and dealing with severe loss, please listen with care. Today’s guest, Dr. Neeta Bhushan, has endured unfathomable loss and hardships to come out the other side better and stronger, whilst helping others realign with their purpose, too.  We hear of her extraordinary upbringing, which saw her lose her mother, father, and brother all before she turned 20 years old. Dr. Neeta explains the immigrant philosophy in which she was raised, how she approaches spirituality, how she dealt with the loss of three family members when she was a teenager, and how those losses nudged her toward a career in medicine. We also hear about her transformative trip to Rome before our guest opens up about how an abusive marriage affected her, and how saying yes to almost everything after her divorce helped her regain her passion for life. Turning our attention to Dr. Neeta’s new book, That Sucked, Now What?, our guest defines ‘the suck,’ how we can embrace it, and what it means to be in ‘the thriving stage.’ Finally, the remarkable Dr. Neeta Bhushan tells us how her definition of success has changed over the years, what her relationship with her family is like today, and the wondrous moments she has witnessed as a result of those around her embracing their suck!    

Our guest today, Kyle Cease, fell in love with comedy at a young age. And while he has had an incredibly successful comedy career, his hard work and ingenuity were driven by more than just a love of making people laugh. He also felt a deep-seated need for approval and validation. Today on the show we talk with Kyle Cease, a transformational comedian, and best-selling author, about his fascinating career as a comedian and how it has been shaped by his spiritual journey. We hear from Kyle about how he started doing corporate comedy events as a 15-year-old, why he always put himself in a position to learn from the best, and how he became a transformational comedian. Kyle goes on to share how reaching the depths of despair helped him let go of old versions of himself and set him on the path he is following today. We also discuss Kyle’s Evolve Out Loud event, how it’s grown over the past ten years, and his advice for anyone starting out on their spiritual journey. For a very special conversation on following your dreams, listening to your higher self, and letting go, be sure to tune in today!

Today's guest, Nora McInerny, knows a thing or two about tragedy and loss, and in today's conversation, we get to hear from her about what enabled her to keep going, course correct, and stay progressive through some very difficult times. Nora is the author of several books, and in her most recent, Bad Vibes Only, she tackles some of the issues she sees in being too optimistic in today's world. Our guest has a podcast of her own and is also a lifelong journaler, which we explore in some detail. Nora shares so much insight into some quite uncommon attitudes towards grief and loss, talking about the unique experience she went through when she lost her husband Aaron. We hear about life after these events, her second marriage, and the lessons she continues to learn and respond to, so make sure to join us to catch it all in this powerful episode!

Today we have a real-life superhero on the show, with a breathtaking origin story. Elladj Baldé is a figure skater that has been breaking the mold and shattering expectations since his early days in the sport. Despite some sizable course corrections and realignments, he has managed to find an authentic place for exercising and exploring his passion for expression. In this conversation with Elladj, we hear about the challenges of being a black skater, the successes and speed humps he has lived through, why he moved into performance skating, and the difficulties he has had with multiple concussions during his career. Elladj talks about the beauty and allure of wild ice and the different influences and motivations that he received from his particular family dynamic. Towards the end of our chat, we also hear from Elladj about the amazing Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance, which he helped found, and some of his hopes and ambitions for the future of the sport. So if you want to catch all this, join us for this great adventure with Elladj!

Today, we have an experimental episode in store. Having had some amazing guests on the show who have told us their backstories and shared with us their inspirations, why limit them to those that still walk the earth today?One of the historical figures that are very intriguing is Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist that was born a slave, and eventually became one of the most prominent abolitionists of his time, even heralded as the most famous Black man in the world, and the most photographed person in all of America in the 1800s.To share Douglass’ fascinating life story, today’s guest is Professor David W. Blight, the world’s foremost expert on the life of Frederick Douglass. He is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Douglass biography, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, which combines stories and insights, drawing from a repository of Douglass’ letters and papers from the latter third of his life, which have not previously been written about. David is the Sterling Professor of African American studies and the director of the Guider Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University, not to mention an award-winning author of seven other books, plus multiple op-eds. In this episode, Professor David Blight shares a bit about his personal relationship with Black history and what attracted him to Frederick Douglass, and goes on to share Douglass’ story, from the reinvention of his life out of human bondage to discovering the power of language, and becoming a speaker during the golden age of oratory as performance, to his rise to stardom after writing his books, his mastery of multiple witting styles, and his declining mental health. David also explains the relationship Douglass had with his wife and his family, his foray into writing history, and his problem with the pleasures and perils of fame, as well as the legacy he has left us in his words. Tune in today!

There is a growing understanding of the roots of addiction and how earlier traumas shape our needs and habits, and as this tide rises, we are able to better serve those on paths to recovery. Our guest today is the fantastic and inspiring Elisa Hallerman, and we have an amazing conversation about her winding soul journey of self-discovery, and her book, Soulbriety. Elisa's story is one of finding her way into helping others with the issues she faced, and she talks about the consistent nature of soul work, the roots of her substance abuse issues, the power of storytelling, and letting go of our connection to the ego. Listeners are guaranteed to come away with fresh perspectives on what it means to confront demons, how to start down a new path of self-inquiry, and why it is so valuable to share the wisdom we have gained with others. Make sure to catch this stand-out conversation!

A lot of the time, the answers to the struggles that we go through as human beings lie in love. When we don’t love ourselves, we won’t be able to find love elsewhere, nor will we be able to find the confidence to live our lives to their full capacity. Zachary Levi, best known for his lead roles in Chuck and Shazam, learned this lesson the hard way. During today’s episode, Zach paints a picture of his turbulent childhood which led to adulthood plagued with mental health struggles, culminating in a rock-bottom moment where he almost took his own life. As Zach’s story demonstrates, radical self-love can take one out of even the darkest of spaces and into the light!

In Light’s fourth solo episode, he examines what purpose is, what it means to live your purpose, and how all of your choices ultimately lead you to it. Light shares his journey of discovering his purpose, emphasizing that nothing is an accident, even if it feels like you’re straying from your path. This episode provides clarity on the relationship between trust and opportunities, the difference between tension and friction, and the most common misconception about inner guidance. Tune in to discover the true value of gratitude, the safety in uncertainty, and the importance of trusting your intuition, no matter how comfortable the alternative. 

In a creative landscape dominated by social media and online marketing, real and original artists can have a hard time finding their audience and maintaining a career. But that does not mean it is impossible, and today's guest is an example of how authenticity and hard work can pay off and allow a great connection with the right kind of audience. Humble the Poet joins us for a fascinating conversation in which we explore his winding path, the ups and downs, and some of the pivotal moments that he has experienced. Now the author of three books, including his latest, How to Be Love(d). Humble has so many great insights into this central topic of human life, and shares some of the lessons he has learned on his own journey about what we get wrong, why it feels so complicated, and what love actually means!We also get to talk about some of the people that have helped Humble along the way, from friends and family to heroes and influences, before our guest leaves us with some great food for thought about radical honesty and success. To hear all this and so much more, be sure to listen in today!

Life is full of ups and downs, but how we choose to overcome challenges defines who we are. Today is the annual complication episode, and the theme for this year's wrap-up is “Making Something Out of Nothing." Hear clips from the most memorable moments from the show about people overcoming incredible odds to fulfill their dreams. In this episode, you will hear from Sebastian Terry who created 100things, best-selling author Agapi Stassinopoulos, ex-prisoner turned writer Shaka Senghor, “Free Hugs Guy” Ken Nwadike Jr., conscious comedian J Smiles, and B.A.R.E Truth Founder Joseph Bradford. In the clips, you will hear how each guest was able to find their inner calling and overcome extreme challenges to realize their passion. Their stories demonstrate how we are usually not prepared to do the things we desire but that a leap of faith is required to begin the journey, no matter how small your resources are. Tune in, get inspired, and start taking your first steps toward making something out of nothing!

As a bestselling author, today's guest is no stranger to the inner resistance that can hamper your creative journey. Regular listeners might recognize our guest Steven Pressfield, not just from his work as a bestselling author of titles like The War of Art and Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be, but also from his previous appearances on The Light Watkins Show. Not only has Steven produced a wealth of engrossing works of fiction and non-fiction, he has also written extensively about the writing process, overcoming resistance, and what it means to create art. His non-fiction work has helped countless artists and writers (including our very own Light Watkins) overcome their inner resistance, find their voice, and share their truth through their chosen art form. In today’s conversation, we discuss Steven’s latest book Govt Cheese: A Memoir and what inspired him to write it. Steven goes on to expand on why he is a big proponent of listening to the muse when inspiration strikes, and how your ego can get in the way of the writing process. We also discuss the types of journeys that artists need to go on, why the artist’s life may seem boring at times, and some of the key lessons Steven learned about the writing process from mentors throughout his life. Today’s episode covers a range of topics; from spirituality to trucking, and is filled with special anecdotes and insights from Steven’s life, so be sure to tune in for all the fascinating details!

Joining us today is Clinical Psychologist and the Author of Touching Two Worlds, Dr. Sherry Walling. Dr. Sherry has been treating patients for trauma, stress, and grief for over 20 years, and in 2017, the loss of her father and brother gave her a front-row seat to the type of devastation she’d been helping others navigate. She combined what she’d learned when studying both theology and psychology with her own personal experience, to develop a memoir that is as heart-wrenching and personal as it is informative and cathartic. We talk about understanding depression as a disease, how to be present in both grief and joy, why healing requires truth-telling, and how to speak to your kids about grief and loss. Dr. Sherry then explains why we need to change the societal narrative around suicide, the best practices when you are experiencing grief, how to speak to someone when they are grieving, and how the circus can be way more than just comical relief! Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for loss, depression, and suicide. 

You don’t need to lose 15 pounds, visit the seven wonders of the world, go on lavish wellness retreats, or earn a six-figure salary to be happy. In fact, Neil Pasricha believes that it’s much, much simpler than that! Neil is a leadership keynote speaker, New York Times bestselling author, and positive psychology researcher whose work focuses on gratitude, happiness, failure, and resilience. Ranked as one of the most inspiring TED Talk speakers of all time, Neil has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people around the world about cultivating a positive mindset using daily gratitudes. His now wildly popular blog, 1000 Awesome Things, started as an attempt to pick himself up after his divorce and a close friend's suicide, and has evolved into a series of internationally acclaimed books and a deeper understanding that happiness is a journey, not a destination. Today, you’ll gain some insight into Neil’s backstory, from his struggles with self-confidence to how he turned his side hustle into a successful career as an “intentional living guru,” plus so much more! No matter who you are or what your journey is, you will find valuable nuggets of wisdom in today’s episode. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget the unassuming things that make us smile. But in a world that is often overwhelming, Neil Pasricha reminds us of the power of celebrating the simple, awesome things that are all around us; if we’d just take a moment to notice them.

Today’s guest is the wonderful writer and founder of Firestone Sisters, Mary Firestone. Mary is here to tell us about a series of traumas that she has experienced throughout her life and how she overcame them on her path to healing. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Mary’s family, her childhood and early adult life, her studies in psychology, and why she decided to venture down that road. She shares a potentially triggering and emotional account of being molested as well as her life-threatening experience of being caught in the Montecito mudslide that tore through her home in 2018. Join us as we discuss what Mary believes trauma is, how she began practicing healing modalities, her experience in shamanism, and what she believes it means to be healed. Mary is an incredibly inspirational person dedicated to helping people work through their trauma in order to become “initiated" into their true selves. She tells us why she believes her life was divinely protected in the mudslide, why she does not want people to see themselves as victims, and why our bodies are our true homes, plus she shares her perspective on luck, how her experiences have helped her in her coaching, and so much more. Mary has just written a book called Trusting the Dawn, and today, she also lets us in on why she decided to write about her trauma, where the book’s name came from, and what she hopes to achieve with it. To hear this truly inspirational conversation about how trauma ignites the beginning of true living, press play now!

Today’s guest, Dylan Smith, started his first Ayurvedic practice from his bedroom at his parent’s house at the tender age of 19! He has now become an expert at using Ayurvedic techniques to treat stress, fatigue, digestive problems, back strains, and many others. Giving up his pursuit of a degree in architecture, Dylan traveled to India to take advantage of the free accommodation that came with staying with his mom and ended up leaving Southeast Asia with so much more than he bargained for! He describes his childhood and how he understood meditation from a young age, before explaining his relationship with the legendary Thom Knoles, how cancer brought his family closer to Ayurveda, how Deepak Chopra’s words changed his life, and whether Ayurvedic practices are spiritual, scientific, or both. Pulse diagnosis is an important aspect of Dylan’s work and after describing exactly what it is and why it’s extremely beneficial, our guest explains how he relates to everything he learned during his time in India and why it will always be a part of his life. We discuss why Ayurveda is for everyone, how to align your body with nature, why the skin is so important and how it relates to oils, and what you need to look out for when trying to identify an authentic Ayurvedic doctor. Our guest confirms that fasting can be a powerful way of achieving good health, but only when done correctly. We end our fascinating conversation with Dylan’s perception of success from the viewpoint of an Ayurvedic practitioner, while hearing all about the learning courses and treatments that he and his clinic have on offer. 

The topic of gut health and the importance of our gut microbiome have been gaining more and more traction in the last decade or so. Before that, there was very little attention paid to the way in which our diet and healthy bacteria impacted all the others parts of our body and mind. This is the area that Dr. Robynne Chutkan has dedicated herself to exploring and illuminating, something she has done through her patient practice, as well as in a number of books that she has published. In today's chat with the gastroenterological expert, we get to go deep into the human digestive system, with Dr. Chutkan talking about pooping, bloat, sleep, sickness, immune systems, and much more. She also explains why certain products and medications should be avoided when possible, and how small changes to our eating habits can make a huge difference. The passion and energy that Dr. Chutkan possesses for this subject is truly inspiring, and so desperately needed if we are to really make progress in the important area of human health. 

Today on the show, we welcome the wonderfully inspiring and honest Danielle LaPorte, whose journey has seen many seasons and contrasting terrains. In our chat, we get to hear all about Danielle's prioritization of healing and how this relates to love and living a good life. We also get to discuss some principles from a few of her books, including her most recent work, How to Be Loving. Danielle opens up on the important yet sometimes misunderstood concepts of gentleness, awareness, goals, and success and even shares some great practical advice for dealing with breakups! So if you want to hear it all from this spiritual sister to this podcast, make sure to tune in now.

Today I am re-airing one of my earlier episodes with someone who has changed the way that I see the world. Her name is Pam Grout, and for those of you who don't know, Pam is a New York Times bestselling author, a travel blogger who has visited every continent except for Antarctica, and a student of A Course in Miracles.In this episode, Pam talks candidly about the loss of her daughter, the little rituals they shared, and how she coped with the grief of her daughter’s passing. She shares the wisdom that she's gleaned from her adventures and from the rocky parts of her journey as well, because, even for those who know full well that we co-create our reality, life is still going to test us.Pam also describes her writing journey, the process of writing her bestseller, E-Squared, and her advice for those looking to write spiritual guidance books. Pam’s definition of success, after everything she has been through and after writing 20 books, is to see the face of God in every person she meets, and her whole story is incredibly inspiring, so make sure to tune in today!

Growing up as a Dominican-Colombian in Queens, Christopher Rivas didn’t feel the weight of his difference in the world until he was introduced to the real James Bond. Learning about Porfirio Rubirosa, the Dominican diplomat on whom the famously white character was based, changed everything for him and informed the culture-centered trajectory of his career. Christopher is a professional storyteller, podcaster, actor, and author. In this episode, we learn about the most pivotal moments of his childhood, his path to becoming an actor, and the serendipitous tale of how he landed on the art of storytelling. We discuss the importance of representation, the value of meditation, and the profound difference between stories you’ve been made to believe and those you’ve chosen to believe. Tune in to discover the anatomy of an impactful story, the script-shifting theme of Christopher’s book, Brown Enough, the art of code-switching, and so much more.

Today I am doing another solo episode, which as you may know, I do on occasion. And in today's solo episode, I'm talking about minimalism, one of my favorite topics, and how minimalism helps you to become more present and more liberated, and more self-sufficient in your day-to-day life. I'm also describing an experiment that you can run starting today that will give you a taste of the liberation that you feel when living the minimalist lifestyle. And the best part is you don't have to get rid of anything in order to have the experience of minimalism. I also will show those of you who are watching this on YouTube, the actual backpack that I've been living from for the past few years, as well as my one pair of shoes and my shirts that I hand wash each night after wearing them. I also will go through the detailed instructions of how I hand wash my clothes in case you're in a situation where I don't know, you're flying, and your airline use loses your luggage, and for whatever reason, you have to make do. The clothes on your back for a day or two.And I also talk about some of the other interesting aspects of my minimalist lifestyle and how it's evolved over the last four years because the way it started is not the way it is right now. And of course, I've written extensively about minimalism in my upcoming book, which is called Travel Light.That's coming out in April of 2023. So there's a lot more to say in that book. But for now, I wanna just give you a peek into the minimalist lifestyle, cuz I think you'll get a lot from it, even if you have no desire to become a minimalist yourself.

Today’s guest, Chip Conley, has been a serial disruptor of the hospitality industry for many decades, and since acquiring his first hotel in his 20s, has blazed a trail of innovative and successful businesses catering to a variety of different client bases. Chip was also instrumental in the rise of Airbnb in the contemporary landscape, and has most recently founded the amazing Modern Elder Academy, which is aimed at mentoring individuals through the later stages of human development. In our chat, we get to hear from Chip about the lessons he learned from his father, why he has always pursued creativity over profit, and the vital part that mentor relationships have continually played in his life. Our guest shares some great book recommendations and some insightful thoughts on living with purpose, before we close off with some thoughts on courage, self-belief, and his continued commitment to his calling of social alchemy. Join us to hear it all!

Who we are as individuals are shaped as much by the good experiences in our lives, as the bad ones. And it’s important to acknowledge the full spectrum of events that shape us, even if it’s challenging or uncomfortable. Our guest today, Desi Bartlett, is no stranger to this truth. Through her practice of meditation and movement, she has studied how to take powerful lessons from both the positive and negative aspects of her life and apply them as an author, fitness professional, woman, and mother. In our conversation, Desi shares some of the details about her unstable upbringing, how she left home as a teenager, and why so much of what she does is in honor of her mother and her limitations as a parent. We delve into Desi’s journey with fitness, the transformative power of movement, and how her career has evolved since she first began to pursue fitness as a profession. We also discussed Desi’s work as an author, the release of her latest book Total Body Beautiful, and her passion for empowering women through movement, yoga, meditation, and nutrition. For a wonderful conversation that will surprise and delight you with its thought-provoking insights and joyful advice, make sure you tune in today!

Adam Roa knows how it feels to be living a life that doesn’t speak the language of your soul, and he also knows the power that comes with choosing to follow your heart, no matter what expectations the world has of you. Although it didn’t make logical sense to give up a promising career in advertising to pursue a risky one in acting, or to rent out an apartment without knowing where the rent money was going to come from, these decisions were led by the heart, and as you will hear in today’s episode, they paid off! Today, Adam is a spoken word poet whose words have gone viral across the globe and have had such an impact on some people that they have had them tattooed on their bodies. Moreover, Adam is a lifestyle and business coach who has built communities and created courses that have had transformative effects on many lives. Listen to this episode to hear about the journey that led to Adam’s spiritual awakening, the evolution of his understanding of relationships, and how to truly love yourself!

The approach of middle age tends to inspire dread. For too long, we have been told that our “best years” are behind us once we reach midlif and that all we have to look forward to is the slow decline of our bodies and minds. But, for many of us, it’s actually the first time that we begin to make sense of life. This realization led performance coach, Greg Scheinman, to create a community where men who have been around long enough to own their mistakes and celebrate their successes could gather to maximize the second half of their lives. He calls it the Midlife Male Movement, devoted to the proposition that the middle is the sweet spot, not the end! In this episode, Greg shares his story with humor and vulnerability, offering us some insight into the life decisions that led him to where he is today. Listening in, you’ll learn how Greg is taking all of the experiences that he’s had and everything he has learned along the way and applying it to the next phase of his life. You’ll also hear some practical tips for how to stop seeing midlife as a crisis and start seeing it as an opportunity. Tune in today for a no-BS guide to living a longer, happier, healthier, and wealthier life (and having more fun) in your 40s, 50s, and beyond!

LaRayia Gaston might be the definition of inspiring. She is the heart behind Lunch on Me and LaRayia's Bodega, as well as the author of Love Without Reason. In today's episode, we are rerunning an amazing conversation with LaRayia from one of the earliest and most powerful episodes of the podcast! Tuning in, listeners will hear about all the most critical steps in LaRayia's journey, from her challenging childhood to her burgeoning and diverse career, and how she took her gifts and decided to dedicate her life to giving back to those less fortunate than herself. It was during her time in LA, around the age of 20, that LaRayia found the place to pour her desire to help the community. Always a hard worker and a generous giver, LaRayia began finding ways to provide food for the unhoused on Skid Row, and it was out of these efforts that Lunch on Me was born. Our guest talks about the influence that different family members had on her, how she funded this work at various points, and what has kept her going. We also get some insight into why LaRayia spent 43 days on Skid Row herself, her meditation practice, and her spiritual beliefs, so make sure to listen in to hear it all.

All of us are constantly faced with many choices and possibilities, and it is the decisions that we make that shape our lives. On the show today to talk about the path she has carved out for herself and her family is the supercharged Jessica Janzen, author of the book Bring the Joy! Jessica has such an amazing story and we are able to go deep with her, from her early days on a family farm in Canada to the twists and turns she has encountered in the different parts of her life. She tells us about the instinctual choice she made to help a family with two children struggling with spinal muscular atrophy, and the ripple effect this has had on the rest of her life. We then spend some time exploring Jessica's marriage, the birth of her own children, and the loss of her second child, Lewiston. Jessica is so open and honest about the ups and downs, and the lessons she has learned, delivering messages about showing up out of love, how acts of service can fill us up, and the hard work that goes into making magic happen! To hear it all from this wonderful guest, please join us!

Today on the show, we are joined by the 'Sprout Guy', Doug Evans, to talk about his mission to bring this amazing group of superfoods into kitchens and common usage. Doug gives us such a great overview of his amazing journey and the different chapters of his life; we talk about his early days as a graffiti artist in New York City, joining the military, working in the world of design, and then starting his own businesses. We spend a good portion of time exploring the very important relationship that Doug developed with Paul Rand and the lasting influence that Doug garnered from the time he spent with him. One of the major themes of Doug's story is that of persistence, and how his commitment to his different projects was ultimately what allowed him to be successful. We also talk about his penchant for trouble, the impetus to get into the health sector, and the moment that Doug realized his excitement about sprouts. So if you want to learn more about this magical part of the natural world, and hear an inspiring story along the way, join us for this great episode of the Light Watkins Show!

In the increasingly digital world that we live in, finding ways to authentically connect and communicate with each other remains a vital part of a meaningful life. This concept lies at the foundation of the work of today's guest, Kalina Silverman.Kalina is the mind and heart behind the amazing Big Talk project, which started out as a series of viral videos in which Kalina asked her subjects existential questions, like 'What do you want to do before you die?' The success of the videos led to a TEDx Talk, further speaking engagements, and the transformation of Big Talk into a broader and more international initiative. For Kalina, Big Talk and the ideas that ground it are a way to get past the barriers of social conventions and a means to connect in a way that we all crave and relish! In today’s conversation with Kalina, we get to hear the story behind her first video and all the important moments that informed her decisions. So, if you are ready for a fresh dose of inspiration and an insider's look at how this amazing dream became a reality, make sure to listen in with us!

For Light Watkins, it is an honor to be able to spread inspiration through conversations with exceptional people. However, making a podcast is an arduous task, requiring hard work, dedication, and a lot of time. But once you are consistent and when you get it right, it can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences.Today, our host Light Watkins is riding solo once again, this time to dive deeper into the origins of this podcast. After giving us a taste of the incredible sounds of Mexico City, Light tells us what it’s like to record a podcast with a minimal setup while reiterating the importance of not giving up on your podcasting dreams. Light takes us on a journey back to the early days of the podcast, sharing some of the mistakes that he has made along the way. In this captivating episode, you’ll be inspired by how our host overcame many initial obstacles to get this podcast to where it is today. We talk about three big interviews that Light was very nervous about and how they, ultimately, led to him overcoming fear, insecurity, and imposter syndrome. You’ll learn how to be more efficient when doing deep research, how our host engages with his guest’s personal stories and philosophies, the importance of recording podcasts in advance, what the common thread is between all of Light’s guests, and why you should always only do that which is aligned with the mission and purpose of your podcast. Be sure to tune in to hear it all.      

Our guest today, Tara Stiles, first discovered yoga in New York while training to be a dancer. In our conversation, Tara shares how that first yoga class ignited her curiosity, and how she gradually made the transition from hustling in New York and being an aspiring dancer, to starting her own yoga studio, called Stråla, with her husband, Mike. We spend some time talking about the yoga scene at the time (including the pushback she received for diverging from established methods of teaching), and why she was determined to make yoga accessible to anyone eager to learn. Tuning in you’ll hear how Tara went from teaching yoga in Central Park to starting her studio and flying around the world for a dizzying array of opportunities. She reveals feeling overwhelmed at this time, the effect it had on her marriage, and how she ultimately realized that she needed to slow down. We also discussed Tara’s book Clean Mind, Clean Body: A 28-Day Plan for Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Self-Care, and what it was like writing it. As we wrap up, Tara shares the most important things she’s learned about life, entrepreneurship, and marriage over the course of her life and career. Life is rarely simple (or straightforward), and no matter how much you plan, it never seems to go quite as expected. Tune in to learn about Tara’s fascinating life journey and what she has learned from it!

Today on the show we sit down with Kimberly Snyder, author of several best-selling books, including Radical Beauty: How to Transform Yourself from the Inside Out, which she co-authored with Deepak Chopra. She is also the founder of Solluna, a lifestyle brand focused on progress, not perfection. In our conversation, Kimberly shares how her experiences growing up in New England as the daughter of a Filipino immigrant shaped her identity. She unpacks how constantly feeling like an outsider caused her to fixate on hard numbers, like achieving excellent SAT scores and restricting the number of calories she consumed, in an effort to help her feel more grounded.We discuss how traveling through challenging areas within Asia and Africa helped her develop her intuition and how she learned to let go of her fixation with perfection. Kimberly also gives a detailed account of her yogic journey, how her career developed, and the events that led her to become an author. You’ll also learn about Kimberly’s latest book You Are More Than You Think You Are: Practical Enlightenment for Everyday Life, and why she felt it was important to make a modern, accessible work on the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. Kimberly has faced profoundly difficult challenges and choices in her life, but it has always been a spirit of fearlessness that has guided her in pursuing unknown paths and living an extraordinary life. Join us today as we delve into the power of yoga and meditation, and why looking inward is the truest source of inspiration!

Today’s guest came into my life through his book, The War of Art, which is all about overcoming resistance. Steven Pressfield has since become a friend and mentor, having visited the Podcast once before to speak about his novel, A Man at Arms. Join us today to hear where Steven first encountered the idea of the Muse, drawing on Greek mythology alongside his own experience. Steven believes that there is an underground river of creativity running through all of us and that Resistance blocks its flow. We talk about overcoming Resistance as a path toward our destiny, and Steven shares his story of turning to write in a moment of despair. We talk about his latest book, Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be, what motivated him to choose that title, and explore the process of self-publishing. You’ll hear about our guest’s relationship with envy, why he describes himself as learning alongside his readers, and more. Thanks for tuning in. 

We welcome Ben Nemtin back to the show to talk about his most recent project, The Bucket List Journal, and how it continues the line of curiosity and drive that we discussed back in Episode 3 of this very podcast! Ben is now one of the most in-demand keynote speakers in the world and has presented extensively on his favorite subjects of mental health and following your dreams. This work as a motivational speaker led Ben to wanting his message to be even more accessible, and hence the journal. In our chat, we hear about this process of discovery and publishing, and along the way, we get to hear many inspiring reflections from Ben about purpose, passion, permission, death, and so much more. Ben underlines why action is often the best plan, how asking for help can be great for accountability, and why setting bigger, more challenging goals might make them more accomplishable! 

The term ‘should’ may seem innocuous, but its outsized role in our vocabulary and society has had a profound effect on how we perceive the world and our place in it. Our guest today is a firm believer that eliminating the word ‘should’ from your vocabulary is the first step in developing a mindfulness practice that will help you establish decision-making practices that are aligned with your wants, values, and needs.Tricia Huffman is a self-described joyologist, speaker, and author of the book F the Shoulds. Do the Wants: Get Clear on Who You Are, What You Want, and Why You Want It. In our conversation, Tricia shares what she has learned from working with stars like Dolly Parton and Jason Mraz on tour, and what her work has taught her about fear, happiness, and success. We also talk about how the sudden death of her father triggered a massive career shift, and how she finally gave herself permission to write her book after 12 years of living a life without the word ‘should’.We loved having Tricia on the show and we’re sure you’ll find our conversation every bit as enlightening and inspiring as we did. Tune in for profound insights from our guest and plenty of practical examples on how to stop using the word ‘should’ and instead make decisions based on what you truly value!

In this episode of The Light Watkins Show, we are going back to one of our favorite conversations from the past, in which the amazing and inspiring Arjuna O'Neal came on to talk about his incredible journey, and unlikely road to healing and helping others. Arjuna talks about his early years in Detroit and West Virginia, his family's confusing connection to the Hare Krishna temple, the abuse he was subjected to while growing up, and how all of these traumas, coupled with his father's criminal mindset, led to him join the world of drug dealing before he left high school. Unsurprisingly this resulted in him being involved in many dangerous situations, including having a bounty on his head and being shot by a girlfriend. It was during this near-death experience that Arjuna first truly experienced God and love, and began his journey to a new life. Arjuna talks about the time he spent in jail, the trials he faced, and the important stepping stones that led to the amazing work he does today with Share Necessities and the Mind Elevation Project. To catch it all, in a conversation so good that we had to run it back, join us today! 

Discovering your dharma is, by definition, a lifelong pursuit, and many doors may open over time as our soul's purpose constantly becomes more clear. Here on the podcast today, we have a fascinating conversation about the calling to help others, the lessons we learn along the way, and truly embrace our uniqueness, with the one and only, Sahara Rose! Sahara is the author of a number of books including The Idiot's Guide to Ayurveda, Eat Feel Fresh, and Discovering Your Dharma, and we have an illuminating chat about the twists and turns of her journey, looking at many of the hills and valleys that have brought her to the present. We get to hear about her family history, tricky relationship with her parents, the urge she felt to go traveling, and how she managed to get her first book deal! Sahara also shares a little about her main inspirations, and the historical characters that she was drawn to from a young age. Towards the end of conversation, Sahara talks a little about a more nuanced and authentic idea of spirituality that is suited to our actual outlook and personality, and how this has evolved over time for her. So, to catch this inspiring and open chat with a wonderful worker in the mind and body health space, press play now! 

Elissa was living the American dream. She had a prestigious job, the perfect husband, and the future looked bright. One day, however, her reality was broken into pieces when she discovered she had cancer. She was able to win the battle by using holistic, alternative approaches and treatments; despite the advice of medical professionals, friends, and family. Unfortunately, her experience with cancer did not end there. Her husband was also diagnosed with cancer shortly after her recovery and passed away not from the disease but rather from the treatment itself. This ignited Elissa’s passion for educating other people on alternatives and holistic approaches, and to show people the benefits of a healthy life. Today, Elissa works as a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle expert, creating her own programs and diet plans based on the lessons she had learned through improving her health. She is also the author of the book, Cancer Hacks, which provides readers with common-sense, natural, and holistic advice for those battling cancer. In today’s episode, Elissa shares her story and the role of health and wellbeing in her life. We learn about her life growing up, why she felt sick all the time when she was young, and when Elissa first became interested in holistic healing, as well as the moment that she first found out she had cancer. You’ll also gain some insight into why Elissa chose the approach she did and the steps she took to living a healthier life, plus so much more. Don’t miss out on this inspiring story and insightful conversation with health and wellness expert, Elissa Goodman!

So many of us confuse success with happiness, and this belief can influence our life in a myriad of ways, both seen and unseen. Today’s guest, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, has witnessed the consequences of this belief, not only in his own life and the lives of his patients, but also his closest family. For thirty years his father sacrificed his sleep and his health for the sake of his career and providing for his wife and children. By the age of 58, Dr. Chatterjee’s father had developed the autoimmune disease, lupus, due to decades of chronic sleep deprivation and stress. In the years leading up to his father’s death, Dr. Chatterjee prioritized caring for his father and treasured the time they were able to spend together. The experience irrevocably changed Dr. Chatterjee’s outlook on life and what it means to be successful. Since then, Dr. Chatterjee has made it his goal to inspire 100 million people to start living a healthier lifestyle. He is the author of several books on health and wellness and is also the host of Europe's #1 Health and Wellbeing Podcast ‘Feel Better. Live More. with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’, where he interviews experts on a variety of topics from mindfulness to fitness. In our conversation, we discuss what Dr. Chatterjee has learned from his many interviews, why he chose to become a general practitioner, and the impact that his father had on his life. Dr. Chatterjee shares details about his latest book, the concept of core happiness, and why authenticity is so important. He also explains how being in the public eye has made him prioritize his inner life, the value of daily meditations, and how these practices have helped him maintain perspective. We hope you tune in for this powerful conversation on the meaning of happiness, what it means to live a healthy life, and much more!

Today on the Light Watkins Show, we are joined by Steve and Dave Flynn, who you may know as the twin faces of The Happy Pear. Our guests have been helping people all over the world eat more delicious, plant-based diets and live better lives for the better part of the last two decades! In our chat we chart the most important parts of the brothers' journey, from their early days in Ireland to their time at university, travels, and starting their business. They have always viewed their work as a way to sell a better way of life, and not just simply as a vegetable shop, which is how they began almost twenty years ago. We talk about the value of community, movement, discomfort, and some of the elements of their lives that they see as the most impactful. Steve and Dave share thoughts on their morning routines, and what a sunrise swim does for their mental and spiritual state. We also get into meditation, yoga, and a whole lot more, so do not miss this great episode.

My guest today is recognized as an ultra-successful entrepreneur, renowned keynote speaker, performance expert, coach, and bestselling author, but Ed Mylett has had to overcome some extraordinary hardships to become the man you see before you. Ed shares some insight into his journey; from growing up as the scrawny son of an alcoholic father with three sisters, a pro-baseball pipe dream, and zero self-confidence to finding his purpose as a counselor for disadvantaged children, which turned out to be one of the pivotal turning points of his life. Ed believes that you're just ‘one more’ intentional thought and action away from discovering your best life and, in this conversation, he shares some powerful philosophies to help you realize and exceed your personal and professional goals by tapping into the superpowers and gifts you already have inside you. We also touch on how meaning defines us, the immense power of believing in someone, and the value of questioning your faith, as well as the difference between happiness and fulfillment, goals and standards, and so much more. Tune in today to hear some valuable insights from a man who is well-known for combining spirituality, science, the inner workings of the mind, and practical solutions to help people produce real changes in their lives: the incomparable, Ed Mylett!

In this week’s episode, my guest is Chris Pan, founder of MyIntent (which you can hear more about in Episode 13) and more recently, VOMO, who is here to give a masterclass in the creation of movements! From his childhood days as an immigrant in the United States, and throughout his time working for big corporations like Facebook and Pepsi, music has always played a meaningful role in Chris’s life. VOMO stands for Voice Movement, and it is Chris’s way of bringing the joy of singing and dancing to as many people as possible. Tune in today to hear where the inspiration for VOMO originated, the expansion plans that Chris has for its future, and some valuable advice for starting your own movement! 

Too often, conventional medicine treats the body as separate from the mind, ignoring physical issues like chronic illness or weight gain, but science shows that these issues are often intricately entwined with mood issues like depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue. Today’s guest believes that we have the inherent capacity to create a powerful shift or ‘state change’ within ourselves and take control of our health, by ourselves, for ourselves.Tuning in, you’ll hear from Dr. Robin Berzin, who is the Founder and CEO of Parsley Health, America's leading holistic medical practice designed to help women overcome chronic conditions. She founded Parsley to address the rising tide of chronic disease in America through personalized holistic medicine that puts food, lifestyle, and proactive diagnostic testing on the prescription pad, right next to conventional medications. Since founding Parsley in 2016, Robin has seen 80 percent of her patients improve or resolve their chronic conditions within their first year of care, demonstrating the life-changing value of making modern holistic medicine accessible to everyone, anywhere.Her new book, State Change, offers readers a 30-day program for reaching a new level of energy, clarity, and calm based on one paradigm-shifting idea: you have to change your body to change your mind and mood. In today’s episode, Robin shares how practicing yoga inspired her to go to medical school, the story of how she came to work with Dr. Oz, and the steps she took to become the change she wanted to see in the world, as well as why her approach is centered around a real-world modern lifestyle, not a series of ‘shoulds’ and ‘should nots’, plus so much more. We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring conversation!

This week, I’m publishing my first solo episode that is not about a  book that I wrote. For long-term listeners, you may remember my previous solo episode was about my recent book, Knowing Where To Look. I’ve recently rebranded the podcast, and it's no longer At The End of the Tunnel. It’s now called The Light Watkins Show. This episode will take you back to how the podcast started  in 2020, what was going on in the background, and what the original intention of the show was, and how it's evolved over the last couple of years. I’ll also talk about where I would like for the show go in the foreseeable future.So this is a part autobiographical, it's part masterclass, and it's part manifesto. And I plan to do many more solo episodes in the future.  

Today, we are re-visiting one of my favorite podcast episodes, which is my conversation with Bronnie Ware, the former palliative nurse from Australia who wrote the blog post, Top 5 Regrets of the Dying, which went viral and eventually went on to become a bestselling book.Here are their top 5 regrets:I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life that others expected of me.I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.I wish that I had let myself be happier.How she came to be a palliative care nurse was fascinating, as it was very much happenstance. In short, Bronnie was just nomading, and she needed a place to stay, and the woman who offered her room and board ended up passing away shortly after, and Bronnie was there to help with her transition. And that’s how she discovered her gift of presence.Give it a listen (or a re-listen).

So this week I'm speaking with author, speaker and meditation thought leader, Mr. Ben Decker. Ben grew up as a member of the Church of the Latter-day Saints. He also began meditating and traveling the world on spiritual pilgrimages and mission trips. And then he decided to enter the priesthood as a teenager. But a battle with addiction and depression caused him to change his mind and search for a different type of career. He ended up doing a 180 by going to Los Angeles and becoming a publicist.And after rising up through the ranks and becoming one of Hollywood's biggest publicists, particularly for Playboy Bunnies, Ben had a dear friend died by suicide, and he felt somewhat complicit in his friend's unhappiness and depression. So he decided to leave his prolific career in PR, and he went back to his roots by starting his own field of study, which he called collaborative religion.Then Ben helped to open a religiously pluralistic spiritual center in Venice Beach, California called Full Circle, which is where he and I first crossed paths because I rented that space to help host one of my inspirational variety shows that I was doing at the time called The Shine. And Ben went on to become a prolific teacher and author of books on meditation.He's now written four books, most recently publishing Modern Spirituality: A Guide To The Heart of Mindfulness Meditation, and The Art of Healing, which became a bestseller. And he's also the host of the Modern Spirituality Podcast. And as always, we dive deep into the backstory of how Ben came to be the author and teacher that he is today. And what's notable about almost all of my episodes was that there was always a moment where the guests decided to take a big leap of faith in the direction of what they identified at the time as their purpose. Sometimes, they were motivated by curiosity, other times they were motivated by pain. Ben's case was more of the latter. So if you're on the fence about making a switch in your path to something that feels more aligned with where you currently are, I think you're going to find this episode very inspiring.

The never-ending dietary debates can make getting the right information about what you should be eating seem like an insurmountable challenge. But while nutrition is a complex and evolving field of study, choosing a healthy and ethical diet does not have to be impossible. This is the message that our guest today, Simon Hill, wants to bring to the world. Simon is the author of The Proof is in the Plants, and the host of The Proof podcast, through which he aims to educate people on the science around a plant-based diet, while also reviving popular understanding and appreciation for the scientific method. This work emerged out of Simon's own journey with nutrition and veganism, and we get to hear all about his story in today's conversation, with Simon doing a great job of bringing this personal narrative into the global context of issues such as heart disease, and climate change. So to hear it all from our great guest, listen in today!

Caregiving is still a misunderstood and under-celebrated role in today's society. For this episode, we welcome J Smiles to talk about her amazing story of caring for her mother, launching a career in comedy, and how she managed to navigate these difficult terrains. Soon after her father's passing, J Smiles’ mother was diagnosed with two forms of dementia, and it took a minute for her to realize that the deterioration she was seeing in her mother was not just grief. The process surrounding her mother's diagnosis and treatment was a tricky one, and J Smiles generously opens up, sharing the biggest challenges and the lessons she learned through them. She notably talks about how she began to talk differently about her role as her mother's caregiver, relinquishing the early methods involving avoidance and shock. J Smiles tells us all about becoming an advocate for caregiving, and what it means to normalize these conversations about sensitive topics. This leads to our exploration of her work as a conscious comic and how she started this branch of her life as an escape before pouring her lived experience and authentic self into her routine. Today our guest also has her own podcast, called Parenting UP!, in which she brings together all these areas and themes in a show that is truly her, so make sure to give that a listen, as soon as you finish with this great episode!

If you’ve ever even scratched the surface of diet research, you know there are many misconceptions and lots of loosely interpreted research that many advocates of certain diets will use to vehemently defend their point of view while denouncing other diets. Here to help us see through that kind of research is return guest, Max Lugavere, a filmmaker, health and science journalist, and the author of the New York Times bestseller, Genius Foods. He is also the host of the number one iTunes health podcast, The Genius Life, and his most recent cookbook, Genius Kitchen, is number one in the nutrition category on Amazon. Focused on brain health, performance, and longevity, Max shares his research in order to help us eat a well-rounded diet and optimize our health. In today’s episode, he speaks candidly his own dietary biases and what he feels are the top five foods that we should all be including in our diet. We talk about lab work transparency, his growing social media platforms, and how he was able to rise above the noise to become one of the leading voices in wellness. We also discuss how he approaches engaging with trolls and ‘passionate' commenters, which he gets a lot of, given his position as a prolific health enthusiast! For all this and more from one of the foremost authorities on nutrition, make sure not to miss today’s conversation with Max Lugavere!

If you were free from fear, who would you have the freedom to be? With her new book, Happy Days, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Gabrielle Bernstein, wants to help you chart a path to heal trauma, unlearn fear, and remember love. Gabby has long been loved by her readers as a spiritual teacher, motivational speaker, and catalyst for profound inner change, and Happy Days presents her most powerful teaching yet: a plan for transforming the pain of your past, whatever that may be, into newfound strength and freedom. In today’s episode, we have a transparent and vulnerable discussion that took place over two separate conversations, one of which was an IG Live on the day that Happy Days was released in March 2022. Listen in as Gabby shares her definition of happiness and offers some insight into the process of clearing space to reconnect with the joy within. She highlights the importance of taking the transition from trauma to profound inner peace one step at a time before sharing some profound advice for tuning into your inner guidance system, connecting with yourself through meditation, and returning to your Self (with a capital S) with courage, compassion, and curiosity! For all this and so much more, make sure not to miss this thought-provoking episode with the one and only, Gabby Bernstein!

In today’s episode of At the End of the Tunnel, we are joined by actor, photographer, and Vedic meditation teacher, Jeff Kober. Many of us have the feeling that something is missing in our lives. We try to fill this void with accomplishments, possessions, relationships, or even drugs and alcohol, but nothing seems to work for more than a moment. And Jeff believes that the reason for this is that we are looking outside ourselves for something that can only be found within. Tune in to dive into his backstory, to find out how he discovered his mission of spreading his daily Vedic meditation thought-for-the-day via email, and how it led to the publication of his recent book, Embracing Bliss: 108 Daily Meditations. Jeff shares the story of how he found his way from a farm outside of Billings, Montana, to Hollywood, how he hit rock bottom with drugs and alcohol, and why he initially avoided the style of meditation that he now practices and teaches. We also touch on some of the powerful anecdotes from the book and Jeff shares what putting them together has taught him about freedom and the willingness to step into the unknown, plus so much more! For a fascinating and inspiring conversation with the Vedic meditation teacher that you probably already recognize from some of your favorite TV shows, make sure to tune in today!

In this show, we welcome Kevin Element Livingston, the heart and mind behind the amazing 100 Suits program, and someone who has taken an idea and run with it, fueled by a lot of belief and willpower. We hear from Kevin about his early years in New York City, growing up in Jamaica, Queens, and the difficulties he had in high school that led to him being kicked out. He talks about the job he got as a bank teller and how he started to collect suits from wealthy customers to provide for his community. Kevin ties this idea back to the importance that his father placed on being well-presented, and even Eddie Murphy's film Boomerang! We also get into the period in which Kevin was technically homeless, why and how he quit his job at the bank, and some of the milestone moments for his outreach work. Kevin has a strong message of taking action, and believes we all have the power to make a difference, so to catch all of this good stuff, listen in with us today!

Liana Werner-Gray grew up in the Australian Outback, immersed in the wisdom of the Aboriginals. From a young age, she was aware of the value of eating healthy, natural ingredients, straight from the earth, and the dangers of highly processed, sugary foods. Despite this knowledge which was rooted deep within her, her struggles with childhood trauma caught up with her when she reached her teenage years, and she turned to unhealthy food for comfort.When Liana reached 21, a biopsy revealed a 3.7 centimeter tumor in her lymphatic system. This was the moment her transformation journey began. Armed with indigenous knowledge and the support of a naturopath, Liana completely rid herself of cancer (and later, anxiety and depression) through changing her diet! She has since documented her approach in the form of a blog and 3 different books, and developed her own Anxiety-Free supplement, with the hope of positively impacting the lives of as many people as possible.In today’s episode Liana shares her inspiring story, and some of the key foods which you should incorporate into your daily diet, starting right now! 

Today’s guest, Quddus Philippe, burst into the international spotlight by replacing Carson Daly as a host on the iconic MTV show, Total Request Live (TRL), where he became the interviewer of choice for artists like Jay Z and Beyonce. After five years on MTV, Quddus started his own production company, The Q Side, to help pioneer new media and develop new talent with partners like MySpace, AOL, Yahoo, and YouTube, but he kept feeling drawn to the personal development space. That's where everything came together in terms of his purpose and his calling, and Quddus started working with entertainment and wellness leaders to help them get camera ready, which really meant helping them find their most authentic voice. After completing a philanthropic mission trip in his father’s homeland of Haiti and a spiritual journey in Costa Rica, Quddus devoted himself to launching The Creator Incubator, an eight-week program to help others launch their dream projects with clarity, confidence, and community.In this episode, he shares some insight into his childhood, how hip hop became his gateway to spirituality, and the crippling imposter syndrome he grappled with in his early days at MTV. We also touch on the immense value of being forthcoming with your passions, speaking your truth, and owning your greatness in order to make the biggest impact, and Quddus shares what imposter syndrome looks like for him today, how his appearance in the Kanye West documentary, jeen-yuhs, has helped him own his voice, and what is lighting him up the most right now. Make sure not to miss this thought-provoking conversation about passion, process, and purpose with one of pop culture's foremost tastemakers, Quddus Phillipe!

Disclaimer: This episode contains adult language and sexually explicit conversation. It is not suitable for children and, if you are especially sensitive to topics related to heterosexual dating dynamics, we recommend that you skip this episode as well.While today’s guest takes an approach that is unconventional and perhaps even shocking, his story follows a similar formula to many of the guests that you are used to hearing from on At The End of the Tunnel. His name is Alan Roger Currie and, in this episode, you’ll learn about the leaps of faith he had to take in order to pursue his true calling. Alan is a dating coach and the author of several books about his unique philosophy known as Mode One, which centers around radical honesty from the start. Straightforward communication is at the core of today’s conversation with Alan, who shares his sometimes explicit views on casual sex and relationships and tells the story behind how he developed his Mode One approach before, ultimately, making it his career. Tuning in, you’ll learn how an adult film titled Talk Dirty to Me changed Alan’s perspective on the dynamics between men and women, how his brother encouraged him to write a book and follow his calling, and how you can implement the Mode One approach in all aspects of your life, from your sexual relationships to the workplace and even your friendships. We also dive into the definition of Mode One, the five archetypes, and what women can take away from Alan’s philosophy on dating, as well as the value of embracing rejection and so much more! Tune in today for an occasionally X-rated but altogether fascinating discussion with professional dating coach, Alan Roger Currie!

Committing fully to living intentionally and with our purpose in mind should not be as hard as we make it. Sebastian Terry is a testament to this notion, and his story serves as a profound example of how to take charge of your time and energy and work towards a worthwhile goal, like being happy! Sebastian joins us on the show today to talk about his list of 100 things, and how he began his journey into discovering what he really wanted to do in life. He stresses that this was never a bucket list, as he wanted to keep the focus away from death, but more about prioritizing things that he wanted to do, that he believed would bring him happiness. We also talk about how this list transcended selfish interests and his thoughts on how to be a vehicle for change. Along the way, Sebastian shares simple yet strong pieces of philosophy about the secret to doing things, how the world can support you, and the immovable power of kindness. Tune in to hear all about Sebastian's story, the amazing feats he has achieved, and what has kept him motivated on his path!

We have a truly inspirational episode for you! Martinus Evans is the brain and body behind 300 Pounds and Running, as well as the Slow AF Run Club. In today's conversation, we get to hear his story and his biggest lessons and reflections. From growing up next door to a drug dealer to his brother's tragic death, Martinus faced adversity from a young age. He lays out the path that he took to playing football and his aspirations to play for a college team. He then explains the obstacles that he encountered along the way and how he ended up depressed, unhealthily overweight, and in a doctor's office. Martinus explains how this meeting kickstarted his plan to run a marathon and the journey he embarked upon to realize this goal. A born hustler, Martinus unpacks his story with humor and energy, really underlining what made it possible for him to succeed at certain points and the difficulties he encountered at others. We get to hear all about the platforms he has now set up and what his goals are for these support systems. To hear it all from the amazing Martinus Evans, tune in!

Our guest today, Agapi Stassinopoulos is here to shift the perception about the power of prayer. Prayer is something that many people in the modern world overlook. In a sea of mental health and mindfulness practices and apps, prayers might seem outdated and too connected to organized religion for some. Through Agapi’s work with Thrive Global and her numerous books, Agapi is reintroducing us to the art and power of prayer. Agapi originally hails from Athens, and is actually sister to Arianna Huffington, from the Huffington Post.In our chat, we get into Agapi's fascinating story that is filled with ups and downs and moments of challenge and clarity. We talk about her upbringing, her early introduction to yoga, and how her mother's spirituality laid the foundation for her later development and finding her calling. We also talk about her dreams of becoming an actor, and how she pivoted from this path after some huge realizations and deep epiphanies. Agapi unpacks some of the lessons and ideas from her most recent book, Speaking with Spirit, and reflects on her hopes for the world at this moment in history. So, to take part in this illuminating conversation between Light and Agapi, be sure to tune in!

Emily is a meditation guru, founder of Ziva Meditation, and a published author with her new book Stress Less, Accomplish More! In our conversation with Emily, we cover some interesting background to her exceptional journey, talking about her childhood in Florida, moving to New York City, the sadness she was confronted with when she achieved her dreams. Many meditation gurus and wellness teachers are not born into their roles, but find their calling through other work and the path that life takes them on. Our guest today is a great example of this trajectory.Emily Fletcher believed from a very young age that all she was born to do was perform on Broadway, and for her younger years this is the path that she pursued and experienced a lot of success on. It was only with the realization of the disconnect between so-called success and happiness that Emily began to search outside of performance for her fulfillment. It was here that she found meditation. Discover the events that led up to her finding meditation, and what turned her from a practitioner into a teacher. We learn why she retired from acting, and some of her dreams for the future. So, to hear all this and so much more from a truly inspiring friend, be sure to listen in!

Many of our luminaries on At the End of the Tunnel have become inspirations after some very dark times, and today’s guest is no different. Shaka Senghor spent 19 years in prison, with a total of seven years in solitary confinement. From growing up in a loving, multicultural neighborhood, and being an honor-role student, Shaka struggled as a teenager, and ended up in the dark underworld of crack cocaine, where he was beaten, abused, shot, and ultimately convicted of murder. To keep moving forward during his incarceration, Shaka turned to literature and writing. His first published book, Writing My Wrongs was written in just 30 days and was the catalyst to his meteoric career.Tune in to hear the breadcrumbs throughout Shaka’s life that gave him the confidence to write, and how his prison manuscripts touched the lives of other inmates. Shaka describes the challenges he faced trying to write in prison, and the relentless hustling he did to continue as a writer after he was paroled. We discover the importance of manifesting (and backing it up with hard work), and how being true to yourself allows others to relate to you. We find out what his latest book, Letters to the Sons of Society, means to him, and why he chose to introduce the book with a story about his father and some sneakers. Join us in this inspiring episode, with a true luminary in this tumultuous time. 

Today's guest is Aaron Alexander, an expert in corrective exercises, nutrition, and structural integration, and in this episode, he unpacks the functional approach that he has developed called the Align Method. You may have heard Aaron on his informative podcast, the Align Podcast, and if you have not yet read his book, The Align Method, it comes highly recommended too! In an increasingly congested world of health, wellness, and fitness influencers, there are many competing theories for how to achieve peak performance, improve your image, and gain the highest degree of physical and mental actualization. Many of these, however, overlook the basic principles and foundational ideas that have allowed us to survive and thrive as a species. In our chat, we get into some of Aaron's fascinating backstory, the winding road he took to his current career and perspective, and how he chose to adapt the elements and wisdom of different methodologies and package it for his clients. We get into the influence of his family, how his priorities evolved over time, both in life and work, and some of the fascinating research that underlines Aaron's ideas. To hear it all from this wonderful guest, please join us today on At the End of the Tunnel.

Kenneth E. Nwadike, Jr. is an American documentary filmmaker, motivational speaker, and peace activist popularly known as the Free Hugs Guy. Ken is the founder of the Free Hugs Project, which gained popularity as he made major news headlines for his peacekeeping efforts and de-escalation of violence during protests, riots, and political rallies.In today’s episode, Ken shares some insight into his upbringing, from playing with his favorite toy, a Lamborghini Countach Micro Machine, to sleeping in homeless shelters to a full track and field scholarship, and how he came to recognize the power of his story to inspire others.Tuning in, you’ll learn how he managed to shut down Hollywood Boulevard for 10,000 runners, why he believes that it was fate that he missed qualifying for the Boston Marathon by just a few seconds, and the story behind the viral moment when he hugged a white police officer in riot gear at the Charlotte protests following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in 2016, plus so much more!Ken’s courageous work as a peace activist is helping to heal and narrow the social, political, and racial divide that exists throughout the US and his energy, passion, and love are changing individual behaviors and group interactions for the better.His story is an example of how every single hardship that we face, almost without exception, will one day come into play when we eventually find our purpose, so make sure to tune in today to learn more about the Free Hugs Guy and the power of love in the face of fear and hatred!

No one is going to give you permission to take a leap of faith. If anything, they'll tell you all the reasons why you shouldn't make the leap, why you should play it safe instead. Today, you’ll hear some short clips from Lunch on Me Founder, LaRayia Gaston; transformational teacher, Kute Blackson; bestselling author of Top Five Regrets of the Dying, Bronnie Ware; DEUCE Gym Founder, Logan Gelbrich; Sounds True Founder, Tami Simon; the singing doctor, Dr. Steven Eisenberg; spoken word artist, Saul Williams; and Los Loosers Founder, Mariana Blanco. As you’ll discover from these special guests (who have all previously been featured on the podcast), it takes constant reframing of our experiences to learn to trust our inner guidance, especially when times are tough! Hearing stories like these can help you see that, at the end of the day, if we want to maintain our sanity, if we want to keep the light turned on inside, then taking that leap of faith is our only option. Oftentimes, the sooner we take it, the better things turn out. That's the intention behind sharing not just this compilation but every story on At the End of the Tunnel; to inspire you to trust your intuition, to follow your heart, and to take those leaps of faith! Tune in today to learn more about the power of resilience, commitment, rejection, and perseverance, and so much more!

Today's story is as transformative and inspiring as any that we have had on this podcast. After an interesting and mostly healthy childhood, Arno Michaelis' teenage angst quickly turned into hatred and racism as he became involved in skinhead and white supremacist groups through his entanglement in the punk scene. This led to more and more violent and dangerous activities and for many years he walked a path of fear and anger, becoming increasingly estranged and distrustful of everything good in his life.Our guest unpacks just how this process happened and the insidious ways that bigotry can creep into our lives when we are exposed to certain things in vulnerable states. We also get to hear about the social climate of this time during the '80s and '90s and how different groups and gangs clashed and connected.Ultimately some pivotal moments allowed Arno to reevaluate his philosophy and prejudice. From becoming a father to a conversation with an elderly black woman at McDonald's certain forces pulled Arno away from the world of combat and aggression that he dived into as a young man.The last part of our chat with Arno is spent looking at his life and work since distancing himself from white nationalism, and he talks about the campaigning he did for Barrack Obama, the books he has written, and the community work he continues to do with the Forgive Project. Tune in to hear it all!

Today’s guest, Leah Marville, TV Host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Barbados World 2009. When Leah Marville lost her father at a young age, all she could think of was supporting her mother in Saint James, Barbados. When a person is living life in survival mode, many of the choices they make are unconscious. It is only by processing our pain that we can hear our inner voice and begin to live in alignment with it. The choices Leah made to pick up modeling and eventually get a law degree were all based on survival. Along the way she did amazing things like win Miss Barbados and start a charity, making her life look perfect from the outside. However, one day she realized that she was not fulfilled and undertook a deep therapy program. All of this led to her starting Life and Lemonade TV, a catalog of interviews and stories of incredible people who show us, example after example, that life's lemons can always be turned into lemonade. In this episode, you’ll hear the full story of Leah’s transition from survival to intentionality. We also talk to her about the value of leaning into the emotions we feel and the growth that comes with taking a leap of faith into the unknown. Be sure to tune in today!

For years, today’s guest lived out of his car and was hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. As if life weren’t difficult enough, he then spent two years in prison for smuggling heroin. Yet, it was through these challenges and the other tragedies he experienced that Garrain Jones found his purpose and was able to completely change the trajectory of his life. He is now a transformation coach, motivational speaker, serial entrepreneur, and the author of the number one bestseller, Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life, and his story has inspired thousands of people around the world.In today’s episode, Garrain offers us some insight into his backstory and he shares the lessons of love, leadership, and transformation that he has learned along the way. Tuning in, you’ll learn about the importance of doing what makes you happy, the craving for recognition that led Garrain to a life of crime in the first place, and the story of the homeless person who enlightened him with these simple words: change your mindset, change your life. We also touch on Garrain’s relationship with God, himself, and other men, as well as how he came to realize that motivating and inspiring others was his true calling.Garrain’s powerful story of transformation will help take you out of your everyday sameness and transfer you to a state of everyday greatness. To find out how he found the light at the end of his tunnel, make sure to join us today!

Today’s guest, Latham Thomas, is a celebrity doula and maternal wellness maven, and the founder of Mama Glow, a global women’s health and education brand serving women along the childbearing continuum and leading a revolution in radical self-care.  Mama Glow also offers a globally recognized doula immersion program, attended by women from all corners of the globe.Named one of Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul 100, supports women in embracing optimal wellness and spiritual growth as a pathway to empowerment. By centering fertility, pregnancy, new motherhood, and everything in between, Latham seeks to elevate the conversation around reproductive justice and share her passion for birth equity. She is also a graduate of Columbia University and the author of book two bestselling books; Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living and Crowning The Queen Within and Mama Glow: A Hip Guide to Your Fabulous Abundant Pregnancy. In this episode, Latham shares the lessons in self-care that she learned by watching her mother and her grandmother growing up and what the spiritual experience she had during childbirth taught her about birth as an invitation to heal and expand in both body and spirit.We also touch on the importance of community, committing to your calling, and being a little stubborn sometimes, and Latham shares her words of wisdom for listeners looking to build a life they don’t have to escape. We hope you’ll join us for this soulful conversation to learn more about Latham Thomas’ backstory and find out how the vision she had while she was in labor eventually led her to create Mama Glow!

Today’s guest is Caroline Burckle, a professional athlete who swam in the Beijing Olympics in 2008. After being mentally and physically wrecked by the end of her experience with competitive sport, she co-founded RISE Athletes, a virtual mentoring program where professional and olympic athletes empower youth athletes with transferable skills to impact sport and life performance, helping to better prepare them for the mental and physical challenges of navigating athletic competition at the highest level.Caroline spent a decade in pursuit of her Olympic goal and spent a decade thereafter understanding her pain, and it is this work that helped her blend art, mindset, and sport to discover herself, her shadows, her light, her movement, and her purpose.In this episode, Caroline reflects on her role as a ‘feeler’ and the belief systems she created at a young age that equated self-worth with achievement. She also speaks candidly about her mental health journey and shares how the work she does today was informed by her own mental health struggles as an athlete, as well as her current mission to help others understand how we can utilize our emotions as information rather than suppressing them. We also touch on the mind-body connection, healing trauma through Somatic Experiencing, and Caroline’s past and present perceptions of success, plus so much more!This conversation provides a fascinating peek behind the curtain of what it's actually like to be an Olympic athlete. It also offers further evidence that your purpose is likely hiding in whatever you perceive to be your biggest obstacle in life. Make sure to join us as we dive into the backstory of Caroline Burckle and see exactly how a swimming pool in Kentucky became the gateway to finding her purpose!

Baratunde Thurston is a writer, activist, comedian, podcaster, and media personality who holds space for difficult and complex conversations with his unique blend of humor, wisdom, and compassion. He is an Emmy-nominated host who has worked for The Onion, produced for The Daily Show, advised the Obama White House, and wrote the New York Times bestseller, How To Be Black. He is the executive producer and host of the How To Citizen Podcast, which Apple named one of its favorite podcasts of 2020 and for which Baratunde received the Social Impact Award at the 2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. In 2019, he also delivered what MSNBC’s Brian Williams called “one of the greatest TED talks of all time,” titled, ‘How to Deconstruct Racism, One Headline at a Time’. Baratunde has an incredible ability to integrate and synthesize themes of race, culture, politics, and technology to explain where our nation is and where we can take it. In today’s episode, we dive into his backstory, including his upbringing in the ‘Chocolate City’ of Washington DC and how he learned to wield words across media in service of liberty and justice, plus so much more! What stands out about this interview is Baratunde’s constant commitment to evolution and how he has made process not just a part of his life or an occasional focus, but a lifestyle. Baratunde believes that it’s about the journey, not the destination; it’s about the process, not the outcome. This is a fascinating conversation that provides yet more evidence that we're all born with everything that we need to find our true calling, we just have to be unafraid to do the things that make our heart sing. Tune in today!

Sometimes, the luminaries on this show start movements or write books that inspire people. In the case of this week's guest, she created a thriving platform called Get Loved Up, which consists of her bustling social media channels, her YouTube channel, books, and a podcast of the same name. Her name is Koya Webb, and she grew up in a small town in Tennessee with dreams of becoming an Olympian athlete in track and field. She was first introduced to yoga after a debilitating track injury that forced her to drop out of training. Once she recognized the physical and mental benefits of yoga, Koya shifted her focus to personal training and life coaching, combining the work ethic of an athlete with holistic health practices that anyone can follow to live a healthy and active lifestyle.While she still runs a mile a day, her mission is now to connect with her millions of followers and create content that helps them heal themselves and be self-sufficient on their own spiritual paths. Today, Koya is an internationally recognized yoga teacher, celebrity holistic health coach, author, speaker, and vegan activist whose core mission is to promote daily self-care, oneness, and eco-friendly living to combat some of the world’s biggest challenges, including mental health, social injustices, and global warming. In this episode, Koya shares her journey from track star to yoga teacher to vegan chef to internationally renowned wellness influencer and some of the lessons she has learned along the way.As always, you will hear about her upbringing and how it defined who she is today, and Koya offers some insight into what she learned about nurturing from her mother and what basketball taught her about resilience. We also touch on how she learned to love her natural hair, how she realized she didn’t need a gold medal to have an impact, and how she stays true to doing what she loves, plus so much more! Make sure to tune into this powerful and insightful conversation with Koya Webb today.

This week's guest created an app, a platform, and a book to be the change she wanted to see in the world. Her name is Krista Stryker, and she grew up fairly inactive, physically speaking. She was, however, an avid reader and writer who thought that one day, she would become a journalist. After being called “spaghetti arms” by her brother one afternoon and being challenged to do push-ups, Krista decided to take her physical fitness more seriously. She went on to become an NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer, working long hours in New York gym before realizing that there was a better way to pursue her love of movement.Krista discovered HIIT training from the comfort of her living room and not only did she feel stronger and more confident than ever before, but her clients started seeing remarkable results as well! This all culminated in the 12 Minute Athlete platform, which is now used by more than 500,000 people worldwide.In today’s episode, Krista speaks candidly about her journey with mental health and how she learned to manage depression and anxiety through meditation and mindful activity. She also shares her mission to help you become stronger and more confident using whatever you have at your disposal, and to embrace the process over the outcome with the understanding that mastery is not about completing something or graduating to the next level; it's about the refinement of skill. To learn more about the backstory of journalist, entrepreneur, and world-renowned fitness expert, Krista Stryker, and see how she found her calling as the 12 Minute Athlete, plus so much more, make sure to tune in today!

Today’s guest, Kute Blackson, is a transformational teacher, sought-after inspirational speaker, and bestselling author who is widely considered the next generation’s leader in the field of personal development. Born in Ghana, Kute’s multicultural upbringing as the child of a Japanese mother and a Ghanaian father has spanned four different continents. With his background and experience laying the blueprint for his unique approach to liberating others.Kute’s mission is simple: to awaken and inspire people across the planet to access inner freedom, live authentically, and fulfill their true life’s purpose. In today’s episode, you’ll find out how he does this, how his upbringing informs the work he does today, and how meditation made it impossible for Kute to deny it when he realized that he wasn’t following his destiny.You’ll also hear his incredible insights into success, service, and what he refers to as real greatness, as well as his belief in the power of daily commitment, reframing failure, and the infinite wisdom life offers us when we are willing to surrender. Kute believes that our path requires less control and more surrender than we're usually comfortable with and, to allow it to unfold and align us with our deepest intentions, we have to become practiced at the art of letting go. To learn more, make sure not to miss this inspiring conversation with transformational leader and exceptional storyteller, Kute Blackson!

Michael James Wong is today’s guest, the founder of Just Breathe, and a leading voice in the global movement for modern mindfulness. He is an author, speaker, community leader, and meditation teacher who is dedicated to expanding the conversation around mental health. As well as being internationally recognized for his work in the wellness community. Michael writes books about hope which is his unique way of being the change he wants to see in the world.The paper crane is an iconic symbol of hope, healing, and happiness. According to Japanese tradition, if a person were to fold 1,000 paper cranes in one year, they would be granted a single wish and a long and joyful life. In his beautiful and inspiring book about the art of folding paper cranes, Senbazuru: Small Steps to Hope, Healing and Happiness, Michael shares a personal collection of short stories and teachings, accompanied by traditional hand-painted proverbs and prayers.In today’s episode, we discuss the similarities between Michael’s book, Senbazuru, and Light’s book, Knowing Where to Look, which are both filled with gentle wisdom and axioms. Tuning in, you’ll learn about Michael’s backstory, growing up in a Chinese household in California with Kiwi roots, and his journey toward finding his calling as a wellness advocate and entrepreneur. We touch on the role Michael’s asthma played in making him more risk-averse, where the simple mantra that formed the essence of his business and philosophy originated, and how Michael translated the personal narrative that paper cranes represent to him into the book, as well as how his definition of success has evolved. Tune in today!

In today’s episode, author, speaker, podcaster, and wellness entrepreneur, Jonathan Fields, shares the life experiences that led him to develop the concept for Sparketypes, from his time as a DJ to his time as an attorney, and how it took hitting rock bottom physically, emotionally, and mentally for him to start pursuing his true passions. Jonathan coined the word Sparketype to describe the unique imprint for the work that makes you come alive and fills you with meaning, joy, purpose, and possibility. You’ll learn about the genesis of the online assessment that Jonathan created and how it led to his recently released book, Sparked, which is a comprehensive guide filled with case studies, stories, and real-world applications to help you discover what you are meant to do and how to get started. We also touch on his experience of opening a yoga studio the day before 9/11, what Jonathan has realized about work and meaning, and the creative moments that he feels have ‘sparked’ feeling within himself, as well as why he describes himself as spiritually curious and optimistically skeptical. Tune in today to hear all this and more from Sparketypes creator, Jonathan Fields! 

Today we get to have a conversation with the owner of the first plant-based restaurant in Latin America! Mariana Blanco started her business, Los Loosers in Mexico City about ten years ago, with the mission of convincing more people about how delicious vegan food can be. In our chat, we get to hear what made Mariana go vegan as a young child, how feeling like the odd one out shaped her, and why she feels it is so important to change minds through her work. Mariana also shares anecdotes from many of the important points in her journey, which has been challenging, surprising, and full of serendipity too! She unpacks the different elements of inspiration for Los Loosers, going into the meaning behind the name, how the business grew out of a small delivery service, and what has kept her going through some difficulties and hurdles. So, to hear this amazing story of spreading love and good food, be sure to listen in today!

By using the urban landscape as his canvas, Ruben Rojas encourages communities to change for the better through optimism and collaboration. Once vacant walls become vibrant reminders that inspire those who see them to dream big, live in possibility, and to live life through the lens of love. But Ruben wasn’t always so in touch with this message. In today’s episode, you’ll learn more about his journey, from real estate to financial planning, and how he ultimately became disillusioned with material success. Ruben shares the story of how he came to paint his first-ever mural while completing a Mastery in Transformational Training (MITT) course and how it changed his world forever by inspiring him to start asking the ‘right’ questions about self-love and purpose.Tuning in, you’ll hear about Ruben’s transition from financial planner to full-time artist, the evolution of his now-iconic ‘love’ artwork and his Live Through Love message, and his current definition of success, which has everything to do with impact and very little to do with material wealth. We also touch on the process of reinvention, forgiveness, and self-awareness and Ruben reflects on how becoming a husband and a father has only reinforced his mission to help others live life through the lens of love, plus so much more! We hope you’ll join us for this candid and inspiring conversation with Los Angeles-based artist, activist, speaker, and entrepreneur, Ruben Rojas.

Today’s guest, Jessamyn Stanley, is an award-winning yoga instructor, intersectional activist, and author who empowers her audience of over half a million to break down barriers: both those that society has set and the ones that they have created for themselves. Jessamyn would not have been able to achieve any of this if she didn’t break down those barriers for herself and, as is always the case on At The End of The Tunnel, her story involves numerous leaps of faith and moments when she had to put her trust in herself and her capabilities in order to make it happen.As a fat, Black, queer yogi, Jessamyn’s work in the wellness space centers around creating a spiritual home for wellness misfits who may feel displaced, discouraged, or overlooked due to a lack of diversity in the health and fitness community, and she is a leading voice on intersectional identity. In today’s episode, she shares an articulate message of representation and visibility whilst also speaking candidly about the personal battles she has fought with imposter syndrome, mental health issues, and taking up space in an industry where she was critically underrepresented.You’ll learn about Jessamyn’s books, Every Body Yoga and Yoke, and why she says that writing them was a process of awakening for her. We also touch on her Baháʼí Faith, what inspired her to start posting pictures of herself on Instagram, and how she believes we can make the shift to operating from a place of compassion, not fear, plus a whole lot more! We hope you’ll join us for this deeply validating conversation with Jessamyn Stanley, who has found that so much strength and power comes from not being accepted by other people because she had to find that power inside herself. Tune in today!

Today’s guest is an author, speaker, activist, and environmental journalist Paul Hawken. Paul has dedicated his life to environmental sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment. Due to a health condition and some family drama early on in his story, Paul came to understand that it wasn’t safe for him to be inside, which led him to develop a love for the outdoors. He spent countless hours exploring and learning about the interconnectedness of nature, which ultimately played a pivotal role decades later in what would become his life’s work: amplifying the importance of regenerative agriculture.After leaving home at the age of 14, Paul ultimately found himself at the forefront of the civil rights movement in the Deep South, where he volunteered with Dr. Martin Luther King, John Lewis, and other icons of the movement. Stay tuned, because he shares some incredible stories from that period in his life, including the time he was kidnapped after he was seen taking photos of the Klu Klux Klan! Later, Paul found himself in Boston, where he took over the now famous health food store, Erewhon. Here, he developed an even deeper understanding of the importance of protecting the environment, which led him to become the celebrated journalist, author, and activist that he is today.In today’s episode, we discuss the interconnected nature of Paul’s backstory, his involvement in the civil rights movement and the profound effect it had on him, and the importance of regenerative agriculture, as well as his views on hope, success, unreasonable goals, and how every single one of us can be part of the solution, plus a whole lot more! Make sure not to miss this personal and enlightening discussion with one of the world’s foremost environmental advocates.

I’m honored to have Christine Platt, a modern-day Renaissance woman also known as The Afrominimalist. From serving as an advocate for policy reform to using the power of storytelling as a tool for social change, she is focused on doing the work that reflects her practice of living with intention.Her most recent book, The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less, is a radical re-envisioning of minimalism that focuses on authenticity over aesthetics. A resource for anyone seeking to discover the truth behind their overconsumption as well as how to let go of what no longer serves them, this book encourages mindful consumption, and will hopefully inspire you to fill your life with only the things that you need, use, and love. In today’s episode, we dive into Christine’s backstory, from her love for her local library as a child to becoming a single mother in law school and everything in between, and we connect the dots between her former life of excess and the intentional life of less that she lives now. Tuning in, you’ll learn how Christine’s retail therapy problem coincided with her dissatisfaction with her job, how her decluttering journey began when she rediscovered her love for storytelling, and where her nickname, The Afrominimalist, came from. We also touch on some of her mindful philosophies when it comes to consumption and she shares her advice for listeners struggling with excess or clutter: just pause and take the time you need to do the inner work, because that is actually the most difficult part! Make sure not to miss this story of reinvention, reimagining, and living a life of less, with intention with advocate, storyteller, and minimalism guru, Christine Platt!

Real Estate agent and former singer, Jordyn Taylor, like many people who were stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, began to reflect on her purpose in life. She’d had a career in music, she had worked in real estate, and she was very good at both of those things, but she realized that she didn’t feel fulfilled. She started volunteering with a man named Joseph Bradford, who you may remember from Episode 47. Joseph was the one-man food bank who started a nonprofit called the B.A.R.E Truth, which provides supplies, food, and transitional housing to people living without homes. Jordyn volunteered with Joseph in Los Angeles before taking a leap of faith and starting her own nonprofit, Twelve Months of Giving, which spotlights 12 noteworthy nonprofits every year, shining a light on the incredible organizations that are using their time and energy to create lasting change.In today’s episode, Jordyn starts by sharing her favorite activity as a child, swimming, and how that created a sense of freedom for her. We dive into her career journey, which started at the age of 14 when she started singing which took her all the way to Japan, and Jordyn shares her common interest in speaking to and connecting with people, which she believes has driven her throughout her life. You’ll learn how a campaign for the Be The Match bone marrow registry sparked the idea for 12 Months of Giving, what it felt like for Jordyn to finally connect with her purpose, and some of the unexpected benefits she has seen from the project, and Jordyn shares her advice for anyone wanting to start their non-profit. If you can relate to feeling unfulfilled, we hope that hearing Jordyn’s story will inspire you to seek out opportunities to give back or to leave the world a better place than you found it, in whichever way resonates with you. Tune in today!

I'm joined by Ryland Engelhart, co-Founder of Kiss the Ground, a non-profit focused on regenerative agriculture, and the producer of the groundbreaking film, Kiss The Ground on Netflix. He has spent the past 15 years as an entrepreneur and love activist, working in hospitality and building a "triple bottom line" business of organic plant-based restaurants, like Cafe Gratitude and Gracias Madre in Southern California. Ryland has an infectious passion for life and is a cultural catalyst creating transformation through his own organizations and in the world at large. He publicly speaks on the topics of sacred commerce, gratitude, veganism, building community, soil regeneration, and the connection between soil health, human health, and planetary health.Ryland also shares a bit about his journey and the leaps of faith he had to take along the way to find his true calling; being of service to Mother Earth and nature. Tuning in, you’ll learn about the role that plant medicine played in opening Ryland’s eyes to this calling, the detours he took along the way, and how he is now moving the needle on the national and global adoption of regenerative agriculture. Ryland believes that everyone who eats can participate in the revolution of regenerating our soils and healing our planet. Tune in today to learn how!

Today's guest, celebrity chef, Serena Poon started a movement called Culinary Alchemy, where she advocates for functional nutrition through the mindful combination of food and healing intuition. She is a trained chef, a Reiki master, and owns a thriving media platform where she highlights changemakers who make the world a better place. Her mission to learn everything she could about the healing power of diet started from an early age when both her mother and her father were diagnosed with cancer only two years apart from one another. While her family was set on Serena becoming a lawyer, she secretly took out loans to go to culinary school instead, feeling like she was guided by something within. Now a leading chef to the Hollywood elite, Serena has set herself apart in a saturated industry through her genuine passion for curating intentional healing and wellness programs designed to help people achieve optimal, sustainable health. In today’s episode, she shares some of the philosophies that were echoed in her household growing up, including the value of hard work and self-sacrifice, which sometimes came at the expense of optimal health.You’ll find out how her parents’ diagnoses shifted Serena’s perspective on success and purpose and what inspired her to take a leap of faith and pursue her dreams of becoming a chef, even when she encountered strong resistance along the way. She also speaks candidly about her own health issues and the divine coincidences that ended up saving her life, as well as how she discovered the importance of allowing others the grace of serving you in the way you serve them. Serena has a powerful message to share about trusting your intuition, being intentional about your energy, and practicing gratitude, so make sure not to miss this inspiring conversation!

Today’s guest, Tami Simon, founded Sounds True at the age of 22 with a dream and a tape recorder. Though she had no experience running a business and only a vague idea of what she wanted the company to be, Tami had her guiding principle strongly in place: to disseminate spiritual wisdom. Over its 36-year history, Sounds True has grown into a multimedia publisher that has produced over 6,000 titles, including Light Watkins’ Knowing Where to Look, has been included twice in the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing companies, and is North America’s leading publisher of spoken-word spiritual teachings.Partnering with the leading spiritual teachers of our time, including Eckhart Tolle, Michael, Beckwith and Wim Hof, Sounds True now has a successful book publishing program and has scaled to produce events, certification programs, and transformational online learning experiences. Tami hosts the popular Sounds True podcast, Insights at the Edge, which has now been downloaded more than 20 million times. She is also the founder of the Sounds True Foundation, which is dedicated to bringing spiritual education to people who would otherwise not have access.In today’s episode, Tami shares how she discovered her love for audio journalism, the prayer that came to her during a rebirthing session that set the course for her work with Sounds True, and how "disseminate spiritual wisdom” became her code words and guiding principle. We also touch on the existential concepts Tami engaged with as a child, the sequence of events following the death of her father that led to her starting Sounds True, and how she became attuned to the “sound of truth,” as well as why she is so passionate about conscious capitalism and changing the landscape of the work environment. Tune in today for all this and more!

Joining us on the podcast today is none other than Dr. Jim Tucker, a top expert on past life memories and reincarnation. Dr. Tucker is based in North Carolina and we get to have an amazing conversation with our guest about the subject at large, his journey through the field, as well as his reflections on what the study might bring us in the future. We get to explore some real examples from Dr. Tucker's work, stories that he has published in his books, and these examples really lend credence to this kind of endeavor. No matter what your beliefs on the subject, these anecdotes are sure to make you think twice about your assumptions, and possibly even reconsider what you thought you knew. Dr. Tucker maintains a strict, scientific approach to his work, with no past life memories of his own, and merely a fascination with the investigation of others' experiences. We get to talk about the commonalities between the cases, the results of disparate families connecting, and also the reality of public perception of these phenomena. So for all this, and a whole lot more, join us for this fantastic conversation!

Like many Black women in America, today’s guest went through a period when she believed that she had to look a certain way in order to be perceived as beautiful, mainly related to her curly, natural hair. After deciding to wear her hair naturally in college and encountering pushback from her own family, Nikki Walton realized the importance of creating a community for Black women who also felt the desire to embrace their natural hair. She started her industry-disrupting and now wildly popular blog, Curly Nikki, to document her natural hair journey, which went on to become the number one natural haircare and beauty blog in the world, reaching millions of women in over 30 countries and influencing the marketing and formulation of products for major beauty brands.From the outside, with all the television appearances, book deals, and sponsorships that come with being unafraid to take a leap of faith and put yourself out there, Nikki was the picture of success and empowerment. On the inside, however, she was struggling with burnout and disillusionment, working 24/7 on building her brand while also juggling being a wife and mother. It all came to a head when she realized that she didn't have a strong enough spiritual foundation to sustain it all. This led her on a spiritual quest, which ultimately culminated in a podcast collaboration with the Be Here Now Network. Go(o)d Mornings with CurlyNikki is currently one of the top 10 spiritual podcasts in the world.In today’s episode, Nikki shares how her relationship with her hair impacted her confidence and her perception of beauty, why she had to learn to acknowledge fear rather than trying to eliminate it, and the key to her success, which was infusing everything she did with her personal story. We touch on the power of finding inner peace, stillness, and light and the value of sharing how you get through your darkest moments in order to help others find their way through theirs. Listening in, you’ll learn the saying that Nikki echoes with her children and how her perception of success has changed as her career and spirituality have evolved. Make sure not to miss this inspiring and uplifting conversation with natural hair guru and spiritual teacher, Nikki Walton!Key Points From This Episode:Learn about Nikki’s upbringing in Missouri and her favorite activity as a child: reading.The mantra she remembers from her childhood: “Don’t let anyone disturb your inner peace.”How she perceived success in those early years and why she decided to study psychology.Nikki’s relationship with her hair and her perception of beauty as a young Black woman.The very real dangers of permanent chemical burns from chemical hair relaxers.How Nikki’s relationship with her hair impacted her confidence and her everyday life.Why she chose Truman State University and started wearing her hair naturally by necessity.How she came to learn about the science of Black hair and the pushback she received from strangers, friends, and even her own family.The pivotal point at which Nikki saw a career opportunity in her personal hair journey.Hear about her decision to take a leap of faith and her intuitive sense for marketing.Nikki reflects on her relationship with fear and ego; how she has learned to acknowledge fear rather than trying to eliminate it.The secret sauce behind the success of her articles: infusing them with her personal story.The rate at which Nikki was producing content for her blog and how it became all-consuming.When she transitioned from her job as a psychotherapist to pursue Curly Nikki full time.Advice for entrepreneurs in the early stages of following their passion: let it work through you.

At the End of the Tunnel is a podcast about hope, inspiration, and people who have found their calling. This is likely something we all fantasize about; finding our life’s purpose or our ‘why’, and this week’s guest has a backstory that many listeners will find extremely relatable. It's the story of being seduced by what Light refers to as the acquisitive approach to happiness. In other words, it's the thinking that as soon as you make a certain amount of money, or get promoted, or find your soulmate, then you will be truly happy. From the outside looking in, Manoj Dias had it all. A decorated corporate marketing career, an enviable paycheck, his good looks, but something still felt off. That persistent ‘offness' ultimately culminated in a panic attack at his high-paying job, which then spiraled into 18-months of depression, insomnia, and disordered eating, with the occasional suicidal ideation thrown in for good measure. Then, he discovered the magic of meditation and found what he'd been looking for all along: a connection to something real.Since first being introduced to meditation and embarking on his own journey to become a teacher, Manoj has helped thousands of people to embrace the stillness of mind and body, enabling them to live fearlessly on the path to a happier and more meaningful life. In this episode, we dive into his early childhood in Sri Lanka and his fascination with becoming a Buddhist monk, his deep desire to belong as an immigrant child in Australia, and what he modeled success on as an 18-year-old father. Manoj shares his belief that he wasn’t afforded the power of choice in his career and what meditation taught him about compassion, suffering, ego, and generosity, and we discuss the value of spiritual nourishment, community, and honing in on your purpose. Ultimately, this is an episode about the importance of deeply connecting with what matters to you most, a topic about which Manoj has a wealth of wisdom and lived experience to share, so make sure to tune in today for a truly enlightening conversation!

In today’s episode, we hear from Suleika Jaouad, author of the memoir Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted, about her journey through being diagnosed with leukemia at age 22 and how the experience of illness and recovery intertwines with her writing career. Suleika reflects on some of the frustration she experienced at the time with existing cancer narratives and how that informed the blog she chose to write during her difficult years of cancer treatment. She is also an award-winning journalist whose work on prison reform earned her an Emmy. Her TED talk What almost dying taught me about living has been viewed over four million times.Tuning in you’ll hear about Suleika’s memories growing up as the daughter of immigrant parents, her early experiences with journaling, and why she views it as a sacred activity that can have endless possibilities when you liberate yourself from expectations. We hear from Suleika about when she first received her diagnosis and how it affected her life. Suleika shares the inspiration she found in people like Frida Kahlo who undertook rich creative pursuits while being confined to their beds and how that informed her writing. We delve into what it was like for Suleika to spend years in a hospital during her early twenties and how being cured does not necessarily equate to being healed. Later Suleika unpacks what drove her writing and shares how the letters she received in response to her blog helped her feel a sense of connectedness during her most intense periods of medical isolation. Join us today for a reflective and open conversation on illness, trauma, creativity, and what it means to truly heal.Key Points From This Episode:Introducing today’s guest Suleika Jaouad.Suleika’s early experiences with journaling and how to make journaling engaging and fun.Methods for dealing with the need to keep your journals private from other people.Suleika’s experiences moving between different countries as the child of immigrant parents.How the lesson of Middle Eastern hospitality was present in Suleika’s life growing up.Suleika describes a turning point in her life as a young adolescent after watching Mona Lisa Smile.Some of the symptoms Suleika started experiencing after graduating from college.The months Suleika spent being misdiagnosed before a doctor diagnosed her with leukemia.Suleika describes some of the emotions she felt when she was correctly diagnosed, including a sense of protectiveness over her parents.The sense of liberation and vulnerability that Suleika experienced after chemotherapy altered her appearance.The inspiration that Suleika found in the life and work of Frida Kahlo.An outline of the 100-day project and how it facilitated Suleika writing her memoir.The story of how Suleika started her blog before her bone marrow transplant.How having a life-threatening illness reshuffled Suleika’s priorities.Some of the frustrations that Suleika had felt with other books, films, and stories by cancer survivors who wrote about their experiences long after they had recovered.How the letters that Suleika received during her time in hospital gave her a feeling of connection despite being so isolated.The difficulties Suleika faced after being cured of her illness, like survivors' guilt and trauma.Suleika's choice to connect with the people who had written her letters while she was sick.Why it was important to Suleika that she portrays the ripple effect that a life-altering diagnosis has on a family and community in her memoir.Suleika’s experience visiting Lil GQ in prison and some of the ways it resembles hospitals.Suleika’s definition of success and how that has changed over the years.

In today's episode, we hear from one of this generation’s foremost authorities on everyone's favorite topic: sex! Author, podcaster, and sexologist, Dr. Emily Morse has the longest-running sex-themed podcast on iTunes, starting Sex With Emily back in 2005 when the only people starting podcasts were tech geeks. Since then, Emily has covered literally every sexual topic you can think of, from Afro sexology to bondage, to whatever you're imagining right now; she's got an episode on that too! More recently, Emily Morse Teaches Sex and Communication has become one of the most popular courses on the Masterclass platform.In this episode, you’ll get a glimpse into Emily’s backstory, from politics to documentary filmmaking, and find out how she became a sexologist when she realized that she could help a lot of people by spreading more real-world information about sex. Listening in, you’ll learn how the path to following her curiosity was fraught with financial struggles and family interventions, how Emily overcame those obstacles, and how she came out the other side of her dark tunnel as the world-renowned ‘sexpert' that she is today.We also discuss some of the common myths surrounding sexuality, and how Emily defines a healthy sex life, particularly if one partner wants more sex than the other, which she says is actually more the norm than it is the exception. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about the power of following your curiosity!Key Points From This Episode:Emily shares her favorite activity as a child; playing with her Barbie dolls.Hear about her upbringing and her experience with “the birds and the bees.”Find out why Emily says she didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up.How her concept of success shifted after her dad died at the age of 49.What she learned about communication, making an impact, and how to get things done from her time in politics that later informed her path.Learn about Emily’s next chapter as a documentary filmmaker and her drive to create.The story of how she created See How They Run, her first documentary film.How Sex With Emily started in 2005, following her own curiosity about her friends’ sex lives.Hear the story of how Emily met Captain Erotica, thanks to her interest in Burning Man.Some of the early success and validation Emily received from her podcast.The financial challenges she encountered in 2009 when the global recession hit.How she worked her way through those struggles by remaining committed to her vision.Find out how she became involved in writing the book, Hot Sex.Emily shares her perspective on competition and why she doesn’t worry too much about it.How being known as a sexologist in her 30s affected her personal life.Why Emily believes we bury our heads in the sand as a society when it comes to talking about sex; and how she is trying to change that.The importance of including sex under the umbrella of health and wellness.What Emily hopes the conversation about sex and relationships will look like years from now.How she hopes to equip people with the adequate knowledge and language necessary to talk about sex openly.The three main causes of divorce, sex, children, and money, and the value of communication.Her advice for managing mismatched libidos or what Emily calls desire discrepancy.The value in expanding our definition of sex to include other acts of intimacy.What the experience of shooting a Masterclass was like for Emily: the responsibility to deliver.How Emily defines success these days; spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional wellness.Her thoughts on success in relationships and the importance of being authentic.

Our mental health and our physical health are inextricably connected, and our guest on today’s show has a passion for helping people tap into the power that exists within all of us to heal ourselves. After many, many years of exploration into the field, and through experiencing the incredible effects of natural remedies and a positive mindset first hand, Kelly Noonan Gores created a documentary, aptly titled Heal. Heal topped the charts on iTunes, and even made it onto Netflix (after their announcement that they wouldn’t be releasing any more independent films). In today’s episode, you’ll hear about Kelly’s personal healing journey, and gain a few insights into the stories that you can expect to hear in the film. She also shares the rollercoaster of emotions that she experienced while making Heal, books and practices which have been a key part of her process, and some very valuable advice for anyone who has a dream!Key Points From This Episode:A glimpse into what Kelly’s life was like growing up. How Kelly’s upbringing has impacted her life.Health issues that Kelly suffered with in high school, and the alternative remedy which finally resolved them.Mixed emotions that Kelly felt towards the acting she did as a child.Psychological barriers that were getting in the way of Kelly’s dreams, which led her down a path of discovery.The book which gave Kelly her spirit back.Kelly’s methods for keeping herself happy and fulfilled.Why Kelly decided to create her documentary, Heal. Feelings that helped Kelly realize that her true path was not acting.The final straw which motivated Kelly to produce Heal, after 10 years of developing it.Gratitude journaling, and the positive impact that Kelly feels it has had on her.How Kelly recruited the people who would feature in her documentary.Elements that Kelly felt confident about when it came to making Heal, and elements which she was nervous about.Kelly runs us through the experience of the first interview she did for Heal. How Heal differs from other documentaries about healing. The two healing stories which are documented in Heal, and the short film that Kelly created alongside it. Not imposing her beliefs onto others is a key part of Kelly’s philosophy.A diagnosis that Kelly received when she wasn’t even aware that anything was wrong.Kelly’s thoughts on knowing what is the right healing method to make use of. The impacts of emotions such as fear and stress on your physical health. Findings that Kelly was surprised by through the process of making Heal.Positive changes that often occur in people’s lives when they are diagnosed with a disease.Fears that Kelly felt around releasing Heal, and words of encouragement for anyone who is on a learning journey.  The public response to Heal.Book recommendations for anyone who is interested in natural healing and the power of the mind.Finding balance; the key to success.Work that Kelly is currently doing that is keeping her fire burning.

Today’s guest is one of the most prolific spiritual teachers of our time. His name is Gary Zukav, and he is the author of The Seat of the Soul, The Dancing Wu Li Masters, and most recently, Universal Human. We usually devote the first part of this show to the backstories of our guests but today we will be deviating slightly from that format. This is because Gary is such a masterful spiritual teacher that I decided to use the space of the full interview to hear him speak more about what it means to be a universal human, and where he sees us going as a human race, which is in the direction of becoming what he calls multi-sensory humans. For Gary, all humans can undergo multi-sensory experiences, but not everyone is aware of them when they happen. It is during these experiences that we perceive our connection to the greater universe and they point the way to a new consciousness. We spend a large chunk of our conversation talking about the meaning of authentic power and how to live in such away so that we can access it. This process is grounded in the intention to live in love rather than fear and Gary speaks about the knock-on effects that an internal change like this will affect in our greater surroundings. Tune in and learn what spiritual growth is all about with Gary today.

Today’s guest is not someone who started traditional non-profit or initiated a movement for social good, but they live their life in such a way that they have inspired many of their followers to follow their hearts, to do what they love, and to take leaps of faith; and you know by now that your host, Light Watkins, is all about a good leap of faith! Please join in in welcoming Chris Classic, father, founder, perfumer, artist, creative director, and personal inspiration. In today’s episode, Chris shares how he took a stand on what he wanted for himself and literally leapt out a window to pursue his vision, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of his life.Key Points From This Episode:Chris talks about his childhood, growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness in Long Island, New York.Why Chris says he learned to separate himself from rejection at a young age.He shares his first idea of a dream job; to write commercials for an advertising agency.How rap music sparked his decision to run away from home and live with his aunt.Hear about the relevance of 310 Riverside Drive, which was the address of Zoe Ministries.How witnessing Rev Run become a minister confirmed for Chris that rap wasn’t unholy.What the beginning of Chris’ career as a rapper looked like and where his name originated.Chris shares how he viewed success as attainable and inevitable at that point in his life.What he learned from Run DMC about keeping the crowd engaged.How he learned that he could be professional and still have a self-identity.The experience of collaborating with Run on the Let’s Get Married remix and how it launched Chris’ career as a songwriter.Why Chris says his life would’ve taken a different trajectory if Jam Master Jay weren’t killed.Find out how Millésime Impérial by Creed got Chris into exploring niche fragrances.Where his following on social media came from: his life as a dad and a creative and a sociable person in New York City.How Chris came to create his own perfume thanks to an encounter with one of his followers.Chris’ belief that his perfume brand has been successful because it is a service to others that comes from a place of love.Someone connecting with his fragrances versus someone licensing one of his songs.How the name, Savoir Faire, reflects the plight of Black creatives.Discover what the significance of the crown is on Savoir Faire’s bottles.The trick to selling something as experiential and subjective as a fragrance online.The legacy Chris hopes to build for Black men and women to aspire to create for themselves.Find out what he has learned after 10,000 orders: that he is still knocking on doors.Chris reflects on his core audience, which isn’t one that he targets.Hear his advice for other aspiring perfumers (and creatives in general): make something you absolutely love!How Chris views success these days: the ability to control his time and spend it with family.

Today's guest on At the End of the Tunnel is a self-described ‘artivist'. Her name is Liza Jessie Peterson, a gifted actress, spoken word poet, playwright, author, and youth advocate. Liza grew up in West Philadelphia, graduated from Georgetown, and worked as a model in Paris before getting introduced to the New York poetry scene, where she became one of the stars of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Following her passion as a poet and an artist led her to accept a side gig; teaching poetry to kids in New York City schools. Her first assignment was at a school called Island Academy, which she ultimately discovered was the school at Rikers Island jail.That assignment, which was only meant to last three weeks, evolved into an 18-year career of working with inmates and developing a deep understanding of the prison industrial complex. Liza’s experiences with students at Island Academy led her to write a book, titled All Day: A Year of Love and Survival Teaching Incarcerated Kids at Rikers Island, and an award-winning one woman show called The Peculiar Patriot, which she has since performed at over 35 penitentiaries across the country.In this conversation, Liza shares the extraordinary series of events that led her to work at Island Academy. In particular, she talks about the kids she has worked with, how they benefited from her program and, perhaps most importantly, the invaluable lessons she learned from them. Liza’s story reveals a fascinating behind-the-veil analysis of mass incarceration in America, and she also shares some of her own career struggles, insecurities, and the leaps of faith she had to make in her own creative journey while she was amplifying the voices of others. Tune in today for an in-depth and inspiring conversation about the power of artivism and using your art to rebel against the status quo with the incomparable Liza Jessie Peterson!Key Points From This Episode:Liza reflects on her favorite toy as a kid: Rock ‘em Sock ‘em.Hear about her family growing up and how they influenced her political awareness.The sense of pride that Liza’s father instilled in her at a young age.How The Autobiography of Malcolm X introduced her to revolutionary Black consciousness.Viewing success through the lens of what her older sister was doing at the time.How the incentive to “change the white man’s game from the inside” led her to Georgetown.What Liza learned about kindness, compassion, and humility from her late mother.Why she says working as a model in Paris was the gateway drug to realizing the viability of using her creativity to make a living.How acting allowed Liza to process the pain of her mother’s loss through storytelling.Hear about the inadvertent poem that brought Liza to the Nuyorican for the first time.Laying the groundwork for the artists of today by being part of the Nuyorican movement.Learn about Liza’s process of writing a poem, which always starts with a journal entry.Liza speaks about her first one-woman show, which was inspired by Ntozake Shange.Find out how she came to teach her first poetry class at Island Academy on Rikers Island.Why she says teaching at Rikers wasn’t a mission or a purpose; until she got there.She describes her first time arriving at Rikers, including her shock at seeing so many Black, Puerto Rican, and Latino faces there.How this first-hand introduction to the prison industrial complex turned a three-week assignment into a three-year mission.What it was like teaching poetry to juveniles and the importance of validating their voices.Teaching these young men that their slang was valuable; they were already speaking poetry.Discover how you can help Liza on her mission to amplify her art and make an impact.

Last week, you heard from Dr. Steven Eisenberg, who discovered the healing power of music through his work in oncology. In this week’s episode, we continue that theme with world-renowned recording artist and producer, Brandon Green, who is better known as Maejor. At the height of his career, working with top-tier artists like Mary J. Blige, T-Payne, Drake, and Justin Bieber, Maejor was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. This was a turning point for him. While he imagined that he would eventually give back later in life by creating educational music centers for children, this diagnosis changed his timeline and instilled in him a greater sense of urgency to find his true purpose; using his music to heal. He began creating music at 432 hertz, which he learned from the scientific community was the frequency that contained the highest healing properties. This led to an album called Vol 1: Frequency, produced as therapeutic music meant not only to be enjoyed but to heal and soothe the soul too. In this conversation, we unpack Maejor’s journey, how he discovered his purpose to heal through music, and why we should consider listening to more music at the 432 Hz frequency rather than the standard 440 Hz frequency.Tune in today for a powerful, candid, and inspirational conversation, with someone who is changing the music industry as we know it from the inside out!Key Points From This Episode:We start, as always, with Maejor’s favorite toy or activity as a child: basketball.Learn more about his family dynamics growing up and how they influenced his personality.Why Maejor says changing schools so many times was both a blessing and a curseWhat he learned about effort and compassion from his grandmother, Edna.Maejor tells the story of the CD that first got him interested in making music.How an interview for a website called Hip-Hop Gang led to an introduction to Trey Songz.He shares his early motivations as a music producer and explains why he stayed in school, even as he became successful.Hear about his transition from producer to writing, creating, and singing his own music.His insight into the music industry and the significance of being signed to Ne-Yo at the time.Learn what makes a good song or a good beat; and why Maejor believes it is the energy.Who inspired him, the reputation he developed, and how he came to meet Justin Bieber.The willingness to go through discomfort that aided Maejor on his journey as an artist.Hear the story of his artist name, which incorporates a name both his grandmother’s share.Maejor speaks candidly about his leukemia diagnosis and how it shifted his perspective.Why his response was to write positive lyrics, but he saw his sales go flat.How he came to understand the healing power of sound through yoga.Marrying the spiritual or consciousness perspective with technology and science.Art as a tool to expand consciousness and the artist’s role and responsibility in that.Why Maejor’s definition of success these days revolves around service to others.

You might think that music and medicine are two totally separate worlds that cannot be brought together. However, today’s guest, Dr. Steven Eisenberg, not only brings his musical gifts to his patients, but he has also healed himself through connecting to his creative energy. Steven specializes in oncology and hematology and works with patients at all stages of their cancer. In today’s episode, we hear Steven’s incredible backstory, his lifelong passion for music, and the role his father played in showing him it was possible to practice medicine and have a creative outlet at the same time. Steven talks about the internal friction he faced when he felt like he had to decide between music and medicine and how he lost his way when he went into private practice and subsequently became gravely ill. He shares the turning point he reached when he realized how poorly he was caring for himself, despite caring so deeply for others. When he brought music into his practice, his heart expanded, and he was able to feel the light that had been dimmed for years pouring in again. Steven also shares some touching stories from his book, Love is the Strongest Medicine. As someone who is an outstanding example of combining passion with purpose, Dr. Steven Eisenberg’s story is well worth hearing.  Key Points From This Episode:Get to know Steven, his obsession with his cassette recorder when he was younger, and his experience of being bullied. Steven’s relationship with music and how his father incorporated music and medicine into his life. The fork in the road Steven faced before he went to med school. What the energy in Steven’s house was like; it was a mixed bag. The horrible bike accident that changed Steven’s life. How Steven kept his creative light burning during medical school. The first acoustic guitar Steven bought that he couldn’t afford, which he still uses today. A moving story of how Steven brought music into the hospital and what he realized when he did this. The stress of working in private practice and the toll it took on Steven. What happened when a patient called Steven out on the condition of his own health. Details about the essay contest Steven won and the life it breathed into him. There is always the possibility to heal your life; that’s what Steven wants his patients to know. Steven’s process of writing songs for his patients. Steven's dad’s decision to end his career as a physician at a prison. What someone should do if they have a cancer diagnosis. The value of drawing on both Eastern and Western medicine to ensure holistic healing. There is such a big role for compassion to play both in medicine and the world generally.

This week’s episode is something a little different. Instead of bringing on a guest, Light uses this episode as an opportunity to talk about his own journey through the context of the book that he has coming out on May 25th, 2021, called Knowing Where to Look: 108 Daily Doses of Inspiration. The book is full of personal stories, as well as classical stories, anecdotes, and observations that he has composed over the last five years. It's important to hear about the background of these kinds of projects, because we all have some sort of project or passion that we dream about or work towards. You might think that it’s easy for someone who hosts their own podcast to write a book. In today’s episode, Light assures you that his journey has been just as busy, uncertain, and messy as anyone else’s, which is likely true for nearly anybody you admire or look up to! You are just as capable as anyone else of achieving your dreams or completing that dream project, no matter what your background or your journey looks like. Sometimes, it’s all about knowing where to look for inspiration, and this episode will hopefully form a point of reference. Light encourages you to look inside yourself, to listen to your still small voice, to consciously follow your inner guidance, and to trust yourself to take that leap of faith! You never know where it might lead you.Key Points From This Episode:Hear about the opening story of the book, which Light calls ‘Right Time, Right Place’.How he first made the decision to follow inspiration, no matter where it led him.Light shares the story of his first two hours in Paris, during which time he serendipitously landed a job, an apartment, and a group of friends.The divine lesson he learned about consciously following his inner guidance.Why this book is like a meditation on the subject of inspiration.Light reflects on why inspiration makes us feel both excited and scared simultaneously.Learn about the origins of Light’s Daily Dose of Inspiration emails.He shares the excitement and fear he felt at the outset and what he did when his greatest fear was realized; he ran out of content!As per Maya Angelou, Light discovered that “being creative generates creativity.”The concept of the muse and the role that mediation plays in Light’s creativity.The reasons it can be challenging for you to hear the still small voice inside yourself.Why your pain voice is often the loudest and can prevent you from taking a leap of faith.If our two most important days are when we are born and when we die, Light proposes a third; the day we take action on our purpose.How to decide whether to find a publisher or self-publish your first book.Why Light wrote this “treasure trove of inspiration” and how it is designed to be read.Why it is crucial for fan’s of an author’s work to preorder that author’s book.Light shares his gratitude for everyone who has supported him and his mission to leave you more inspired than he found you.

This podcast highlights the stories of those who have gone through dark moments in their lives and come out the other side with additional wisdom, courage, and insight they could not have found had they not gone through that darkness. As a result, they often become a light unto others, and today’s guest is no exception. Gabriella Wright is a mother, an actress, an activist, a speaker, and a meditation teacher with a long-standing history of humanitarian engagement.Gabriella hails from London, where she had a very enchanting childhood. In her late teens, however, she suffered a very dark experience of abuse, which prompted her to relocate to New Zealand where she discovered meditation, spirituality, and her inner life. She ultimately traveled to India where she went deeper into her practice, not realizing that it was preparing her for an even bigger tragedy to come, one that would cause her to double down on her commitment to become an advocate for mental health. As the Cofounder of Never Alone, a suicide prevention and mental wellbeing initiative of The Chopra Foundation, Gabriella has gone on to help reduce mental health stigma and democratize access to mental health tools.She is the innovator of the Mental Hygiene Toolkit, a collection of mind cleansing and self-awareness tools to help individuals nurture their bodies, minds, and spirits, and develop inner guidance to consciously choose the best path for their lives. Gabriella’s acting and humanitarian projects bring her closer to understanding human nature and what binds consciousness to reality. In this episode, we hear how she was driven throughout her life by the word ‘freedom’, how becoming a mirror helped her through both trauma and emancipation, and how she pursues the fulfillment of her rich inner reality every day. Tune in to learn more!Key Points From This Episode:Gabriella reflects on her favorite activities as a child: running barefoot through the Hackney Marshes and hearing stories from her father.More on her household growing up, religion, and the lessons she learned from her parents.What Gabriella saw herself becoming when she grew up, directed by her pursuit of freedom.Find out how the words ‘magical’ and ‘freedom’ spun her drive to become an actor.Her traumatic experience of being abducted and sexually assaulted at 17-years-old and how “becoming a mirror” helped Gabriella escape.How this experience changed her perspective and opened her heart to the suffering of others.Hear how she came to relocate to New Zealand and how Shakespeare contributed to the spiritual awakening she had there.Gabriella describes the ad in a local gazette that ended up introducing her to meditation.The positive changes that took place for her over the next few months of meditating.What success meant to Gabriella at that time: to free herself from pain.The initially terrifying journey to meet a Maori queen that introduced her to Tibetan Buddhism.Gabriella speaks about the children that opened her eyes to the corruption and human trafficking in India and her desire to find solutions.She tells the story of a film about suicide that she helped create that turned very personal.Recognizing, in her sister’s suicide, the need for more accessible mental health support.How Gabriella thinks about success today: fulfillment of her rich inner reality.What she would say to someone who has lost a loved one to suicide: you’re not alone.How facing grief head-on can help you experience your important presence beyond grief

Welcome to another incredible story from At the End of the Tunnel! You might be wondering: what tunnel is Light always referring to? Well, your tunnel is that darkest moment in your life when you think all hope is lost. If you haven’t had your dark tunnel moment yet or you are currently working your way through one, these stories serve as reminders that, while these tunnels signal the end of a part of your life, they also signify the beginning of another. This next phase is often when the real you has an opportunity to shine through.Today’s guest had his dark tunnel moment when he got caught up in an attempted robbery as a teenager and was facing life in the New York State prison system. Marlon Peterson also saw the light at the end of the tunnel, however, and struck up a letter correspondence with a teacher from his old neighborhood and her students. Because of everything he had been through in his life, he became uniquely qualified to offer these kids insight and wisdom into their issues, traumas, and “brokenness.” With a renewed sense of purpose, Marlon went on to earn an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice with Honors. He also spent the last five years of his incarceration as the head of the Transitional Services Center, where he created programming and curricula for men nearing release from incarceration and spearheaded and designed an experiential work-shop for incarcerated men and college students.Since then, Marlon has been named him one of America's 100 Most Influential and Inspiring Leaders in the Black Community by Ebony magazine, is an Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar, a Fall 2016 TED Resident, and a 2015 recipient of the prestigious Soros Justice Fellowship. His TED Talk, ‘Am I not human? A call for criminal justice reform’ has over 1 million views and he is the best-selling author of Bird Uncaged: An Abolitionist's Freedom Song. He is also the host of the Decarcerated Podcast, an Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity, and the founder and chief re-imaginator of The Precedential Group, a social justice consulting firm. Marlon’s story proves that there is hope at the end of any dark tunnel if you have the honesty and resolve to let your inner light shine. Tune in today for a candid, challenging, inspiring and, ultimately, uplifting conversation with Marlon Peterson!

Welcome back to At the End of the Tunnel, a podcast that shines a light on the backstories of people who've taken a leap of faith away from convention and toward helping or inspiring people through their story, their work, or, in the case of today’s guest, their art. Saul Williams is a multi-talented rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, poet, writer, and actor. He is known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop, and for his lead roles in films like the 1998 independent film, Slam. Like this generation’s Harry Belafonte, Saul is first and foremost an activist whose medium is song. Themes that show up in his work include social justice, race, gender, and capitalism, and he has gone on to collaborate with the likes of Nine Inch Nails, NAS, Allen Ginsburg, and Rick Rubin. Though he has been interviewed countless times during his prolific career, today’s conversation focuses on his backstory, diving deep into his upbringing as the son of a minister and an educator, both of whom were activists as well. Saul describes the moment that he discovered his passion for spoken word, which happened almost by accident, and how he had been preparing for that moment without even realizing it. He also touches on his unlikely path to starring in Slam when he wasn’t the director’s first choice and explains why he decided to get into music later, a leap of faith that surprised even him. Tune in today to learn more about the incredible, inimitable Saul Williams!Key Points From This Episode:Saul reflects on his favorite activities as a child and why he says he was never bored.Hear about Saul’s family heritage and his personal relationship with the church, activism, and the Civil Rights Movement.How Broadway, gospel music, and Shakespeare influenced his decision to become an actor.A moment in Saul’s life that influenced his view of the socialization process going forward.The exposure he had to queer and trans communities growing up in New York.How Saul envisioned his life playing out as a teen when he was enrolled in acting school.How attending acting courses at Spelman helped Saul discover the intersection between Black art, expression, feminism, and progression.How performing ‘Amethyst Rocks’ at Brooklyn Moon Cafe in 1995 officially opened the doors to his career as a poet.The feeling that he was on the precipice of calling that night, reciting a poem he had written.Why checking his ego as a poet was important; there was no room for braggadocio.What Saul means when he says that he sees poetry as an algorithm, a coded language.How practicing meditation helped him question the role of ego and remain centered.Being on the cusp of the spoken word movement in New York and his responsibility to ensure that what he wrote was open and progressive.Hear about Saul’s path to acting in Slam when he was originally meant to write for the film.Looking back to his childhood and seeing how Saul’s imagination has come into play throughout his life.

Despite its prevalence in our society, pornography is not a topic that is discussed very openly. Without having these difficult conversations, there is no way we can create the cultural shifts needed to move past the issues in the space. As someone who has never shied away from tough conversations, Maria Ahlin is on a mission to get people talking. Maria's viral TEDx Talk, Let's Talk Porn, has garnered over five million views, and she has given hundreds of educational talks over the years. Maria also runs her own non-profit, Changing Attitudes, which looks to eliminate the attitudes which lead to sex-buying. In this conversation, we hear about Maria's childhood, how her parents fostered her inquisitive spirit was fostered, and the final year high school project she did that opened her eyes to sex trafficking. She talks about some of the lessons she has learned and how her own attitude has shifted along her journey. We talk about porn addiction, where Maria shares her refreshing point of view, the importance of teaching children critical thinking skills, and the power of tackling a big issue by taking small steps. Maria's mission is a grand one, and her commitment, tenacity, and open-mindedness around topics that so many of us would rather avoid is incredibly inspiring. Tune in to hear it all!Key Points From This Episode:Hear about Maria's childhood and her love of horses and books. The leadership lessons Maria learned from looking after her horses. What Maria's home life was like and the independence she had early on in her life. Maria's first exposure to porn when she saw a Playboy at 12, and her reaction to it. The spirit of debate and discussion in Maria's home growing up. Hear about Maria's first involvement with activism. The encouragement Maria has always felt from adults with regard to her writing. Why Maria views her mental health and strength as success. Addiction struggles in Maria's close family. The genesis of Maria's final year high school project which explored sex trafficking. Research Maria undertook for her project and what she learned along the way. How Maria knew that she had found her calling after completing the project. The findings that surprised Maria most about sex trafficking and porn. What happened when Maria Googled porn, putting herself in a curious child's shoes. Two sides to the debates around porn addiction; some people don't acknowledge that it's real. Why Maria decided to start her organization, Changing Attitudes. How Maria's understanding of pornography and sex trafficking has changed over the years. Maria's passion for preventative work and getting to the root cause of issues. A moment where Maria felt discouraged on her journey. The value and the cumulative effect of many small positive steps. Where Maria has seen the biggest shifts occur. Maria's definition of success for her mission; sparking conversations. Advice Maria would give a young person who wants to devote themselves to a cause. The books Maria has written, which will hopefully be released in English soon.

The more compassionate we are, the more we will want to help others, and often it is our own suffering that helps us understand those experiences outside of ours. Today we speak to Joseph Bradford about how the challenges of his childhood led him to dedicate his life to helping the homeless. Joseph started a non-profit called B.A.R.E. Truth, an organization that provides mentorship, independent living assistance, and wellness services to impoverished individuals and families, helping them attain healthy, purpose-driven lives, ultimately changing the economic and living conditions of communities. Our conversation begins as always with Joseph’s upbringing and he tells a story about being born to a very young mother as the oldest of his siblings. He talks about the responsibilities placed on his shoulders to look after those more vulnerable than himself, even while he was just a small kid. This sparked an early tendency in Joseph to be caring and to see that the people around him were safe before he thought of his own wellbeing. We hear about the many challenges Joseph faced through school and college before he finally wound up in California and began to help the homeless after giving away half his dinner one night. Joseph talks about consistently trying to lend a hand and how this process slowly scaled up to the point where he started B.A.R.E Truth. We spend the last part of our conversation focusing on good approaches to helping the homeless, the work Joseph does to keep his non-profit running, and the centrality of his desire to care in keeping him motivated each day.Key Points From This Episode:What childhood was like for Joseph growing up in the projects of Kansas City.How basketball helped Joseph feel free and escape being the oldest sibling.The feeling of responsibility that Joseph had as a child with no father figure.Lessons Joseph learned about the value of taking care of others as a child.The many people in Joseph’s family who died after his father did.Joseph’s relationship with his neighbor and his early definition of success.How Joseph offset being teased for being dark-skinned by being good at school.Life and responsibilities for Joseph in different shelters after his house burned down.More wealth and big changes for Joseph and his family after his mom got a boyfriend.How Joseph sold drugs during his struggling phase and why he stopped.Work and college for Joseph after high school and his mom and her boyfriend separated.Why Joseph wishes he encouraged his siblings more.Joseph’s opinion on drugs and alcohol and why he abstained.New challenges Joseph faced through different moves after finishing college.A desire Joseph developed to feed the hungry after giving a homeless person half his meal one night.How receiving help would have made Joseph’s life better and how this influenced his choice to help others.How Joseph learned property management with the goal of providing housing to the homeless.Joseph’s core desire to help people and how this feeds into his work with B.A.R.E Truth.The role Joseph’s mother played in keeping him motivated to achieve his dream.Connections Joseph built up as he secured food and spoke to different people.How Joseph straddled his job while also handing out food at night.Joseph’s explanation of the words that make up the name B.A.R.E Truth.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Light WatkinsJoseph Bradford on LinkedInB.A.R.E TruthB.A.R.E Truth on Instagram&a

Some of you might be wondering why this podcast is called At the End of the Tunnel. Well, it’s because all of Light’s guests have had to go through some period of uncertainty or darkness or had to take a huge leap of faith in order to find their inner light, which ends up leading them to their path and purpose. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Jasmine Mason, a Los Angeles-based contemporary dancer turned author. She has been dancing since she was three years old but, in the last few years, she became inspired to take a big leap of faith in the direction of self-publishing a book about breakups.One day, while doing laundry in between shows, Jasmine realized that she had acquired a collection of oversized t-shirts from some of the people she had dated. Wondering how many other women were keeping an ex-boyfriend’s shirt after the breakup, she had the idea to publish You Ain’t Shirt, an inspiring and uplifting coffee table book about the breakups, healings, and lessons of 65 women that held onto an ex’s t-shirt. Of course, there is no way Jasmine could have known that her initial curiosity around a shirt from an ex-boyfriend could have led to the production of a stunning coffee table book that helps people move through breakups, but that is the beauty of following your inspiration; you never know where it might lead you!In this interview, Jasmine shares the backstory of how she grew up, how that influenced her ideas around relationships, why she had that curiosity, and all of the steps that led to the conception and the execution of You Ain’t Shirt, as well as how she knew that she had to take action on the idea, even though it could potentially be a money pit. Make sure to tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Back to the beginning: Jasmine shares a bit about her childhood and family life.Why she says she was born to dance and the impact that having an ‘alter ego’ had on her.Jasmine reflects on what it takes to become a world-class performer: her love for dance.Find out how she viewed success early on and why she never had a plan B to dance.How her parent’s divorce and her mother’s pain informed Jasmine’s view of relationships.The career decisions she made once she graduated and how she learned to deal with rejection without taking it personally.Hear about her formative dating experiences and what they taught Jasmine about herself.Some traits of an impactful relationship, including the importance of healthy communication.Even though her mom didn’t provide the best examples of healthy relationships, Jasmine says she gave great breakup advice.The origins of You Ain’t Shirt: how realizing she wasn’t creating for herself anymore sparked the idea to create a book.The t-shirt that inspired the book and Jasmine’s personal experiences with breakups.What drove her to keep moving forward with the book and devote her love and energy to it.How Jasmine knew that the project was worth every penny she spent on it; it’s expensive to make a coffee table book!Jasmine speaks candidly about overcoming the voice in her head that said she couldn’t do itFind out what Jasmine learned in the process of creating You Ain’t Shirt, including that it’s okay to lean on others.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Jasmine Mason on InstagramYou Ain’t ShirtYou Ain’t ShirtYou Ain’t Shirt on InstagramLight WatkinsKnowing Where to Look

Many of the stories we share on this podcast feature a winding journey, with unexpected events and results, and none more so than that of today's guest, Jason Wachob. Jason went into early adulthood, as an aspiring basketball player with a serious hedonistic streak. This led to him scraping through university and ending up as a money-focused equities trader on Wall Street, and it was only the world-shaking events of 9/11 that woke him up to the possibility of finding work that was more aligned with something deeper in his core. We get to hear about these moments of transition, and the challenges that Jason went through while traveling the country for a chocolate chip cookie startup! It was while confronting a resurgent back issue that Jason began his journey into yoga, health, and a different way of living. This personal quest ended up sparking the beginning of his business, mindbodygreen, an early blog-turned-health brand that aimed to share the lesson that Jason himself was learning. In our conversation, we hear about the tricky first three years of the business, and the resulting success and growth that they have experienced. Jason underlines the power of surrender, conducting your own wellness orchestra, and so much more, so be sure to join us today!Key Points From This Episode:Jason's childhood fascination with Star Wars and sports.An emerging passion and talent for basketball and the work that went into improving. Early life lessons that Jason learned while pouring his time and energy into basketball. The round-about way that Jason found his way to Columbia University. Work that Jason did during his college years, waiting tables, delivering beer, and more! How reading Liar's Poker inspired Jason to pursue bond trading out of college.Personal loss that Jason encountered and his emotional response to the events. The legacy of Jason's father and the philosophy he absorbed growing up. Beginnings of Jason's career as an equities trader and how he found his feet. The impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Jason's outlook and goals. Prioritizing fulfillment over money; looking for a career with more meaning, purpose, and significance. Jason's organic cookie company and the terrible back issues he ran into around this time.The changes that Jason made in his diet, approach to health, and his adoption of a yoga practice.How a personal journey into health and wellness birthed the mindbodygreen business! Jason's belief in letting go and surrendering in order to heal. 

The path to success in the culinary world is almost never an easy one, and reaching the top of the game in New York City as a black chef is undoubtedly even more difficult. Today, we are joined by the amazingly inspiring and energetic Marcus Samuelsson, world-famous chef, the founder of Red Rooster, and author of several great biographical and culinary books, including his latest, The Rise. In our conversation, we chart Marcus' winding and challenging journey, from his earliest memories in Ethiopia, to his adoption in Sweden and the journeys he made across the globe chasing his dreams of working in the world of high cuisine. Throughout our chat, Marcus' progressive perspective and positive outlook shine through. Even when faced with hurdles and unfair circumstances, he has managed himself and his aspirations in a way that has clearly paid off. He talks about the importance of community and how he tied that into Red Rooster, the failures that preceded his bigger successes, and the legacy of great black chefs that he hopes to continue. We also talk about the influence of family, making it on a shoestring budget, and why he forgot about how hard he was working! Listeners can expect to come away with great insight into the life of an activist chef, someone committed to excellence as well as social change, so make sure to tune in!Key Points From This Episode:Marcus' awareness of his early years, losing his birth mother, and his adoption. The focus that Marcus inherited from his Swedish mother, and how this has served him through his life. The moment that Marcus realized his calling was bringing new flavors to the world around him. Developing a strong work ethic and the prioritization enabled Marcus to live cheaply. Marcus' mentality around working outside of his comfort zone in the early years. What it meant to find a groove, work hard, and forget about the hours and labor it took.  The professional failures that helped Marcus with his eventual success with Red Rooster. How Marcus brought together his past and present, and the community in his restaurant.   Moving on from a difficult dispute over the intellectual property of Marcus' own name!The bumps in the road; losing and gaining friends, and persisting through tough times. Community work in Harlem and Marcus' involvement in responding to the pandemic. Marcus' view of the opportunity presented by the pandemic for a potential reset. 

Tracee Stanley is a noted and lineaged teacher of Yoga Nidra, meditation, and self-inquiry, and one of Light’s dear friends and mentors. Back when he was a yoga teacher, Tracee’s studio, Divine Motion in L.A., was one of the very first studios that Light taught at after his teacher training program. Since then, Tracee has become one of the foremost leaders of Yoga Nidra and mindfulness, teaching all over the United States.Her practices are inspired by the tradition of Himalayan Masters and Sri Vidya Tantra, into which she was initiated in 2001. She is the co-founder of the Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra School and created the Empowered Life Self-Inquiry Oracle Deck. Tracee practices internationally, leading retreats, teacher training, and presenting at festivals and conferences, including Oprah and Gayle's Girls Get Away. In this episode, she shares a bit about her experience of being one of the only Black yoga teachers in L.A. when she started out, how she felt about hiring Light as one of the first yoga teachers in her studio, and she describes of the many leaps of faith she had to take in order to become a teacher, community leader, and author. Her recently released book, Radiant Rest, is all about Yoga Nidra, which is the best kind of yoga there is; the yoga of sleep. Tracee is an all-round inspiring person as a wife, step-mom entrepreneur, teacher, student, community leader, and host of the Radiant Rest Podcast. She has so much life experience and wisdom to share with you, from leading her successful career as a film producer to opening a yoga studio and following her heart when it came to getting out of an earlier relationship, as well as overcoming self-betrayal and finding her purpose in life. This conversation will resonate with you, no matter who you are, so make sure to tune in today! Key Points From This Episode:Tracee reflects on her favorite toy or activity as a child; reading.Find out more about her family structure, her strict upbringing, and where she grew up.Some of the lessons that stand out from her childhood, like always be on time.How she perceived success as a child; why she wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up.How conscious her family was about race and what it was like for Tracee growing up Black in her neighborhood.Why Tracee got spanked often as a child and the most defiant things she did back then.Her father’s entrepreneurial spirit; how he started his own insurance agency in Long Island. Watching him building his empire and how that influenced Tracee.What informed the decision to go to Stony Brook College and her experience as an introvert.Learn about the moment Tracee got scouted as a model and the travels that followed.Traveling to South Africa after Nelson Mandela was elected and the epiphany of peace and stillness she experienced there.Tracee speaks about her spiritual foundation and the influence of books like the Bhagavad Gita, The Prophet, and Way of the Peaceful Warrior.Why, after her first experience with chakra meditation, she knew she needed to learn more.How having her bag stolen in South Africa signaled the end of her modeling career and her first steps into “something more.”To offer an indication of the culture in South Africa, Tracee tells “the water bottle” story.Find out more about her family aspirations at the time; why she wanted to adopt children.Her foray into film production and the first internship she did at a production company in L.A.Returning to L.A. from South Africa; how her attitude towards modeling changed.When Tracee discovered yoga, the studio at Yoga West, yogic philosophy, and Guru Singh.The transition from film producer practicing yoga to yogi working in film production.

Today we speak with Steven Pressfield, a successful author of several books covering self-help and fictional genres. Inspired by ancient history and archetypes, Steven has used his fascinations to inspire readers around the globe. As our guest, we talk to Steven about his childhood, various career paths; good and bad, and what it took to become a full-blown writer. We begin the show by catching a glimpse of Steven’s younger years, as he recalls some of his earliest memories, like walking around his block with two Hopalong Cassidy cap pistols. Little did he know at the time, this warrior archetype would define his career through his writings and outlooks on life. We then talk about Steven’s professional experiences as he touches on avoiding going to Vietnam, hating the advertising industry but learning so much from it, and forcing himself to write a novel. Before Steven reached author success, he’d failed several times over. In this rich and varied interview, Steven walks us through these failures and touches on how it impacted his finances and relationships. Of his success, we find out from Steven about some of his most popular titles which include Tides of War, Gates of Fire, and The War of Art. To hear more on life, failure, success, and the journey across it all, be sure to join us in conversation with Steven Pressfield today.Key Points From This Episode:Introducing today’s guest, Steven Pressfield.Hear about a variety of Steven’s books and the genres he writes.We touch on Steven’s early years and childhood. Steven tells us about his experiences in the Marine Corp.Why Steven hated advertising but learned the most from it.Steven tells us about the turning point he made when he was 31.Hear why Steve feels fortunate to have experienced so much failure.We ask Steven to tell us about some of the archetypes that feature in his books.Steven talks about his first mentor figures.What shaped Steven’s experiences in Hollywood.Steven tells us his thoughts on the feminine warrior archetype.Why Gates of Fire was as popular as it was.Steven touches on Tides of War and why it was so long and complex to read.Steven explains details about The War of Art.Hear the comparisons between Steven’s Telemon character and himself.How Steve defines success.

Les and Tamara Payne are the co-authors of The Dead Are Arising, a biography detailing the life of Malcolm X. For almost 30 years the book was being added to and refined until it was eventually published in 2020. In 2018 Tamara inherited the author's reigns when her father sadly passed away. Although heartbroken, Tamara lived by her father’s words and aimed only to publish the book when it was ready. As today’s guest, we speak with Tamara about her experiences researching and writing The Dead Are Arising. She shares details about the writing process and touches on learning from her father, a journalist, about why it is so important to build relationships with your sources.  Much of the show is also spent talking about the contents of Les and Tamara’s book. We take a look at how it differs from Malcolm X’s autobiography and learn the truth behind some of Malcolm’s biggest life events. Tamara clears the murky waters around the death of Malcolm’s father, Earl, his relationship with Elijah Muhammad, his eventual breakaway from the Nation of Islam, and his assassination. For listeners, this is a chance to get to know Malcolm X like never before. To hear about Malcolm’s power of influence, studious nature, critical eye for social injustice, and desire for upliftment, be sure not to miss this episode. Key Points From This Episode:Introducing Tamara Payne, co-author of The Dead Are Arising.Hear about the genesis of Tamara and Les’s book.Les’s habits of routinely playing Malcolm X’s speeches to his family.Tamara talks about her experiences in China.Why Tamara and Les’s book was 30 years in the making. Tools Tamara would use to approach her stories.How Les taught Tamara the tools of the trade.Tamara shares lesser-known details about Malcolm X’s childhood.We explore the environment in which Malcolm X grew up.Hear about “Shorty” and who this mysterious character was from Malcolm X’s autobiography.How Malcolm X managed to get parole.Tamara tells us about the tensions between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad.Malcolm X’s knack for engaging an audience and persuasive speaking.How the killing of Ronald Stokes impacted Malcolm X.Tamara touches on Malcolm X’s final months.

Sharon Salzberg is a New York Times best-selling author and teacher of Buddhist meditation. The foundations of her teachings haven’t come from countless hours of practice and mastery, but rather from a life of suffering. Although difficult, Sharon’s childhood molded her to become one of the most influential meditative teachers in the United States and western world. As today’s guest, Sharon walks us through her journey, touching on her traumatic upbringing, journey into meditation, and life as a teacher. First off, Sharon tells us about her daily meditation routine. She then walks us through her childhood in more detail and describes the loss of her mother, her relationship with her estranged father, and the effect her immigrant grandparents had on her.Later, listeners will hear about the transitional period Sharon went through in college and about how she discovered philosophy and meditation. As we find out more, Sharon talks about her travels to India, as she shares various anecdotes about her teachers and experiences. Upon her return to the United States, Sharon embarked on a mission to create a center in Barre. She talks about the challenges she faced as well as what life was like discovering Western ways of living in a brand new community. Toward the end of the episode, Sharon tells us about her books, how the pandemic has impacted her teaching, and how she has adapted to a rapidly evolving world. To find out more about Mindfulness, Meditation, and Metta, be sure to tune in today.Key Points From This Episode:Introducing today’s guest, Sharon Salzberg.Sharon describes her meditation practices.Hear about Sharon’s childhood in more detail.Sharon details the night her life changed when her mother was rushed to the hospital.We ask Sharon about her spiritual and religious foundations as a child.The journey Sharon took to become a teacher. How choosing a philosophy course in college would ultimately change Sharon’s life.Sharon tells us about her teacher and mentor, Trungpa Rinpoche.Hear about Sharon’s experiences in India.What Metta is and how it works.Sharon’s experiences opening her center in Barre.What the history of meditation waves can teach us about where meditation is going.How Sharon stays relevant as an influential meditation teacher.Principles mentioned in Sharon’s book, Real Change.How Sharon sees links between Thai sex trafficking and poor farming conditions.Why Sharon believes Thai violence is linked to a public health problem.Ways meditation can help you get good at life.Sharon tells us about her interactions with Buddhist teacher U Pandita.

‘When we're talking about diversity, it's not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.’ This is a quote by Ava DuVernay that rings true in many ways throughout our conversation with today’s guest, Natalie Paterson. Natalie is a spoken word artist, educator, and activist and in today’s show, we talk to her about her relationship with poetry and how she is using it as a tool to build a more transparent, vulnerable, and equitable world. We begin with the story of Natalie’s childhood, where she remembers moving from Kokomo, Indiana to LA with her mother after her father fell into addiction. Natalie talks about having an early interest in the dynamics between people and shares how the effacement around her mother and father’s relationship gave her a tendency to want to get to the bottom of things and state them as they are. From there, we get into Natalie’s experiences at school and college, years where she discovered the magic of poetry, began obsessively writing poems of her own, and also got involved in activism against racism. Natalie goes onto describe the live poetry events she began attending, communities she became apart of, and her first, terrifying experiences of performing live. We then hear about the early career Natalie began to build for herself, first as a slam poet, and then later as a teacher and activist. In today's conversation, we also take a deep dive into Natalie’s process, hearing the philosophy about how she sees herself as an artist as well as the goals behind her work. In addition, we explore issues of combatting racism and other violent societal norms, and how Natalie has done this at various stages in her life, including through her mural initiative, A Love Language Project, which was responsible for painting the above Ava DuVernay quote on a vegan cafe in Los Angeles. Tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:A recording of two poems exploring dating and body positivity by Natalie.The story of why Natalie’s mom left her father and moved from Kokomo to LA.How her parents’ dynamic and growing up with no father affected Natalie.The habit of directness Natalie developed as a result of her childhood experiences.Why Natalie’s childhood wasn’t that fun and she was more interested in people than toys.Natalie’s childhood perceptions about people, adulthood, marriage, and her future self.How Natalie experienced being Black and used her identity as a light-skinned Black person in high school.The experiences Natalie had of hearing poetry that made her fall in love with it.How Natalie regularly visited Da Poetry Lounge and began working on her own poems.Natalie’s memory of how terrified she was when she read her first poem on stage.Struggling with what it means to be a true poet and some of Natalie’s idols at the time.How Natalie took a year off college to pursue poetry and joined the LA Slam Team.How Natalie fell into teaching after experiencing the dishonest sides of the poetry scene.

Keith Mitchell has lived a rich and varied life as a successful linebacker for the New Orleans Saints in the NFL, a construction mogul, and lately, a Yoga and nutritional teacher.  In this episode, Keith walks us through it all and talks to us about his darkest times as well as the moments that gave him hope. We kick off the show by hearing more about Keith’s childhood and his unshakable desire to become a professional American football player. He details his turbulent journey to the top and touches on why his mindset was his biggest asset in getting there. He goes on to share anecdotes about his childhood and family life, elaborating on relationships with his mother and father.  After hearing about his sheltered upbringing, Keith talks about how football changes through high school, college, and professional realms and the ways he adapted to each. Following this, we hear from Keith about the on field accident that changed his life forever.  What followed was a total mindset change and a new mission in life. He transformed himself and began focusing on breathing and Yoga to heal his emotional and physical state. In the latter half of the show, Keith tells us about life after sport and the new purpose he found in his non-profit foundation. He mentions life in construction, the sobering and inspiring experiences he had on Skid Row, and the lessons he learned from Dr. Sebi.  As the show draws to a close, we ask Keith to tell us more about his book and what he hopes his readers and listeners will get from it. To hear more from Keith on his career, personal life, and mission in life, be sure to join us today!  Key Points From This Episode:Introducing former NFL player, Keith Mitchel.Keith tells us about his childhood.Why Keith was attracted to playing football.Keith describes his family life growing up.The lengths Keith went through to play football.What it takes to be a good linebacker.Mindset as a factor that separates good players from great players.Why Keith chose to play for Texas A&M.How football changed between high school and college.Why, after eight years in the pros, Keith wasn’t drafted. Differences between playing for fun, for sport, and for a livelihood. Keith talks about how he adapted to life after achieving his dream.Hear about the day Keith sustained his life-changing injury.Keith’s relationship with injury before his spinal cord injury. The nurse who introduced Keith to breathing correctly.How breathing can improve your health.The impacts that Yoga had on Keith’s body.Keith talks about life after sport.How meeting kids on Skid Row changed Keith’s philosophy as a Yoga teacher.How Keith defines success.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Keith MitchellKeith Mitchell on TwitterKeith Mitchell on FacebookKeith Mitchell on InstagramKeith Mitchell on YouTubeNew Orleans SaintsLight It Up FoundationMindfulness PlaybookDallas CowboysMarvin Lewis coachMike Ditka

If you are at a crossroads in your life, between sticking with the conventional path and taking a leap of faith in the direction of your passion, you're going to get a lot of inspiration from hearing today’s guest tell her story in her own words. Author and comedian, Sarah Cooper’s viral TikTok Trump impersonations have led to a Netflix show called Everything’s Fine, which is a comedic commentary on the state of America during “The Trump Years.” After working in corporate America, Sarah was eager to follow her passion and become a stand-up comedian, but it took a real leap of faith for her to go into comedy full time. When Trump was elected president, she began openly voicing her opinion about him on Twitter, so much so that the former-president blocked her in 2017. Eventually, each time Trump would do a news briefing, the media eagerly awaited Sarah's TikTok impressions; the floodgates opened, and she was offered a ton of exciting opportunities, from getting an agent to filming her recent Netflix comedy special. In this episode, Sarah shares a bit about her backstory and connects the dots between her upbringing and her now global fame. She talks about her persistent feelings of never quite belonging, not being Black or white “enough,” and how she overcame having low self-confidence. You’ll also find out how a date with Light’s brother inspired Sarah to take the stage, how her viral article inspired her to take a leap of faith, and how TikTok reignited her dreams of becoming famous. All this and more, including what her definition of success is now and what advice she would give 19-year-old Sarah, so make sure to tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Hear a bit about Sarah’s background, born in Jamaica and raised in the US.Find out a bit about her family dynamic, between her, her parents, and her three siblings.Sarah explains that her favorite activity as a child was make-believe.How racism was viewed in Sarah’s family and the benefits of pretending it doesn’t exist.Sarah talks about her love for singing, dancing, acting, and Shakespeare.Why Sarah felt that she didn’t belong anywhere; she wasn’t white or Black “enough”.From the University of Maryland to Georgia Tech: what Sarah learned during her years in college.Sarah’s first time on stage in Atlanta and how it was inspired by a date with Light’s brother.Why stand-up comedy was a better fit for Sarah than acting; she liked making people laugh!How Sarah tried to fit in with corporate America and began taking notes while she was working at Google in New York.Find out about Sarah’s path to meditation and how her and Light crossed paths in 2012.Sarah’s viral article, ’10 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings’, and how it inspired her to take a leap of faith.How Sarah dealt with negative reviews after she published her book and became well-known.What Sarah said on Twitter that made Donald Trump block her in 2017.At 40, Sarah started doubting herself and the work she had put into her stand-up career, but then she discovered TikTok.Hear about the day that Sarah decided to do her first Trump impression on TikTok.Sarah tells the story of how she made her first viral TikTok about Trump’s bleach comments.The pressure to create that Sarah started feeling after the first few successful videos.Building an audience out of people connected through their hate for Trump by creating a Netflix special out of her impressions.How Sarah stayed true to her instincts while working with a big player like Netflix.The essence of Sarah’s stories is understanding that there is no one, right way to deal with racism, or micro-aggressions, or sexism.Sarah’s definition of success now: proving that she is more than her Trump i

Here is another story behind that of a change-maker who was hungry, creative, and innovative in his younger years. One day realizing that he was living on autopilot as he was nearing his late 30s, early 40s. It all came to a head when he found himself hiding in alleyways in Santa Monica, California, smoking cigarettes while wearing a green gardening glove so that his wife wouldn’t find out. His name is Antonio Neves, writer, prolific speaker, and executive coach. While Antonio’s story isn’t tragic or overly-dramatic, it is a relatable one for many of us, especially those of us in our 30s, 40s, and 50s, who have everything together on paper but, under the surface, we’re falling apart. This was Antonio’s experience leading to him writing the book, Stop Living on Autopilot: Take Responsibility for Your Life and Rediscover a Bolder, Happier You, which is exactly what he eventually decided to do. He didn’t employ a hack or some overnight miracle fix; he implemented several tools, including asking better, more honest questions, asking himself how he was showing up in his marriage, his career, and his relationship with his kids. With that, he started repairing a lot of the other broken areas of his life, such as his diet and his relationship with alcohol, his exercise routine, his lack of commitment, his contribution to society, and so much more. In this episode, you’ll hear from Antonio about some of the experiences he had and the important lessons he has learned along the way. What stands out about this conversation is how applicable it is to each and every one of us, starting right now! Even if there are only one or two takeaways from this interview that resonate with you, they will be ideas that you can implement immediately. Make sure to tune in today to find out more about the thieves of ambition versus the allies of glory and the importance of accountability, recommitting every day, and doing the work when no one is watching.Key Points From This Episode:Find out why Antonio’s favorite activity as a child was anything to do with sports.Antonio reflects on the confidence and structure that he got from doing sport.Hear about Antonio’s upbringing and family dynamic, which he describes as often unstable.Dealing with physical and emotional abandonment as a teenager and being an introvert.If Antonio’s upbringing taught him anything, it was awareness and resourcefulness.One of the philosophies that he learned from his father: “You always take care of family."Antonio explains how he avoided getting into fights using words and humor.How Antonio came to learn about race and his family’s uniquely mixed heritage.Getting into university, becoming part of the track team, and realizing he was never going to compete at the Olympics.A conversation that Antonio had with his coach and what it taught him about hard work.The importance of spending time with your allies of glory, not the thieves of ambition.How an internship with Kraft Foods opened Antonio to possibility and gave him confidence.What a sales job with at Winn-Dixie taught Antonio about effective communication.Taking a risk, quitting his sales job, and moving to LA to pursue his dreams of being on TV.Hear about his journey from acting in commercials to landing a gig on Nickelodeon.When Antonio’s contract wasn’t renewed, he was heartbroken: his identity was tied into being seen on TV every day.Antonio had a decision to make: Stay on the grind in LA or graduate school in New York.The time in Antonio’s life when it seemed he had it all together on paper, but he had started playing not to lose instead of playing to win.Antonio’s autopilot phase, numbing his fear and self-doubt with wine, Netflix, and cigarettes.How redefining succes

When the word “genocide” comes to mind, one might think these heinous acts occurred deep in history. Yet they’ve occurred as recently as 1994, when 800,000 innocent Tutsi Rwandans were attacked by their fellow countrymen. Today, we speak to Consolee Nishimwe about her experience surviving the Rwandan Genocide and how her life as a survivor. We open the show by learning about the history between the Hutu and Tutsi social classes and find out how Belgian colonial powers turned these two groups against one another. Consolee then expands on this, describing her childhood as a “privileged” Tutsi, and how shame was cast down on her for this status. She touches on her living conditions, and colors a vile picture of the genocide, talking about how machetes became a symbolic weapon of choice and ways Rwandan radio encouraged the ruthless murder of Tutsi people. In the latter half of the show, listeners will find out about how Rwanda slowly returned to a state of normalcy. Although a different path to what she’d imagined as a child, Consolee now uses her story as a tool to help others. She talks about how she uses it to inspire survivors to come out and tell their story. To hear more about Consolee and her incredible story of struggle, survival, and ultimately triumph, be sure to join us for this very special episode.Key Points From This Episode:Introducing Consolee Nishimwe, a genocide survivor and today’s guest.Consolee tells us about her simple childhood and the fun she’d create for herselfWe learn about the two previously competing ethnic groups in Rwanda. How Belgium incited tensions and divide between these two groups.Being aware of her status as a Tutsi as a child.Ways that Tutsis were treated since 1959. How Consolee’s family status was well-known in her village.How Consolee felt as a young Tutsi.RTLM Hit Radio and its place in society.Why the machete became the weapon of choice during the genocide.Consolee talks about how everything changed in her village the day the genocide began.Hear about Cnsolee’s experiences of day-to-day survival.Despite being part of a Christian family, how Consolee received the most help from a Muslim friend.Consolee’s experiences with sexual assault.We take stock of what happened in the first 100 days of the genocide.How Rwanda returned to a state of normalcy after the genocide.Consolee describes her mental wellbeing, post-genocide.What interactions were like with Hutus once the genocide was over.Consolee’s genocide experiences as a tool to help others.We hear Consolee’s thoughts on the current American political divide.How Consolee stays so hopeful and how she defines success.How Consolee would approach a survivor.Console answers the question: How does a survivor know that they’ve healed?Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Consolee NishimweConsolee Nishimwe on TwitterConsolee Nishimwe on InstagramTested to the Limit: A Genocide Survivor's Story of Pain, Resilience, and Hope on AmazonRalph Waldo Emerson

Today’s guest is somebody who inspires a lot of people with his words. His name is Adam Schmalholz, but you may be more familiar with his stage name, IN-Q, which stands for IN-Question. IN-Q is a National Poetry Slam champion, award-winning poet, multi-platinum songwriter, recent first-time author, and one of the most electric spoken word performers on the scene. In this episode, you’ll discover that his backstory is equally as fascinating as his poems. Listening to this conversation, you’ll find out how he first discovered his gift for poetry in school and how he went on to develop and refine his unique style. You’ll hear about the lean years, when IN-Q had no way of making money as a spoken word poet, when he had to pay for food with pocket change and work odd jobs to survive. You’ll also learn that, after putting in well over 10,000 hours in writing and performing, IN-Q finally had the opportunity to perform for people like Quincy Jones, Hillary Clinton, and even President Barack Obama. He went on to win awards, get featured on Def Poetry Jam and Oprah's Super Soul 100 List. His spoken word videos have received nearly 100 million views and he has sold out as the largest one-man poetry show in Los Angeles history. Like most changemakers, IN-Q’s backstory was not linear. All of the ups and the downs played a crucial role in navigating him along his path, and that is what makes his story so compelling – it’s something that we can all relate to. Tune in today to find out more about IN-Q’s incredible journey.Key Points From This Episode:• IN-Q’s favorite toy as a child was a G.I. Joe Snake Eyes action figure, perhaps because mystery makes history.• IN-Q talks about what it was like for him, not having his father around while he grew up.• His natural attraction to subjects that dealt with storytelling in school – like English.• When IN-Q was first introduced to hip-hop and the impact it had on him.• From Will Smith to Run DMC and A Tribe Called Quest – how IN-Q’s taste in hip-hop evolved.• Practicing his freestyle, learning to focus his energy, and the mentor he had at a young age.• What IN-Q’s idea of success was at that age and what he saw himself becoming.• The problem with setting high expectations for yourself and manipulating your truth in order to achieve them.• Freestyle versus written material and the incredible number of poems IN-Q has memorized.• IN-Q’s first rap name, and how he became known as IN-Q thanks to his curious nature.• Hear the story of when IN-Q met his father for the first time – Spoiler alert: It didn’t go well!• How IN-Q was first introduced to Da Poetry Lounge and ended up staying for 14 years.• The differences between music and spoken word poetry and what that shift was like for him.• How IN-Q funded his dreams during the lean years and the obsession that drove him.• Where IN-Q’s philosophical perspective on life came from – that he couldn’t control life, only go along for the ride.• Learn about the incredible support IN-Q received from his community in the early days.• IN-Q talks about his relationship with actor and poet, Omari Hardwick, and how Def Poetry Jam changed (or didn’t change) his life.• What IN-Q has learned from performing for and connecting with strangers versus those who are already familiar with his work.• The importance of setting clear boundaries and asking others to respect them.• When IN-Q says he is still finding his voice, it means that he is ever-evolving and learning.• Where the commentary starts and the poem begins – and why the story is key.• Find out how IN-Q came up with the idea for the cover of his book, Inquire Within.• How the collaborative project, Speakeasy Poetry, came to fruition and what it’s a

Today we are back with another story behind the story of a change-maker who is an absolute podcast role model. In this episode we welcome Rich Roll, a champion swimmer turned alcoholic, turned lawyer who ended up having a few run-ins with the law himself. Rich’s incredible story about hitting rock-bottom and clawing his way back to sobriety is one that has inspired many along the way. After going through the recovery process, Rich began putting the pieces of his life back together only to realize that he was out of shape and burning the candle at both ends — essentially hitting rock-bottom physically. So, in his 40’s, Rich dusted off his training trucks and started swimming again, switched to a plant-based diet, and used this combination to gain back his health. This led him down a path towards doing ultra-endurance races and being in the best shape of his life! Rich then when ton to write about how he overcame all of these rock-bottom moments in his #1 bestselling book, Finding Ultra, which led to the launch of his wildly popular and inspirational Rich Roll podcast. During our conversation with Rich, we are going to explore how he went from being a bestselling author to starting his super successful podcast, which was not as linear of a process as you might think. Rich discovered that even with a bestselling book under his belt, the speaking gigs and other paid opportunities that you’d expect with all that success simply were not happening! This resulted in Rich hitting rock-bottom again, financially, which got so bad that his house was in foreclosure, his cars were repossessed, and the city even repossessed his garbage cans. It was at that time that Rich stepped out and launched his podcast in his friend’s barn, while flat broke, but still full of hope and inspiration. So whether you are thinking about getting sober, quitting your day job, starting a plant-based diet, writing a book, or even getting into the best shape of your life, don’t miss out on this episode!Key Points From This Episode:Reflecting on Rich’s favorite activities during his childhood.How Rich was impacted by his grandfather’s legacy later in life. Rich’s journey into swimming and his determination to get to the top.The work ethic that drove Rich; where did he get the motivation?How Rich decided to cold-call a swimming coach to get recruited.The Bruce Kimball backflip story: Rich’s introduction to alcohol.Rich’s slip into the dangerous life of drinking and driving.Two lucky breaks that changed the trajectory of Rich’s life.What ultimately pushed Rich over the edge and got him motivated to find sobriety.The shock Rich had when he found out how far down the path of alcoholism he was.Rich’s epiphany: pivoting his career away from being a lawyer.A health scare and existential crisis that Rich was faced with at age 40.The first step Rich took towards his health journey: a week-long fast.What is an Ultraman race and what does it include?Why Rich sees the Ultraman as a spiritual odyssey; something that will transform your life.How the opportunity to write his book came about and the financial implications.The role that podcasts played in Rich’s journey towards health.Importance of being vulnerable in order to be impactful when telling your story.How the podcasting landscape has changed over the last few years.Rich’s tendency to go all-in on his choices and mute out the rest of the world.Why it is important to remember that, no matter what, nobody is you.The most recommended interviews to listen to on Rich’s podcast.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Rich Roll

One of the biggest obstacles our society faced in 2020 is mental health, with a surge in cases around the world. So for this episode, we’re going back through stories that are specific to navigating mental health.The objective is to give you tools and inspiration for dealing with the darker forces that can haunt all of us at different times and in different ways, whether external or in the case of mental health, internal. The stories in this episode cover the spectrum of mental health, from anxiety to loneliness, to depression, as well as the various solutions the guests have used, such as therapy, meditation, volunteering, and adopting a bigger life purpose.There are six clips, 7 to 10 minutes long each, with various guests such Emma Mainoo of Surviving Sundays, Ben Nemtin, who helped to start The Buried Life, and Bronnie Ware who’ll remember from the 5 Regrets of the Dying episode. There’s a clip from Ajay Relan, from Hashtag Lunchbag, talking about his experience with volunteering. And there’s a clip from Jesse Israel, who founded the mass meditation movement called The Big Quiet. And Leon Logothetis of The Kindness Diaries fame talking about his before moment when he suffered meltdowns.I hope you enjoy this episode. And if you’re a long-time listener of the podcast, you’ll remember hearing some of these stories. But listening to them all in one episode, will be incredibly helpful, especially if you’re navigating through a difficult time personally. Or maybe if you know someone who is and you’re not quite sure what to say or do. 

When he hears the word ‘changemaker’, we imagine someone’s who’s predestined to take on some special role in following their inner calling. What Light has found through having dozens of these conversations is that changemakers are often just like us. Today’s guest is Steven Reed, a childhood friend of Light’s and someone who, back in 2019, became the 57th mayor of their hometown of Montgomery, Alabama. What's significant about that is that Mayor Reed was the first Black mayor in a town that was, for a brief period of time, the official capital of the confederacy. It was also the place where Dr. King launched the Montgomery Bus Boycott in the 1950s, the place where Rosa Parks was arrested 65 years ago for her participation, and the home of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Dr. King began his career as a minister and an activist. Montgomery has a very rich history and, for that reason, Mayor Reed's election made international headlines. In today's episode, listeners hear about Steven’s unlikely journey of leaving Montgomery for business pursuits, trying to do the traditional thing by becoming a financial analyst, his failures as an entrepreneur, and why he decided to become the change he wanted to see by running for office – first as a probate judge, even though he did not have a law degree, and then later as a mayor. Find out why most people think they cannot run for public office and how, believe it or not, you are more qualified than you think. This fascinating conversation might inspire you to get more involved in local politics and become the change you want to see in your area of the world, so make sure to tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Steven reflects on his favorite toy as a child, and why he enjoyed it.The history of the Reed family in Montgomery, Alabama, and their political ties to the city.How much of this history of activism was casually shared with Steven as he was growing up.Steven’s love for football and his dream of becoming a player or coach when he got older.What it was like growing up in the cradle fo the confederacy in such a politically aware family.His decision to follow in his brother’s footsteps and attend Morehouse College in Atlanta.One of the tenets Steven learned at Morehouse: Not only push yourself to be your best, but push the community and culture beyond that.How he defined success at that point in his life – to bring his mindset to corporate America.Choosing business over political science thanks to his generation of opportunities.A work ethic philosophy he inherited from his dad – “Ain't nobody going to build you a temple and make you high priest.”Steven shares his main takeaways from his three years as a financial analyst.Realizing he wasn’t as numbers-driven as others and leaving for management consulting.How Steven came to learn real-world entrepreneurial experience in a non-traditional way.Steven talks candidly about some of his entrepreneurial failures and discouragements.What Steven’s dad taught him about removing ego and pride from business ventures.Learn about Steven’s first foray into lobbying and the reasons he chose to get into it.The 2008 speech Barack Obama gave that changed the way Steven viewed public service.Who Steven has around to support and guide him in his decisions and his role in that group.The combination of inspiration and frustration that led him to take the risk of running for probate judge in Montgomery.Steven explains how people mistake mediocrity for excellence when it comes to politicians.Why Steven believes he was elected as probate judge – given that the tides were turning.Find out more about the controversial decision Steven made to issue same-sex marriage licenses as probate judge

In the internet age, the idea of reinvention and our lives' seasons have become more prevalent and accepted. Our episode today explores and exemplifies these ideas along with many others, as we talk to artist Matty Mo, also known as The Most Famous Artist.We hear from Matty about his wild journey through business and the art world, as he talks about his days in startups, how he effectively lost everything and then turned his failures into lessons and eventual success. Matty starts by unpacking memories of his childhood and the values that he feels he absorbed from his parents at an early age. From there, we progress into his college years, wrestling pursuits, and Matty's entry into the wide world of tech and startup entrepreneurship. It was during this period that Matty suffered a major setback, after a video of him stumbling around drunk and naked went viral, he lost the funding for the exciting project he was working on and forced him to go back to square one. It was then that he began a mission of learning, starting with the lesson about viral content that he had just learned! Through some reflection of soul-searching, Matty started exploring the idea of art and how he could turn the current era and its ideals on its head to create a message. Matty talks about the stunts he has pulled in order to boost his reach and visibility, and how this approach has evolved and continues to grow into the community-oriented project that The Most Famous Artist is today! This is a story that has it all, excellence, setbacks, determination, and ultimately the ongoing quest, so make sure to listen in with us today for this amazing conversation!Key Points From This Episode:Matty's childhood interest in building model rockets. The messages about sacrifice that Matty imbibed during his childhood.Shifting role models through the years; leaders in fields of interest for Matty.The mythical and fictitious story that Matty tells about his childhood.How Matty got into wrestling out of a dislike for running!Attending Stanford — Matty's attachment to this idea of success and achievement.Interning at a wake-boarding magazine and working up into more and more prominent roles.Hacking the reach of video content and how this led to a great internship. How this work in video led to co-founding Sharethrough! Making waves in advertising in New York and a taste of living the good life.  A turning point and public humiliation that Matty experienced on the eve of a big acquisition. The launch of The Most Famous Artist in 2014 — and the ideas behinds it.Artists that influenced Matty's vision for The Most Famous Artist. Understanding how to manipulate the media and create headlines in the art world! The projects of Matty's that did not turn out in the way he had hoped. The power of building in public as an artist or business owner. Matty's respect and appreciation for his community and audience. The process around devising and creating the art that Matty has become known for. Matty's criteria for projects and the work he has undertaken during 2020.The death of the Most Famous Artist as it existed before the pandemic.Books that have made a big impact on Matty's journey!Matty's views and belief around success and self-care at this point in his life.Advice for young artists from Matty! Patience, process, and lifestyle. Reflections on Matty's journey since childhood and the themes that have run through his work. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Light Watkins

This podcast is about a lot of things, like hope and perseverance, but, if there is one thing that all of Light’s guests have in common, it’s that, at some point in their life, they discovered that the light at the end of the metaphorical tunnel was inside of them all along. This week, we hear from someone who had to die in order to find his light. After being shot, he flat-lined and, while he obviously recovered, he was transformed. After making a deal with God, he went on to become a mentor and set up a non-profit in South Central Los Angeles called Share Necessities, which helps teach and inspire underprivileged and at-risk kids mindfulness, yoga, and social responsibility practices. His name is Arjuna O’Neal, and he grew up on the east side of Detroit, Michigan, where his surroundings were governed by violence, drugs, and gangs, all of which negatively influenced his perspective on life. However, he was able to rewrite the traumas and painful experiences in life that keep him stuck and prevented him from living in their full potential and highest vibration. His latest achievement is his new business called Mind Elevation, which focuses on helping others do the same. In this episode, he shares with us how the seeds of his transformation were planted and began to sprout in the face of tragedy. Listen in as he shares with us his journey and the incredible impact he is making today for some of our most underserved communities, by sharing the same tools he used to develop and rebuild himself.Key Points From This Episode:Arjuna explains why his favorite activity as a child was being outdoors in nature.What it means to be part of a Hare Krishna community, as Arjuna was during his childhood.What Arjuna understood about the meaning or significance of his name as a child.The spiritual practices in the Hare Krishna community and the early abuse and neglect Arjuna experienced in his life.Reintegrating into the mainstream world in Detroit and experiencing bullying in school.How Arjuna’s father used his spiritual knowledge as a means to manipulate and control.Arjuna’s father imparted a sense of mistrust in others, of getting ahead without helping others.The hypocrisy between what his father was teaching him and what they celebrated at temple.Getting kicked out of school and the record or reputation that followed Arjuna afterward.Why Arjuna couldn’t envision his future as a teenager or comprehend success.While everyone feared his father, it looked like he was following his spiritual philosophy.Becoming a drug dealer had nothing to do with wanting to sell drugs – it was about building a relationship with his father.Arjuna tells a story about how far he was willing to go to have a relationship with his father.What Arjuna calls his first real assignment and coming up with his own rules.Aspiring to reach the top, putting in the work, and going around his father’s superiority.How Arjuna came to have a bounty on his head, ordered by his own father.Learning that his father was just a regular person with a damn good mask on.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Arjuna O’Neal on LinkedInArjuna O’Neal on InstagramArjuna O’Neal on FacebookShare NecessitiesMind ElevationShiva RaeBrotherhood CrusadeLight Watkins

Mindfulness, intention, and meditation might be common concepts in the Western world now, but this is a relatively recent development. Joining us on the show today to talk about these subjects and the important role that she and her family have played in the dissemination of these powerful tools, is Mallika Chopra. We get to hear from Mallika about her interesting childhood, what is was like to watch her father Deepak's transformation through meditation, the power of her mother's steadfast strength, and how they all managed a most unusual familial arc. Mallika shares many personal experiences from over the years, reflecting on what was normal to her, the difficult parts of her journey, and the lessons she learned around staying present and trusting the process. Our conversation covers the cultural and racial divides she experienced from a young age, what it was like to become familiar with some of the most famous people in the world during the '90s, and the decisions that Mallika made that have the most resonance for her now. From working for MTV and running the Heal the World Foundation to studying and raising children, Mallika has had a full and meaningful life, one which can hardly be explored in only an hour! Listeners will also learn a little about the ideas behind her books and the uncertainty of what the future holds now, tune in to hear all about it!Key Points From This Episode:Mallika's birth, childhood years, and fuzzy memories of the time. Experiences of racism on arrival in the US. The bad habits that Mallika's father, Deepak, had in her younger years.  A major shift in the Chopra family — Mallika's father's spiritual rebirth through meditation. Mallika's memories of meeting and spending time with the Maharishi.Rising fame in the family and typing up all of her father's books during the '90s. Rubbing shoulders with The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Elizabeth Taylor! Mallika's aspirations during her college years and the different career dreams she entertained.   Moving to LA, launching the Heal the World Foundation, and exciting times after college.Dealing with the accusations against Michael Jackson and the upheaval that they caused.The time that Mallika spent traveling, visiting friends, and seeing the world.Falling in love at a rave, returning to the US, and enrolling at business school. Going back to school while pregnant, Tara's birth, and help from the family.Mallika's thoughts on asking for help — balancing family and career.The process of personal check-ins and re-evaluations of our purpose.The story of Mallika's interview with Eckhart Tolle, and Deepak's advice to her.Mallika's meditation books for children, and the collaborative process these entailed.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Light WatkinsMallika ChopraLiving with IntentJust Be YouMallika Chopra on TwitterIntent BlogDeepak ChopraElizabeth TaylorMichael JacksonMaharishi Mahesh YogiHeal The World FoundationMT

Today’s guest is one of the smartest, best-informed, and most insightful voices on all things health and wellness. His name is Shawn Stevenson, and he is a highly sought after speaker, the author of the best-selling books, Sleep Smarter and Eat Smarter. He is also the host of the very popular podcast, The Model Health Show. Listeners will discover that Shawn is basically a walking health encyclopedia with extensive knowledge of hormones and biochemicals, and he can cite from memory obscure studies that either prove or disprove the point he is trying to make about what's healthy or what’s not. His true gift, however, is making all of this complex information accessible for the average person. That's why his platform has become the go-to place to find out about the efficacy of various health studies and claims. In this episode, Shawn shares a bit about his own wellness journey, from a fast food-eating, pill-popping couch potato to the model of health he is today, and he talks candidly about the serious health issues he suffered from and how he has healed himself by changing his diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough good-quality sleep. His message is about reclaiming his health, and his mission is to help others do the same. Find out about Shawn’s childhood, his health journey, and the genesis of his skill to make information accessible and digestible, as well as some crucial and valuable information for finding your way to model health. Tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Shawn’s favorite childhood memories center around the ThunderCats and his grandparents.Why Shawn grew up with his grandparents and not his mother, who had him at 18-years-old.Shawn talks about his perception of race as a child and what his mental state was like.Shawn shares the story of when his mother got stabbed to articulate the polarity between the bootstraps mentality and a broken system.How Shawn learned the ability to make something out of nothing from his mother.A Wiffle ball incident that inspired Shawn to always seek and speak the truth.Where Shawn’s high level of self-discipline comes from – his grandparents and sports.What Shawn’s life aspiration was and how that was influenced by his environment.Breaking his hip at 15 and being diagnosed with an incurable spine disease and how this impacted Shawn’s view of pharmacology.When nutrition became important to Shawn, after two years of living with chronic disease.Once Shawn started asking himself what he needed to get healthy, that led him down paths of research and discovery.Shawn asserts the importance of diet, exercise, and sleep, and how they changed his life.The backdrop of racism and police brutality during Shawn’s health journey in Ferguson.Discovering nutrition and realizing he was living in a food desert at the time.It’s important to Shawn that listeners understand this: There are many paths to a goal.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Shawn Stevenson on TwitterShawn Stevenson on LinkedInShawn Stevenson on InstagramShawn Stevenson on YouTubeSleep SmarterSleep SmarterEat SmarterThe Model Health ShowLight Watk

The phrase “at the end of the tunnel” can be reminiscent of death. While this podcast isn’t about death itself, it often addresses the death of the part of ourselves that believes we don't have what we need in order to pursue our passion, our purpose, or our calling in life. It's a rebirth of what's truly important, which is saying yes to whatever is in our hearts. These conversations are about real people, with real obligations and real obstacles, that have somehow found the courage to say yes to what was in their heart. As a result, they found themselves on quite the adventure! This week's guest could be the poster child for that paradigm. Her name is Pam Grout, and she's a New York Times bestselling author, a travel blogger who has visited every continent except for Antarctica, and a student of A Course in Miracles. In this episode, Pam talks candidly about the loss of her daughter, the little rituals they shared, and how she has coped with the grief of her daughter’s passing. She shares the wisdom that she's gleaned from her adventures and from the rocky parts of her journey as well, because, even for those who know full well that we co-create our reality, life is still going to test us. Pam also describes her writing journey, the process of writing her bestseller, E-Squared, and her advice for those looking to write spiritual guidance books. Pam’s definition of success, after everything she has been through and after writing 20 books, is to see the face of God in every person she meets, and her whole story is incredibly inspiring, so make sure to tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Pam’s favorite activity as a child was going to the library and reading.Listeners hear a bit more about Pam’s childhood, growing up in Kansas.If she wanted to achieve her dreams, Pam realized she had to come up with creative capital.Why Pam believes she always saw herself becoming a writer, even as a teenager.Pam’s first job at a newspaper and why she doesn’t consider herself a corporate person.What it meant to Pam to become a New York Times best-selling author.Choosing experiences over material things and becoming a travel writer in her 20s.Finding her spiritual foundation in a loving, benevolent force and learning to trust in it.Hearing God’s voice, questioning the source, and studying A Course in Miracles (ACIM).Pam provides a synopsis of what ACIM is and how it helped her choose a different path.How a psychic reading predicted her pregnancy and how Pam chose to see things differently.The affirmation or appeal to the universe Pam repeated when her daughter was a baby.Self-publishing Jumpstart Your Metabolism – why Pam decided to write that book.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Pam Grout on TwitterPam Grout on LinkedInPam Grout on FacebookPam GroutA Course in MiraclesGod Doesn’t Have Bad Hair DaysTaz Grout’s 222 FoundationE-CubedLight Watkins

The path to life as a professional athlete is narrow and difficult, and also one that can be easily misunderstood. Logan Gelbrich is intimately aware of this journey, having made it himself, and then veered from the original course he had projected. Logan is the Co-Founder of DEUCE, a wildly popular gym that does things a little differently. He is on the show today to talk about the roots of this project, his life on the way to becoming a baseball pro, and what led to him leaving the sport. These days Logan is a coach, an internationally-renowned speaker, and a great potential inspiration for anyone in the pursuit of their dreams. It was only after pivoting out of a career in baseball that Logan realized his true calling, which was more about pushing himself and progressing in whatever arena he found himself than about a particular sport. Through DEUCE, Logan and his team have created a training environment where everyone is treated as an athlete and is aided in raising their standards to the highest possible level. Logan explains the seeds of the 'hold the standard' idea, a philosophy that has grown into a movement that Logan has taken around the world! We also hear about Logan's book, Going Right, some of the more magical and important moments in his winding journey, and the relationships that shepherded his progress. Logan's story is a powerful example of determination and open-mindedness and how we each have our own dragons to slay and mountains to climb. Listen in to catch it all!Key Points From This Episode:Logan's early fascination with baseball and commitment to going all the way in the sport.The influences and family connections that made baseball so appealing for Logan. Thoughts on early and audacious dreams and the reality of pursuing these.Family dynamics and the philosophy that was present in Logan's home growing up.Logan's obsession with improvement and his psychology in the change room.The powerful experience that Logan had with Mike Davis of the LA Dodgers.Selecting a baseball position; why Logan ended up as a catcher. The focus that Logan paid to improve his 'pop time' and the dividends this returned.Logan's college years, recruitment, and his gratitude for attending the University of San Diego.The important relationship that Logan developed with a lecturer while studying.Logan's experience of getting drafted and reflecting on his particular path.Being released from his team and the surreal phone call that Logan received. The ideas around entrepreneurship that were always present in Logan. The three categories of his life that Logan focused on after leaving baseball. The criteria for naming 'DEUCE' and how they settled on the final name.DEUCE's definition of leadership; unpacking this important part of training.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Light WatkinsLogan GelbrichGoing RightDEUCELogan Gelbrich on TwitterHold the Standard SummitSan Diego PadresIvan RodriguezTim FerrissMalcolm GladwellBlinkEquin

“I wish I hadn't worked so hard. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends” – these are some of the words Bronnie Ware realized kept coming up over and over again from those she cared for. Bronnie is today’s guest, a former palliative nurse who took these words and wrote an article in 2009 called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. Little did she know, it would go viral, being viewed over 8 million times and helping to change the way that many people now think about death. Bronnie had a very interesting journey. She grew up in rural Australia, where she was the lone vegetarian in a meat-eating family. She tried the regular job thing, but it just wasn't working for her, so she quit her job and she started nomading, which how she found her way into palliative care. One woman who gave her room and board ended up passing on, and palliative care means looking after dying patients in the last 3 to 12 weeks before their transition. As it turned out, Bronnie was a natural at helping people transition. Her goal was to treat everyone that she looked after like they were her grandmother. In the process, she observed how much people grow when faced with their own mortality and how each person experiences a variety of emotions, such as denial, and fear, and anger, and remorse, and then more denial, and then eventually, acceptance. In this episode, Bronnie shares a bit about her personal life and background, the genesis of her palliative work and how the top five regrets came to be, what she believes people connected with from this story, and what she means when she says smile and know, among a whole host of other stories from her life and experience. Tune in today to find out more!Key Points From This Episode:Bronnie talks about her childhood and her favorite activity, hanging out with her dog, Priny.How Bronnie has communicated through writing, since writing to pen pals across the world.Why Bronnie became a vegetarian after hearing animals die on her childhood farm.Bronnie describes her dad’s occupation as a musician and her relationship to his work.What Bronnie wanted to be when she grew up and how she found her way to music herself.Turning away from a path to self-destruction through drug abuse and a career in banking.A bookstore called The Inspiration Factory and the role it played in Bronnie’s transformation.Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain and how it helped Bronnie realize she’s creative.Why Bronnie lied on her CV when she was desperate for work and why she would do it again.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Bronnie Ware on InstagramBronnie Ware on FacebookBronnie Ware on YouTubeBronnie WareBronnie Ware on AmazonThe Top Five Regrets of the DyingYour Year for ChangeBloomWrite for Delight CourseRegret-Free & Loving It CourseCreative VisualizationLight Watkins

If you remember the amazing conversation we recently had with Edwin Raymond, you might recall the stories about his childhood friend 'Buffet'. Today we are joined by 'Buffet', whose real name is Jim St. Germain, to hear his inspiring story about arriving in the US from Haiti, and how he was able to transcend the harsh realities of unsafe neighborhoods and incarceration. His book, A Stone of Hope, has been personally recommended by Barrack Obama and his work in the community, with the PLOT, an organization he founded with Edwin, is nothing short of incredible. Jim tells us about how he had to learn the ways of the street in order to survive, the legal troubles this led to, and the experiences he had in the juvenile penal system. He makes sure to underline the importance of the mentors he was lucky enough to meet on his journey and his story is such a great example of what is possible with the right role models. Jim was able to complete a master's degree in public administration, which led to his community work in nurturing future leaders from difficult circumstances. Jim has faced many trials and has overcome an enormous amount of adversity and is another reminder of using the biggest obstacle in one's life as a means to find purpose. Be sure to listen in with us today to hear it all!Key Points From This Episode:Memories of beautiful Haiti, makeshift soccer games, and flying kites.Jim's first jobs running errands in his neighborhood and collecting fares.Lessons that Jim learned early about what it means to be in survival mode. The period leading up to Jim's move to the US and the work that his grandfather did as a butcher. Experiences arriving in New York and encountering a shocking new environment without English. How Jim adapted to a harsh situation and learned what it took to survive. Differences in food practices in the US; Jim's amazement upon arriving.How poverty punishes families twice —  disempowerment and suffering.The street code that Jim adopted and the realizations that he had about a proactive approach.  Jim's brother, 'Butter', and the differences between their personalities. The skills that Jim developed around reading people quickly.Where the nickname 'Buffett' came from and its meaning. The array of jobs and hustles that Jim did; dry-cleaning, selling weed, shoveling snow, and more!Run-ins with cops, tactics on the corner, and evading arrest.Jim's first detention sentence and the luck he had with people he met in the system. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Light WatkinsJim St. Germain on TwitterPLOTA Stone of HopeEdwin RaymondHome AloneThe WireMayor BloombergGoverner CuomoJust MercyThe PactThe Autobiography of Malcolm XDreams From My Father

Click here for full episode transcript.Episode 22: Show Notes.“Manifest the life that you want with the power of your words. When you raise your vibration with gentle words and encouraging thoughts, positive changes occur.” This is what the landing page of the WORDAFUL Community website says, and today’s episode is all about the power of words. Today’s guest is Liz Hernandez, a Mexican American Emmy-nominated television personality and journalist, and the founder of WORDAFUL. Liz grew up in San Diego as a self-described radio nerd, with parents who always taught her about the power of words. Years later, Liz became the co-host of one of the most popular shows on one of the biggest radio stations in Southern California, which led to a series of other very prominent hosting positions on channels like MTV and Access Hollywood. Then, her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Liz took some time off from hosting to help care for her mom. Just before she passed, Liz's mom lost 95% of her speech, but her positive spirit and limited speech inspired Liz to gain a new appreciation for the power of everyday words and the lessons that they can teach us. Liz started WORDAFUL, a company that has grown into a thriving community with a large online presence. In this episode, Liz shares a bit about her process, starting with how she grew up, how she landed a coveted position at Power 106, and why the word ‘Canada’ has a special significance for her. Of course, she also shares how she found her way to creating WORDAFUL and all of the obstacles she had to overcome along the way. Tune in today! Key Points From This Episode:•    Liz’s favorite toy or activity as a kid was a talking doll named Julie, or riding her BMX bicycle.•    Hear Liz talk about her family home and her childhood – full of people, cooking, and love.•    Liz says that her parents are the main reason she started WORDAFUL, because they always used words to empower her.•    Liz discovered radio in college and her parents encouraged her to do what made her happy.•    Liz describes herself as a radio nerd – she always loved radio, and she fell into it naturally.•    When co-hosting a radio show in college, Liz says reading the news was the hardest part.•    Why the word ‘Canada’ holds a special significance for Liz, and how she made it to LA.•    We think we need to be like those who came before us, but Liz believe that we win when we are ourselves – people relate to authenticity.•    Liz reflects on her ten years with Big Boy at Power 106, summarizing it as the time of her life.•    From radio to television with MTV – Liz got an agent, and had experience with a teleprompter.•    In Liz’s first few months at Access Hollywood, her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.•    Liz’s experience of looking after her mother as a primary caregiver while still working full-time.•    Some of the warning signs of Alzheimer’s – forgetfulness, repeating themselves, suspicion.•    Gratitude and support have been important Liz’s life and have helped her through hard times.•    Meeting Oprah, how it helped move Liz’s career forward, and the genesis of WORDAFUL.•    Starting WORDAFUL from her tiny studio apartment – it was a collaborative effort.•    From videos to live events, Liz did WORDAFUL out of necessity for herself, not for money.•    Watching her mother lose her words made Liz not want to be reckless with her own.•    Liz encourages listeners to have the conversation with parents abou

Today, we have an experimental episode in store. Having had some amazing guests on the show who have told us their backstories and shared with us their inspirations, why limit them to those that still walk the earth today? One of the historical figures that are very intriguing is Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist that was born a slave, who eventually became one of the most prominent abolitionists at his time, even heralded as the most famous Black man in the world, and the most photographed person in all of America in the 1800s. To share Douglass’ fascinating life story, today’s guest is Professor David W. Blight, the world’s foremost expert on the life of Frederick Douglass. He is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Douglass biography, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, which combines stories and insights, drawing from a repository of Douglass’ letters and papers from the latter third of his life, which have not previously been written about. David is the Sterling Professor of African American studies and the director of the Guider Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University, not to mention an award-winning author of seven other books, plus multiple op-eds. In this episode, Professor David Blight shares a bit about his personal relationship with Black history and what attracted him to Frederick Douglass, and goes on to share Douglass’ story, from the reinvention of his life out of human bondage, to discovering the power of language, and becoming a speaker during the golden age of oratory as performance, to his rise to stardom after writing his books, his mastery of multiple witting styles, and his declining mental health. David also explains the relationship Douglass had with his wife and his family, his foray into writing history, and his problem with the pleasures and perils of fame, as well as the legacy he has left us in his words. Tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:David kicks things off by speaking about his anticipated reception of Prophet of Freedom.The appetite for good history, what good history is – it tells a good story, it’s well-researched.David desires to reach real people who want to understand the essential threat of slavery.David talks about the influence that his teachers and historical sites had on him as a child.The narratives in Bruce Catton’s books factored into igniting David’s fascination with history.David first encountered Black history in college, after which he taught it in high school.What attracted David to Frederick Douglass – he realized that slavery, the civil war, and abolition are the essential threats of American history.David was attracted to both the importance of the subject and the story embedded in it.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:David Blight on TwitterDavid Blight on FacebookDavid BlightFrederick Douglass: Prophet of FreedomDavid Blight BooksDavid Blight on AmazonFrom Slavery to Freedom

Online health platforms were already on the rise before the pandemic of 2020, but we have seen a sharp uptick in the utilization of video classes and communities since quarantines have kicked in. One such community was built by Adriene Mishler, and had humble beginnings as a yoga class hosted on YouTube in the early 2010s. 'Yoga with Adriene' grew steadily after a slow start, and by the time 2020 came around Adriene was the highest searched yoga content on the internet! She has built a huge community which she helps instruct from her living room. To give you an idea of her impact, she has been called 'the Mr. Rogers of yoga'! Having been born into a theatre family, Adriene has a lifelong passion for performance and connection to an audience. We hear from her about her earliest memories of the theatre, how this grew into a career in acting, and how this career led her to pursue teaching yoga. Constantly juggling a number of intense projects has kept Adriene on the go from a young age, and it is only through her consistency and a deep desire that she has made it through challenging times and reaped the rewards of the hard work. We see how her authenticity led to the videos she was publishing eventually catching fire, to the point where she now has 7 million subscribers on YouTube, with over 600 million views on her channel! This is a beautifully meandering conversation about this process of growth, the obstacles that Adriene encountered, and the lessons she learned along the way. Adriene talks about the role of her angels in the journey and what it means to contribute to the future of yoga! Listen in with us today for this amazing conversation!Key Points From This Episode:Adriene's childhood memories of the theatre — set creation, imaginary games, and more!Looking back at Adriene's younger years; feelings of gratitude and being blessed.Lessons from Adriene's parents — things she carries forward with her to this day.The desire to create and perform and Adriene's aspirations at different times.Early days working in a company and the experience of real nerves and fear.The important relationships and settings for Adriene in her later teen years.Spiritualism and religion among Adriene's family and peers.The events and feelings that led to signing up at a yoga studio.  Hunger and poise; Adriene's mental state entering into adulthood.Adriene's thoughts going into yoga teacher training — a side hustle amid a busy schedule.The day that Adriene found a meaningful mentor for her yoga practice.Lessons that Adriene learned spending time teaching yoga to children.  The parts of teaching adult yoga classes that Adriene enjoyed the most.Maintaining acting work in plays and film; Adriene's dedication and hard work! The Austin film scene — the beginnings of something special for Adriene.  Adriene's important relationship with Chris Sharpe and the fruits of this connection. Thoughts on the sanctity of yoga and bringing this into an online space. The first forays that Adriene and Chris made into filming for her YouTube channel. Feelings of growth and watching the numbers go up after a quiet start. Finding a voice in teaching and the stages of improvement Adriene experienced. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Light WatkinsYoga with AdrieneAdriene Mishler on TwitterFWFG KulaMr RogersSITI Company

Although the issue of police brutality and racial profiling has been prevalent for decades, in many ways, 2020 will be remembered as the year in which the levee broke. Here on the show with us today is Edwin Raymond, someone who is positioned better than anyone to speak on the systems of law enforcement, the problems we see, the limitations on officers, and the action that is needed on so many levels to course-correct. Having grown up in and around the most dangerous parts of New York City, Edwin was on the receiving end of police harassment and profiling, but when he encountered a family friend who was in the force, his strict moral compass implored him to try and fix the problems from the inside — he became a police officer himself. Edwin admits to a level of naïveté and hopefulness that was whittled down over time. From monthly quotas and the targeting of lower-income communities to the systemic racism that is deeply rooted in the history of policing, Edwin's efforts to combat injustice in the police department did more to ostracize him than change practices. In our conversation with Edwin, we hear the path that he took in response to what might have appeared a hopeless scenario, speaking out and publicizing the rampant problems facing society through policing practices. For all this and a vital story from a fearless warrior, be sure to listen in with us today!Key Points From This Episode:Edwin's childhood love of drawing and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Experiences growing up in the projects, close to 'The Front Page'. Family life for Edwin, the death of his mother at a young age, and his father's depression. Edwin and his brother's fear of the weekend and the associated feelings of hunger.The Abner Louima brutality case and how Edwin struggled to process this reality. Getting work at a grocery store at the age of 12; staying out of gang activity and crime. Edwin's internal moral compass from a young age and his conception of right and wrong. Career aspirations, dreams of architecture, and increasing harassment by police during adolescence. The impactful experience that Edwin had meeting a cop who he knew.Reading material that Edwin started to consume at the end of his teenage years. Edwin's thoughts on destiny, autonomy, and his personal mission. Connecting with Eric Adams; how this relationship aided and supported Edwin's mission. The resistance that Edwin encountered upon entering the police force.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Light WatkinsEdwin RaymondPLOT'A Black Police Officer's Fight Against the N.Y.P.D.''I Got Tired of Hunting Black and Hispanic People'Edwin Raymond on TwitterEdwin Raymond on InstagramAbner LouimaPulp Fiction New York Times Street FighterDestruction of Black CivilizationAutobiography of Malcolm X

An amazing career path does not have a set shape or direction and the limitations that external expectations put on our hopes for ourselves can stunt the blossoming of the most unlikely of flowers. Ava DuVernay is a priceless example of this! She joins us on the podcast today to share her amazing and surprising story and all the twists and turns that have led her to the highly regarded position she currently occupies, and more importantly, where she is able to create her own definition of success — which looks quite different than it used to! In our inspiring and honest conversation, Ava unpacks the important family relationships that shaped her world view, the impact of her college years at UCLA, and the formative experiences she had in the hip hop scene centered around the Good Life Cafe. After carving out an enviable career in publicity and building an agency, Ava began work on a side-project, exploring her childhood passion for story-telling, and this foray into filmmaking grew and grew — in ways that even Ava could not have expected. With so many impressive and vital films under her belt already, we cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next, join us to hear it all!Key Points From This Episode:Ava's love of playing with Barbies with her sisters and the early form of world-building this fostered. Family dynamics growing up and Ava's role as the oldest sibling. Ava's early thoughts on careers and the gift that reflected these aspirations. Childhood associations with Hollywood and the importance of arts and culture. The first movie and music group that Ava fell in love with!Ava's early connection to U2 and the amazing meetings and communications she has shared with Bono!Family traits that Ava has inherited; storytelling, hard work, and responsibility.Neighborhood politics and the radical action that Ava witnessed from a young age.Ava's college years, her decision to attend UCLA. The post-college period and the steps that Ava took into publicity business. The reputation that Ava built up and what she became known for in her work.  Ava's journey towards a healthier sense of balance in her life.The effect of the terminal diagnosis that Ava's aunt Denise received. Ava's moment of realization on the set of Michael Mann's Collateral. The beginnings of Ava's filmmaking career and how she started small. 

The path to self-discovery and self-love is not often a straight one and the theme of our winding journeys as humans is a common one on this podcast. Today's episode underlines this idea, as we are joined by poet, Diego Perez, who is more commonly known as Yung Pueblo. He is the author of the widely acclaimed collection of poems, Inward, and has grown a notable online following, starting from humble beginnings to an Instagram account that is has amassed almost a million followers! In our conversation, we take the scenic route through Diego's life, looking at his childhood in Ecuador, his family's move to the US, and how his public schooling in Boston impacted his worldview. Diego then takes us through the difficulties he experienced during his early adult life, falling into bad habits and drug use while at college as a means to escape his feelings. It took some time, but after Diego hit what he felt was rock bottom, he began on a path to recovery, healthier practices, and a life filled with radical honesty. He talks about what this looked like for him and the important steps in the process, with a big emphasis on meditation. From there, we get into his writing process, how he started out as an online poet, and the way he published his first book. This conversation is truly not to be missed!Key Points From This Episode:Diego's younger years in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and his favorite toys that he remembers. Family life for Diego growing up and the difficult experience of poverty. Diego's schooling and the cultural richness of attending Boston public schools.Interests that Diego fostered in high school and his ideas of getting out of poverty. Spanish at home, English in public — how the family adapted to American culture.Diego's college application process, hustling for vouchers, and eventually getting a scholarship. The implicit values that were associated with Diego's martial arts practice. How learned repression and avoidant tendencies led to unhealthy habits and drug abuse.Difficult years post-graduation and the moment when Diego hit rock bottom. Diego's adoption of healthier practices and a radically honest lifestyle. The move to Portland and the steps that led up to Diego's first Vipassana course.The fear that Diego experienced arriving and starting a ten-day meditation retreat.Feelings that came up during the process that led to a breakthrough for Diego. Diego's return to Boston and the changes that he began to implement in his life. Moving to New York City and focussing on writing, while continuing important healing and learning. Diego's first forays into posting poetry on Instagram and his thinking around this time.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Yung Pueblo on InstagramInwardClarity and ConnectionYung Pueblo on TwitterDragon Ball ZWesleyan UniversityBarnes and NobleTufts UniversityBhagavad GitaYouth Against Mass IncarcerationMichelle Alexander R.M. Drake

Brain disease often starts decades before the diagnosis, and if only people knew that the foods they put in their body can either make or break a healthy brain, they would make different choices. Today’s guest is Max Lugavere, author of Genius Foods and The Genius Life, here to talk about the journey that led him to his life’s purpose – helping people truly understand nutrition. Max had been on track to becoming a television star, yet little did he know, he was being divinely groomed to challenge the traditional healthcare system, where they treat symptoms more than the root of an illness. We hear about Max’s fascination with the idea of becoming superhuman, and he takes us through the manifestations of this interest in his early forays into health science. Max shares about his experiences at university, getting into film and documenting ‘peak experiences’, and how this led to him and his best friend working as Current TV presenters for six years. Around this time, Max’s mother was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative condition, and he left everything behind to find out all he could to help her. For an inspiring conversation about asking questions and realizing that everything in life is grooming you for your purpose, be sure to tune in.Key Points From This Episode:Max’s childhood fascination with Exosquad toys the themes that drew him to them.Having a lifelong interest in the body and ideas of frailty and health optimization.Eating a ‘healthy’ childhood diet restricted by the limits of Max’s mom’s idea of healthy food.How Max discovered healthier eating and diet types as a teenager in chat groups.Meeting Jason Silva, getting into filmmaking and spiritual hedonism; Max’s student days in Miami.Making Textures of Selfhood and how Jason and Max got content creator jobs for Current TV.Lessons learned about authenticity and storytelling while at Current TV for six years.Max’s music practice, YouTube videos, and the idea of practicing to get better at something.How Max shifted from film and music to wellness after his mom was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative condition.The different elite health facilities Max and his family consulted to get a clear diagnosis.The problem with doctors and how Max used his prior skills and knowledge to help his mom himself.Max’s decision to make a documentary film about his experiences and process of researching for answers.Big discoveries Max made in his research such as dementia beginning decades before its symptoms.

Food apartheid is different from a food desert because it is man-made, and the lack of availability of healthy food disproportionately affects communities of color. This week’s guest is somebody who's working toward eliminating what she calls the food apartheid. Olympia Auset has made it her mission to find solutions to America’s food deserts, which are communities that lack access to affordable, high-quality, fresh foods. Olympia was vegan and living in a food desert herself. Because she didn't have a car, she would find herself having to spend hours on the bus just to get to the grocery store on the other side of town that carried the higher quality produce. After taking several of these trips, Olympia realized that she was the change she was waiting for, and that was when she started working with local farmers to create an oasis in the middle of her own food desert, which she called Süprmarkt. Over the last five years, Süprmarkt has distributed more than 70,000 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables. What's remarkable is Olympia started without even having a table to sell the produce on. To date, she still doesn't have a car or a cellphone. After raising close to $90,000 in a crowdfunding campaign, she's now in escrow to purchase a brick and mortar location for Süprmarkt, which is going to help her create a centralized location for the community to gather and share in her mission of making healthy, fresh foods and meals available to all. Tune in to find out more about Olympia’s story today!Key Points From This Episode:Olympia describes her favorite game as a child, based on the TV show, Charmed.What childhood was like for Olympia being an imaginative only child.Olympia’s numerous dreams for what she wanted to be when she grew up.How Olympia’s great teachers encouraged her and taught her about systemic racism.Olympia’s relationship with plants, food, and urban agriculture started in universityHow Olympia chose to attend Howard University and create her own application.Olympia shares a bit about the Thursday night power study group she attended at Howard.Going vegan in her freshman year at college and what it taught her about population control.The biggest challenge of going vegan for Olympia: The options available in the cafeteria.Olympia’s early concept of success: Sharing information and creating meaningful change.Starting The GOYS Life as a one-stop shop for awakening.Olympia’s experience of doing odd jobs while she built The GOYS Life and Süprmarkt.From volunteering at The Shine to starting Süprmarkt – Olympia shares her inspiration.A food desert versus a food apartheid – one is naturally occurring, the other is man-made.Starting Süprmarkt with friends and having their first public event with just $100.Olympia’s present definition of success including eradicating food apartheid by 2040.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Olympia Auset on LinkedInSüprmarktSüprmarkt on TwitterSüprmarkt on InstagramSüprmarkt on FacebookSüprmarkt on YouTubeThe GOYS LifeThe Shine MovementKeep Slauson FreshDonate to SüprmarktBroken Bread

Deciding to change your life is difficult because it means you have to accept total responsibility for your actions and the situation you find yourself in. While this can feel frightening, it is equally as liberating because you know you have the power to turn things around. Today's guest, Robert Glover, known as Brix, is a health and fitness YouTuber, whose vulnerability and transparency about the difficult journey he is been on to better himself has inspired countless people. In this episode, we hear about Brix’s life, from childhood and some of the trauma he faced to going to college and gaining a lot of weight. He also shares the story of how a felony charge followed by the passing of a close friend finally caused him to take stock, which he had avoided for years. Despite having fallen off the weight loss wagon multiple times before, Brix knew that March 1st, 2013 was the day things would finally shift for good. We learn about the inner transformation the accompanied Brix’s physical one, and the realization that he had about the suffering he was inflicting on himself. Rather than beating himself up for the countless mistakes he’s made, Brix believes that he's faced these obstacles to get closer to his purpose of helping others and spreading the light. His story is not only incredibly motivational and hope-filled, but it’s an example of what happens when you show up for yourself day in and day out. To hear more, be sure to tune in today!  Key Points From This Episode:Hear about Robert’s favorite childhood toys and growing up in Brownsville and Germany.Memories from Brix’s childhood, including gang activity and his relationship to food.What happened when Brix had unlimited access to food for the first time in his life in college.The moment when Brix realized that he had gained 150 pounds.How Brix overcompensated for his weight gain.Brix’s relationship with his ex-wife and some of the insecurities he had in the marriage.Hear more about Brix’s run-in with the law that happened outside a Foot Locker.What happened on Brix’s sentencing day and the haunting words from the judge.Brix’s confessional video before and after sentencing and his relationship with vlogging.How the felony charge and the passing of a close friend caused Brix to change his life.Why Brix decided to put his newfound energy into losing weight.The strong vision that Brix had to share his weight loss story with others to help them.The motivation behind recording ‘fat Brix’ shirtless at the start of his weight loss journey.

My Intent is a simple yet powerful initiative started by Chris Pan, and we are joined by Chris on the podcast today to talk about his journey and the steps in his path that led to starting this organization and what inspired his choices. With My Intent, Chris aims to create connection and alignment for people by identifying a specific intention and word which is then etched into a bracelet. It can be a reminder or motivation to stick to one's commitment or goal, or just a reinforcement of something to focus on. The bracelet is thus much more than just jewelry or a hip way to display your character, although since the business has grown in the last few years, it has definitely found some mainstream appeal! We hear from Chris about some of the difficulties of his younger years, moving around a lot and being alone for most of his time. He talks about his college years and how he embraced student leadership and community work in order to connect and build his resume, and from there we talk about his forays into business. Chris stands as a testament to the power of being able to bounce back as many of his initial projects and goals did not quite work out.  It was only through an ongoing curiosity and determination that he was able to get closer to his calling and find his lane. We talk about the common threads through the years, what led him to leave a position at Facebook, and the chance encounters and serendipity that allowed him to dive into the My Intent project. So for this special story from a special friend, join us on the show today!Key Points From This Episode:Chris' favorite childhood toys and how he would occupy himself by playing alone. The move from Taipei to the US and Chris' mental and emotional state at the time. Taking up the opportunity to become a student leader during college.Abandoning medical school and enrolling in business school classes.The failure of Chris' first business and then taking up a job at McKinsey. Moving from New York to Shanghai and taking up a position at PepsiCo.Some tough times in Shanghai looking for new work after another failed startup.  Chris' move to Palo Alto and taking up a position in product marketing at Facebook!Leaving San Fransisco and the encounter that inspired the beginnings of My Intent. Hosting the first SpiritLab events in Los Angeles and connecting with new people.Momentum starting around the bracelets that Chris was making. The bracelets that Chris made for Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Kanye West.A trip to Bali for yoga that did not go as planned and the Kanye TIME cover!The My Intent feature on The Today Show and the immediate spike in sales as a result.A special story about a 'Courage' bracelet and what it meant to someone going into surgery. 

The High Line is now one of New York City's most iconic landmarks. But there was a time when some considered it to be an eyesore.  Rising above street level, the park is an accessible and beautiful space that has regenerated a historic and forgotten place for locals and visitors alike. Joining us on the show is one of the forces behind this amazing project, Robert Hammond. Robert has always had a number of things on the go in his life at any given time. He admits that it seems to suit him to not focus solely on one avenue and rather juggle a bunch of projects. We hear from Robert about his upbringing, his unconventional home life, and his mother's artistic and unusual activities. Robert maps out how this led into the later parts of his life; a teenage fascination with Russia, business ambitions with reservations, and a lively social life! We hear from our guest about his somewhat serendipitous connection to the 'the high line' and the seeds that became his big passion project. Join us to hear it all!Key Points From This Episode:Robert's unconventional early childhood experiences and activities.The feelings that Robert went through realizing how he and his mother were a bit different. Robert's obsession with Russia and his visits during his teen years.Aspirations for business and banking and the struggles that Robert faced finding a job after college. Life in New York City, finding a community of gay friends, and partying a lot.Resigning from Ernst & Young; considering business school and finding work at a startup.How Robert found some meaning in his sales work and how these lessons applied to his social life.  Depression, anxiety, and therapy; Robert's coping mechanisms during his late 20s.  Robert's work for The Body and his desire to paint in the evenings as an outlet.How Robert heard about the looming demolishment of The High Line and started thinking about it.The part that Robert's determination and drive played in seeing through his interest in the project. Falling in love with the High Line project and getting serious about seeing it through.  The continuous array of jobs and projects that Robert liked to do simultaneously.  Robert's partnership with Josh and how they stayed committed to the project through doubtful times.

Our guest today, Lauren Singer has an amazing story to tell, growing three separate projects and businesses out of her desire for discomfort and the need for a better world! Lauren is the brains behind Trash is for Tossers, Simply Co., and Package Free, three different prongs of the same idea; to reduce human waste and to build a healthier environment and brighter future. Lauren shares very honestly about her own journey and really digs deep on what it means to properly stand for a cause. She makes it her mission to get away from the hypocrisy of activism without a foundation of aligned action, and rather than preaching about it, uses her critical eye to keep improving her own practices and those of her business. Lauren believes that a sustainable future is a human right, a vision she has been molding and refining since her early years playing alone in the forest! We chat about her younger years, what it was like moving around a lot, and the different phases she went through during her time at school. We cover her college years and the way she fell in love with environmental science and how that soon aligned with the activist spirit she always seemed to possess. These formative years culminated with her founding the zero waste project, Trash is for Tossers and then subsequently, her business Simply Co., through which she sells items she was already making for herself. The success of these initiatives was a surprise to Lauren and she has not lost sight of her original goal of a world with truly sustainable and good products. For an insightful, honest, and inspiring chat with a great guest, make sure to join us today!Key Points From This Episode:Lauren's favorite childhood activities; playing alone outside in the woods. Moving around a lot from a young age and the adaptability this instilled in Lauren.Lauren's life at school and how her abilities grew into more practical applications.The activist spirit in Lauren; early memories of the feelings that inspired it.Experiences of depression and the connection between these feelings and the practice of painting. Lauren's early fundraisers and how she managed to fund her adventures and activism.Mixed feelings over college and the benefits that Lauren did accrue through these years. Falling in love with environmental science class and the group of people Lauren connected with. The first practices that Lauren changed as she became involved in grassroots activism.  

Joining us on the show today is Jeff Krasno, bluegrass enthusiast and the founder of One Commune and the Wanderlust Festival! Jeff's story is truly inspiring; from the many phases and seasons, he has lived through to the movements he has helped propel, Jeff has continued on his path with curiosity and passion at every turn. We hear from Jeff about the central role that music has played in much of his life as well as the formative experiences he had growing up all over the world! Jeff also unpacks the unlikely road building a new type of festival with Wanderlust, bridging the gaps between yoga, wellness and music. He takes us all the way through to his work currently and the Commune project that now takes up most of his time. Jeff is a wonderful storyteller and this lends itself to this longer form episode, jam-packed with twists and turns and the fruition of seeds planted much earlier. Our guest's story is such a strong example of how events that can seem random, often contribute to our outlook in important ways that are only apparent in hindsight. We hear about how his mission has evolved, from craving acceptance and connection to building a shared experience and lasting impact. For this fantastic and deep conversation, listen in with us today!Key Points From This Episode:Jeff's childhood fascination with Batman while moving around a lot. Global citizenship from a young age, learning languages and pastoral life in Europe and South America. Childhood difficulties in Brazil and Jeff's experiences of being teased and ostracized. Jeff's sympathetic nature and how this relates to a desire to connect and belong.The tumor that Jeff developed at the age of 13 and his experiences in Sloan Kettering. The aftermath of losing weight and the changes Jeff experienced at a new high school. Music in Jeff's life growing up; family roots and developing an ear for sound.Jeff's pursuit of his future wife, Skyla, during his time at college.Radio djing, banjo playing and organizing bluegrass shows with some big acts.How Jeff juggled his budding career in music and his college commitments.Jeff's work as a hip hop producer in the 1990s and producing Soulive.Making use of the Starbucks market and helping Sonya Kitchell get discovered.Life after 911, Skyla's new yoga studio and the beauty of community and compassion during crisis.

Our most meaningful acts often involve giving something away, especially when you’re helping those that most need it. Today’s guest is LaRayia Gaston, someone who has devoted herself to improving the lives of the homeless. As the founder of Lunch on Me, an L.A nonprofit that feeds the homeless of Skid Row, LaRayia shows that you can give without reason. Before diving into her work, we chat about her childhood and LaRayia talks about how influential art has been in her life. She discusses her wonderfully mixed heritage and how her church background showed her the importance of tithing as a form of giving back to the community. We talk about LaRayia’s career as a dancer and model and her aversion to drugs and alcohol. She opens up about the people in her life who have been through hardship and how she learned the importance of showing love in helping people overcome their struggles. LaRayia then shares her experiences of moving to Los Angeles and discovering Skid Row; an area with a long-established homeless population. After volunteering for nonprofits and becoming disillusioned with their inefficiencies, LaRayia details how she set up Lunch on Me. As a part of her goal to humanize the homeless, her organization only serves healthy food and not the table scraps that are often given to the homeless. We ask LaRayia about the lessons that she learned from spending 43 days living in Skid Row and she shares a heartwarming story about receiving help when she needed it the most.LaRayia’s journey is as inspiring as it is empowering. Tune in to learn more about LaRayia and hear why she thinks there’s no excuse for not giving back to your community. Key Points From This Episode:How LaRayia’s love of drawing and books helped her escape a sense of confinement in her youth.The lessons that LaRayia learned from reading about exceptional artists that looked like her. Hear about LaRayia’s childhood and how she was exposed to many different cultures. Despite having a wonderfully varied heritage, how LaRayia came to identify as black. The number one thing that LaRayia got from church; we have to give to one another.How LaRayia’s grandmother often filled the role of being her mother.Questions that LaRayia asked about church and the bible; “Are we praying to the same God?”LaRayia tells the story of how she made her life-long best friend as a kid. Not liking to ask for money, 12-year-old LaRayia got a job working in her uncle’s restaurant.LaRayia’s first encounter with an angel when giving a homeless person food. Wanting to create and LaRayia’s strong connection with art. How LaRayia took the idea of tithing to the streets and began feeding the homeless. LaRayia’s work as a dancer and her transition into modeling for music videos.

Today we speak about meditation, facing fear, and reaching your dreams with Jesse Israel, the creator of The Big Quiet, a collective that hosts mass meditations at the most iconic places in the world! Jesse shares his growth story with us today, taking us right from his early childhood through moments of darkness and the role meditation played in all the amazing projects he built leading up to The Big Quiet. We hear about his early love for storytelling and his gift for leadership that got quelled by a disciplining event when he was still in school, leading to his first experiences of anxiety and self-doubt. He takes us through to being a student at New York University, starting a record label and managing a fledgling MGMT, and the massive strain he underwent around this time. This was the point in his life where he found meditation and he talks about how it led him to rediscover his gifts for leadership that were buried inside him for so long. Jesse sketches out the projects he started to create, all driven by his need for community – a mass bike club called The Cyclone and thereafter Med Club, a guided meditation event. We hear from Jesse how around this point he quit his record label business and the role that meditation played in helping him take the plunge and start afresh. This is an inspirational episode about the way meditation helps say yes in the face of doubt and fears so make sure not to miss it! Key Points From This Episode:Jesse’s childhood, relationship with his parents, and love for making animations.The beginning of Jesse’s struggle with mental health after getting in trouble at school.Therapy and Jesse’s transformation at school from a troublemaker to a prefect.How Jesse got into music, radio show hosting, and started a record label after going to NYU.The story of Jesse and his friends meeting MGMT and managing their early career.Mental health and body stress issues Jesse experienced at 23 due to life challenges.Jesse’s first panic attack and recourse he took at a time this was not spoken about.How Jesse began experimenting with meditation after learning about Buddhism from his dad.The meditation Jesse learned from Shambhala and how he later discovered Vedic meditation from Light.How Jesse began to face old fears and own his leadership after practicing Vedic meditation.All the students Light got through Jesse spreading the word about how meditation was helping him.Transitioning from tech and music into leadership, a side of Jesse he suppressed for long.

When Ajay Relan battled with mental health, his therapist gave him two options: medicate, or volunteer. He chose to volunteer, and after a few mishaps, he found himself making sandwiches and love notes for hungry people one Christmas morning in Los Angeles. And thus, #hashtaglunchbag was formed. In this interview, Ajay reflects on his younger years as a 6-year-old entrepreneur, his rocky relationship with his mother, and what it meant to grow up with a single parent who was often busy and stressed out. Ajay also takes us through his college years, the small businesses he started, and the difficult emotional state in which he found himself at the end of his 20s. We also discuss meeting his father for the first time, feelings of loss, and bouts of depression — it was only through giving that Ajay was able to really address some of these issues and manage his life in a more positive manner. For an amazing story with a person with lots of stories about not quitting, please be sure to listen to this episode!Key Points From This Episode:The kinds of activities that Ajay gravitated towards at a young age.Lessons in hard work from Ajay's mother and her entrepreneurial endeavors.The evolution of Ajay's mother's business and his role in helping her run it. Ajay's family history and the part that his Indian heritage has played in his life. Hustling during college; how Ajay sold Nike Air Jordans our of his boot! Mixed feelings after college and the emotional state that Ajay found himself in during his 20s.  The wall that Ajay hit towards the end of his 20s and the decision he made in response.Generational trauma and the legacy of depression; Ajay's mother's struggles and medication.The steps that Ajay took to confront his own struggles and looking to volunteering. How Ajay connected with his father and the three questions he wanted to be answered.The lasting impacts of this meeting in the context of other difficult life events.Ajay's first experience of volunteering in a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving.The inspiration came from an old friend and led to making packed lunches to hand out.   Growing a small, experimental practice into something bigger that spread all over the world. How Ajay's entrepreneurial experience contributed to the success of HanhtagLunchbag. Exercising the generosity and gratitude muscles — the journey that Ajay is still on!The components of HashtagLunchbag and the experience of working with them.Ajay's advice for those hoping to create similarly impactful projects. The motivation behind Hilltop Cafe, Ajay's coffee shop in LA. Click here for full transcript and show notes.

Adoption and the emotional journey of parents and children can be a complex one. This dynamic can be enlarged when combined with the added dimension of race. Our guest today, April Dinwoodie, is the brains and heart behind the non-profit, AdoptMent, and she is here to share her story as a black person adopted by white parents and how this fact influenced her work and personal path in the world. During our conversation, we cover the lessons she learned in these areas and about the individual nature of these learnings.Click here for the full transcript and show notes.

Today on At the End of the Tunnel we are joined by an especially inspiring guest! Robert Eggers has lived a life full of helping others and following his dreams at the same time. From an early age, Robert was entranced by the idea of moving and getting around, his first memories of riding bikes and skating through the neighborhood have a magical quality, something that would stick with him for the rest of his life. A California native, who relocated to Washington DC as a young teenager, Robert developed a strong desire to own a nightclub to bring people together through the power of music. It was while he was working towards that dream, bartending around the city that he started to volunteer for an organization that fed local homeless people. This kickstarted his desire to help feed more people and he came up with a plan to provide work, food, and opportunities for the down and out, using his passion, network, and determination! Click here for full transcript and show notes.

Show Notes:Life's unexpected twists and turns can take us to places we might never have imagined and our guest today, Tiffany Persons is such a wonderful example of riding this wave to a true calling. Her story exemplifies the idea of making a change in the world that starts with the self and this episode is all about her amazing journey to her current place as a powerful woman and change-maker. She talks to us about the nature of liberation and how it all starts on an individual level; the freedom we want for others ultimately is tied to our own! Tiffany was born in Detroit and has since spread her wings, moving to Los Angeles and subsequently working in Sierra Leone! She has traversed different industries but found her passion in helping those less fortunate than herself, building schools and investing in local businesses in her newly adopted home! Click here for full transcript and show notes.

Impact can occur in mysterious ways and we never really know the full, far-reaching nature of actions. Ben Nemtin, one of the creators of the wonderfully inspiring MTV show The Buried Life, has lived a life that shows just how much we can affect change through following our own passions and purpose. He joins us on the show today to share his journey, with all the ups, downs, and surprises along the way. We start out in his early years, his athletic aspirations, and the subsequent struggles he had with depression and anxiety. The way out of these low points came through lucky encounters and open-heartedness, something that Ben sees clearly now in retrospect.Click here for full transcript and show notes.

Surviving Sundays is a platform for storytelling, self-love, hope, and survival. The stories aim to normalize the conversation around mental health and to add solace to the lives of those living through difficult times, through community and support. Our guest on today's show is the founder of Surviving Sundays, Emma Mainoo. We hear from Emma about her personal journey, struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, and the things that lifted her out of the darkness and continue to help her in her life today.

Going out into the unknown and meeting people can seem daunting to many of us and it was something quite foreign to Leon Logothetis too, that is until he decided to quit his job and undertake a whole new phase of his life relying on the kindness of strangers. Leon is the man behind The Kindness Diaries and the author of a number of books, detailing his unusual travels around the world and how magical the world can be when we go out and interact with it. His story shows us just how important it is to see the people in your life, those close to you as well as the strangers who cross your path. In our conversation, we also get to hear about some vulnerable parts of a person's inner life, parts that are not often given attention.Click here for full transcript and show notes.