Libsyn Directory

S7E28 - Creating Calm Before You’re Seen with “Spider” Meka Hemmons

Release Date: 01/27/2026

S7E28 - Creating Calm Before You’re Seen with “Spider” Meka Hemmons

Lead Your Life with Debbie Heiser

What if being seen feels hard because your nervous system doesn’t feel safe yet? In this episode, I sit down with “Spider” Meka Hemmons to explore why visibility can feel tense or overwhelming for so many women, and how that shows up far beyond the camera. We talk about creating calm before being seen, not by fixing how you look, but by shifting how you feel in your body. Meka shares how old messaging, cultural pressure, and constant stimulation shape self-image, and why regulation must come before confidence if real change is going to stick. This conversation is about feeling safe,...

S7E27 - Burnout in 2026: Why Pushing Harder Isn’t Working

Lead Your Life with Debbie Heiser

Have you ever known exactly what to do, yet felt unable to make yourself do it? I see this pattern everywhere right now. Capable, disciplined people who are not burned out because they are lazy, but because their nervous system, identity, and ambition are no longer aligned. When pushing harder becomes the default response, the body eventually says no, not because you are broken, but because the model no longer works. This kind of burnout is not about motivation. It is about safety, capacity, and the messages your nervous system is responding to beneath your conscious goals. ✔️ Recognize...

S7E26 - How a Word of the Year & Vision Board Creates Real New Year Momentum

Lead Your Life with Debbie Heiser

What if one word could shape the way you move through the entire year ahead? In this episode, I’m sharing my favorite end-of-year ritual: choosing a Word of the Year and pairing it with a vision board to anchor your focus, your intention, and your emotional tone for the year. Resolutions fade because they rely on force. A word works because it connects with your subconscious, your nervous system, and the version of you you're becoming. You’ll hear why this practice interrupts old patterns, strengthens the neural pathways you want to grow, and helps you filter decisions through a clearer,...

S7E25 - Big Juicy Goals That Stick: Emotion, Identity and the Subconscious at Work

Lead Your Life with Debbie Heiser

What if the goals you're setting aren’t actually big enough to activate the version of you who can achieve them? In this episode, I’m breaking down big juicy goals and why the goals that actually change your life can’t come from logic alone. They have to be felt, embodied, and rooted in the identity of the version of you who already has them. When you understand the neuroscience and subconscious patterns behind your behavior, goal setting becomes aligned and sustainable. You’ll hear how emotion activates the subconscious mind, why embodiment creates belief, and how universal laws...

S7E24 - How Highly Sensitive People Can Handle Conflict with Confidence with Todd Smith

Lead Your Life with Debbie Heiser

Do you ever feel like conflict hits you harder than it hits other people? If you’re a highly sensitive person, there’s a good chance your nervous system processes stress, emotion and tension more intensely. In this episode, I’m joined by Todd Smith, a stress management expert for highly sensitive people, to explore why conflict feels overwhelming and how to approach it with confidence instead of avoidance. Todd shares what it really means to be a highly sensitive person and why traits like empathy, depth of processing and emotional awareness can make everyday interactions feel heavier....

S7E23 - Your Mind Is the Master Key: Unlock the Universal Law of Thinking

Lead Your Life with Debbie Heiser

Where are your thoughts leading you? If you’ve ever caught yourself spiraling into self-doubt, overthinking, or feeling “stuck,” this episode will remind you just how powerful your mind truly is. I’m unpacking the Universal Law of Thinking, the principle that says whatever we consistently think about, with emotion and belief, expands into reality. In this conversation, I share how clarity and self-trust work together to turn invisible ideas into tangible results, both in life and business. You’ll learn how to recognize when your thoughts are working for you or against you, and how to...

S7E22 - Real Beats Perfect: Chantal McDougall on Showing Up Real and Attracting Clients You Love

Lead Your Life with Debbie Heiser

Have you ever held back in your business because you were afraid of being “too much”? In this episode, I talk with Chantal McDougall, the Fairy Godmother of Storytelling, about what happens when you stop shrinking to fit in and start showing up real. Chantal shares how she went from hiding behind perfectionism to building a thriving brand that celebrates authenticity, personality, and heart. We explore what it means to let go of the rules, embrace your quirks, and build a business that actually feels like you. If you’ve ever struggled with people-pleasing, visibility blocks, or the...

S7E21 - Subconscious Blocks: What If the Thing Holding You Back Isn’t Even Yours?

Lead Your Life with Debbie Heiser

Have you ever stopped to wonder if the very thing holding you back, might not even belong to you? In this intimate coaching episode, I invite you into a private mastermind call where two of my clients and I uncover the hidden subconscious blocks that keep so many women stuck between what they want and what they believe they’re allowed to have. We explore how old messages, family conditioning, and inherited “loyalty pacts” shape the way we show up in life and business, often without us realizing it. You’ll hear the real coaching moments that help bring awareness, freedom, and new...

S7E20 - Storytelling Marketing That Actually Converts with Meredith Banka

Lead Your Life with Debbie Heiser

What if sharing your story felt natural, confident, and wildly effective without the salesy ick? In this episode, I sit down with Meredith Banka of True Story Marketing to explore the power of storytelling marketing that actually converts. We talk about showing up with confidence, leading with your values, and crafting a personal brand story that builds genuine know-like-trust. Whether you are running a business or simply posting online, your story is your superpower and it is time to use it. Meredith shares her journey from corporate marketing to entrepreneurship and how she overcame the...

S7E19 - How Letting Go Creates Space for Growth in Life and Business with the Universal Law of Sacrifice

Lead Your Life with Debbie Heiser

What if the very thing keeping you stuck isn’t more effort, but what you’re unwilling to release? In this episode of the Lead Your Life Podcast, I explore how letting go creates space for more abundance, joy, and alignment, all through the lens of the Universal Law of Sacrifice. This law isn’t about pain or deprivation. It’s about consciously releasing the beliefs, habits, and patterns that no longer serve you so you can step into your higher self in both life and business. I share personal stories and practical strategies for moving past perfectionism, people-pleasing, and overwork....

More Episodes

What if being seen feels hard because your nervous system doesn’t feel safe yet?

In this episode, I sit down with “Spider” Meka Hemmons to explore why visibility can feel tense or overwhelming for so many women, and how that shows up far beyond the camera.

We talk about creating calm before being seen, not by fixing how you look, but by shifting how you feel in your body. Meka shares how old messaging, cultural pressure, and constant stimulation shape self-image, and why regulation must come before confidence if real change is going to stick.

This conversation is about feeling safe, grounded, and calm in a chaotic world, so you can show up without forcing or performing.

☑️ Why “not being photogenic” is a story, not a truth
☑️ How nervous system regulation changes self-image and confidence
☑️ What it really takes to feel safe being seen

Spider also shares details about her new program, Calm Before the Camera, and how these practices support self-trust, presence, and inner calm well beyond photos.

If being visible has ever felt heavy, tense, or draining, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

Subscribe, listen in, and give yourself permission to create calm first.

Episode Highlights

00:00 Introduction

01:14 Meet Meka and Her Purpose-Driven Work

04:52 Breaking Beauty Myths and Self-Image Stories

10:00 Why “Photogenic” Is a Myth

15:34 Seeing Beyond the Surface

20:34 Why Feeling Good Comes Before Confidence

21:51 Calm Before the Camera Explained

30:23 The Power of Positive Self-Talk

35:21 Final Reflections and What’s Next

Meet “Spider” Meka Hemmons

Portrait photographer and speaker, “Spider” Meka Hemmons, is often described as a heart surgeon with a camera—helping people heal how they feel in front of the lens and in the mirror. Blending psychology, language, and visual storytelling, she’s spent over two decades helping professionals and creatives reclaim confidence and presence. She’s the creator of Calm Before the Camera, a guided course designed to reduce anxiety, shift self-perception, and help people show up as themselves—on camera and in life.

Access the Course: https://spidermeka.com/calm

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/spidermeka

Instagram: https://instagram.com/spidermeka

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spidermeka

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/spidermeka

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