Art, Awakening & Everyday Magic — A Conversation with Brooke Wilen
Release Date: 10/29/2025
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Summary In this episode of Decoding the Flow, host Drica Lobo sits down with Danielle Lazala, a multidisciplinary, self-taught Dominican artist and founder of DML Paintings. Danielle shares her journey from working in the field of psychology to building a full-time art career, and how her deep understanding of human emotion informs her use of color, composition, and visual storytelling. Together, they explore the emotional and energetic impact of art, the healing power of color, and how murals can uplift communities and transform public spaces. The conversation also dives into the...
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Ep. 17 | Working With Interior Designers — Leticia Demeuse on Art, Space & Flow
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Ep. 16 | Nuyorican Roots: Art, Identity & Creative Flow With Erica Morales
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Ep. 15 | I Interviewed Myself: The Truth About My Early Artist Journey
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Ep.14 | 2026: Who Are You Becoming Next? (My First Solo Episode)
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Summary As we stand at the edge of a new year, this episode is an invitation to pause. In her very first solo episode of Decoding the Flow, Drica Lobo reflects on the closing of 2025 and opens a gentle, honest space for becoming. Rather than focusing on resolutions or external goals, this conversation centers on identity, awareness, and the quiet decisions that shape the life we are creating. Drica guides listeners through reflective questions and simple practices to help identify what no longer belongs in the next chapter, how self-perception influences reality, and why focusing on how we...
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Ep. 13 | Turning Life Into Art With Deborah Liss (Creativity & Truth)
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Belonging Through Art With Lorenzo Cardim
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Summary In this episode, Drica Lobo sits down with Brazilian visual artist Lorenzo Cardim, whose multidisciplinary work explores the human body as both medium and message. Together, they revisit the origins of his artistic journey, the emotional and philosophical foundations behind his sculptures and performances, and how cultural roots shape identity and creative expression. Lorenzo shares how living abroad expanded his sense of belonging, how the Notre Dame project deepened his relationship with architecture, and why artist residencies create fertile ground for vulnerability and connection....
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In this powerful episode of Decoding the Flow, host Drica Lobo sits down with Brooke Wilen, fine art photographer and gallery owner based in Manhattan Beach, California, to explore her profound journey of awakening and self-discovery.
Brooke opens up about what she calls the “first 33 years” of her life — a period she describes as a dark night of the soul — and how breaking free from that inner prison led her to deep transformation, creativity, and spiritual growth.
Together, they explore the path from darkness to light, from living on autopilot to embracing conscious creation. This conversation is a gentle yet raw invitation to look within, to honor your own process of becoming, and to trust that every shadow carries the seed of awakening.
Takeaways
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The first 33 years of life can feel like a dark night of the soul.
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Awakening means recognizing the illusions and limitations of your past.
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True transformation feels like moving from imprisonment to freedom.
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Self-discovery demands courage, introspection, and grace.
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The right people and moments can catalyze your awakening.
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Life becomes luminous once you begin to awaken to it.
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Understanding your past brings peace and direction for your future.
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Every awakening journey is unique — there’s no timeline, only trust.
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Embracing change is essential to personal transformation.
Chapters
00:00 — Awakening from the Dark Night of the Soul
07:15 — Breaking Free: The Shift in Perspective
15:30 — Art as a Mirror of Consciousness
24:50 — Living in Alignment and Purpose
31:40 — Everyday Magic and the Power of Awareness
About Brooke Wilen
Brooke Wilen is a fine art photographer, gallery owner, and creative visionary based in Manhattan Beach, California. Through her lens and her gallery space, she explores the intersection of art, awakening, and everyday beauty. Brooke’s work captures moments of stillness and transformation, inviting viewers to see the world — and themselves — through a more conscious perspective.
Her mission is to inspire presence, self-discovery, and the courage to live authentically through art and storytelling.
Resources & Links
Connect with Brooke: brookewilen.com | YouTube @BrookeWilen
Connect with Drica: dricalobo.com | Instagram @dricaloboart | Book: Decoding the Flow on Amazon