Pay Attention
Pay Attention is a podcast dedicated to a journey from the chaos of the mind to the clarity of the open heart. As a seasoned architect turned teacher and spiritual guide, Holly McNeill spent two decades while working full time and as a single mom exploring neuroscience, psychology, Buddhism, and spirituality all to uncover the transformative power of the present moment. Here you'll find practical tips and insights on how the mind works, why you get stuck, how to break free, how to create space for real change, and what lies beyond the chaos. All here to help you build a life of clarity, peace, and purpose.
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S2:E3 When The Mind Goes Quiet, The Body Remembers with Maira Holzmann
01/26/2026
S2:E3 When The Mind Goes Quiet, The Body Remembers with Maira Holzmann
In the last two episodes of Pay Attention, we explored why doing more isn’t the answer—and why deeply ingrained habits can’t be changed through intellectual insight or thinking alone. So what does create real change? In this episode, Holly McNeill is joined by somatic psychotherapist Maira Holzmann for a grounded conversation about what happens when awareness moves beyond thought and includes the body. Together, they explore how trauma lives in the nervous system, and how insight and clarity can be supported on the path to healing through body-based approaches. The conversation looks at how expanding awareness to include sensation, regulation, and the lived experience of the body—through practices such as somatic therapy and carefully supported psychedelic work—can help interrupt survival patterns and open the door to integration and change. Rather than positioning psychedelics as a solution, this episode places them in proper context: as one possible support for deepening awareness when used with intention, preparation, and integration. This episode is about remembering—not fixing. About embodiment, not effort. And about what becomes possible when awareness includes the whole system, not just the thinking mind.
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You Can't Outthink Your Habitual Thoughts with Amy Kemp
01/19/2026
You Can't Outthink Your Habitual Thoughts with Amy Kemp
Coming out of last week’s conversation with Dr. Patel on Less Is More and the power of doing less for our physical health, this episode of Pay Attention turns toward the mental and emotional habits that quietly shape our lives. Holly sits down with Amy Kemp, author of I See You, to explore why working harder eventually stops working—and how many of our most celebrated traits are actually survival mechanisms formed long before we were conscious of them. Together, they examine how thought habits are formed, why the brain resists change even when something no longer serves us, and how intuition gets buried under years of over-functioning and responsibility. This conversation bridges neuroscience, lived experience, and mindfulness to reveal how awareness—not effort—is what creates real agency. In this episode, you’ll explore: Why you can’t outwork your thought habits How survival patterns become damaging when we outgrow them The quiet loss (and recovery) of intuition Why high-achieving women often feel unseen despite outward success How paying attention creates the space for change If Less Is More invited you to reconsider your relationship with health, this episode invites you to look at what you may still be carrying—mentally, emotionally, and unconsciously—and how to begin letting go.
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S:2 - EP:1 Less Is More In The New Year - Compassionate Care & Healing
01/12/2026
S:2 - EP:1 Less Is More In The New Year - Compassionate Care & Healing
As the New Year begins, many of us feel pressure to fix, improve, or overhaul our lives. In this episode of Pay Attention, Holly McNeill is joined by osteopathic physician Dr. Neal Patel for a grounded, compassionate conversation about what healing can look like when we slow down and do less—not more. Together, they explore the connection between stress, mental health, and the body, and how unresolved emotional patterns often show up as physical pain, inflammation, or chronic illness. Dr. Patel shares his holistic, patient-centered philosophy—emphasizing fewer pills, fewer procedures, and greater awareness of the habits that quietly shape our health. The conversation also touches on meditation, foundational practices like sleep, movement, and nutrition, and emerging research on the endocannabinoid system and energy-based healing. Rather than offering resolutions or quick fixes, this episode invites you to pause, pay attention, and listen—to your body, your mind, and the signals you may have been ignoring.
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42: Creating The New Year with Intentional Attention
01/05/2026
42: Creating The New Year with Intentional Attention
The Mindfulness Architect, Holly McNeill, reflects on New Year’s resolutions—and why intention alone is rarely enough to create real change. Rather than offering another checklist or goal-setting framework, this episode invites listeners to pause and examine what they are actually paying attention to—day by day, moment by moment—and how that attention shapes identity, choices, and the direction of their lives. As the year comes to a close, Holly explores the relationship between intention and attention, sharing how her own intention to find something better opened her to seeing new possibilities. She closes by inviting listeners to create a New Year’s resolution grounded in intentional attention, and to carry that awareness into the year ahead.
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41: The Gift of the Human Journey
12/29/2025
41: The Gift of the Human Journey
On this Christmas Eve, I invite you to pause. In a season that can feel joyful for some and heavy for others, this episode is a quiet reflection on the gift of the human journey — with all of its beauty, struggle, tenderness, and possibility. There is a natural flow to life, and much of our suffering comes from the habits, beliefs, and patterns we’ve unknowingly created in an effort to protect ourselves. Part of this human journey is gently learning to recognize and unwind that conditioning. The P.E.R.L.O.V.E. framework emerged from lived experience and years of exploration across mindfulness, neuroscience, and spirituality, offering one compassionate way to do just that. This episode is not about fixing yourself — it’s about remembering who you are beneath the conditioning. Wherever you find yourself this holiday season, may this be a moment to breathe, soften, and reconnect with the quiet wisdom already within you. Wishing you peace, presence, and love on this precious human journey.
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40: Trusting The Intuition Within with Dr. Lenka Schulze
12/23/2025
40: Trusting The Intuition Within with Dr. Lenka Schulze
This week, the Mindfulness Architect, Holly McNeill is joined by Dr. Lenka Schulze, an Intuologist, Author, Educator and Spiritual Guide. Her lifelong experience, ongoing research, and ample knowledge in the area of intuition and consciousness, create a solid platform from which she invites others to view and to see life from the soul’s point of view. She is very passionate to share her unique perspective to subtle energies, vibrations and frequencies and bring them down to earth in a palatable way for people to not only comprehend easily but to take this information to apply easily into their daily life.
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39: Why Our Inner Stories Shape Us with Rita Ernst
12/15/2025
39: Why Our Inner Stories Shape Us with Rita Ernst
This week, the Mindfulness Architect, Holly McNeill is joined by Rita Ernst, the Amazon best-selling author of Show Up Positive (2022) and Culture Impact: Strategies to Create World-Changing Workplaces (2023). Forbes, MSNBC, and over 30 podcasts worldwide have featured Rita as a culture and change management expert. TAP-In Magazine named her the Top Influential Leader of 2022. She owns Ignite Your Extraordinary, which won the Most Positive Management Consultancy of 2023 and 2024 and the Excellence Award for Workplace Wellbeing Support 2024. She holds an advanced degree in Organizational Psychology from Clemson University.
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38: Happiness Is A Habit - Tiny Changes, Big Shifts with Michele Phillips
12/08/2025
38: Happiness Is A Habit - Tiny Changes, Big Shifts with Michele Phillips
On this episode, the Mindfulness Architect, Holly McNeill is joined by Michele Phillips, President of Key Performance — a powerhouse in elevating happiness, excellence, and human potential in the workplace. With more than 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, Michele blends neuroscience, habit formation, and positive psychology into a refreshingly practical formula for personal and professional success. Michele’s impact spans the globe, partnering with elite organizations like TAG Heuer, Pfizer, Verizon, Schott, Nomura, Barclays, The PGA, and The New York State Bridge Authority. Through her dynamic workshops, transformational coaching, and high-energy keynotes, she empowers leaders to write their own outcomes — creating cultures where people thrive, teams rise, and organizations transform from the inside out. If you're ready to shift your mindset, expand your awareness, and step into empowered leadership, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Tune in, take a breath, and let’s pay attention together. 💛✨ #PayAttentionPodcast #ConsciousLeadership #MindfulnessAtWork #PositivePsychology #NeuroscienceBased
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37: To The Alienated, Estranged & Separated During The Holidays
12/02/2025
37: To The Alienated, Estranged & Separated During The Holidays
This special Thanksgiving episode is a pause — a gentle breath — for anyone who feels alienated, estranged, or separated during the holidays. In one of the most personal episodes she’s ever shared, Holly opens her heart and tells the story of her long, painful journey through parental alienation, estrangement, and years of fighting to stay connected to her children. She speaks directly to anyone navigating complicated family dynamics: parents missing their kids, adult children distant from a parent, and anyone carrying the ache of disconnection during the holiday season. And though Holly is deeply grateful for the relationship she has with her children today, this episode is about self-care, self-compassion, and staying open to even the smallest flicker of hope. She reflects on how the hardest chapters of her life eventually led her back to herself — to awareness, healing, and the rebuilding of a relationship she once feared was lost forever. If the holidays feel heavy this year, this message is for you. A reminder that healing is possible. A reminder that you’re not alone. And an invitation to soften, breathe, and stay open to something better.
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35: Embrace The Mess: Create The Life You Love with Marc Scheff
12/02/2025
35: Embrace The Mess: Create The Life You Love with Marc Scheff
What if the chaos in your life was actually the beginning of something beautiful? In this inspiring conversation, host Holly McNeill sits down with artist-turned-coach Marc Scheff to explore how creativity, risk-taking, and letting go can reshape the way we live and work. From leaving behind a career in tech to building a thriving art and coaching practice, Mark shares how his Make a Mess framework helps people create, destroy, and emerge into their most authentic selves. Key takeaways: Why creativity is never linear—and why that’s a good thing How to recognize when you’re on autopilot and choose differently The power of identity work in building a fulfilling life This episode is a reminder that it’s never too late to start again, embrace the unknown, and design a life that truly feels like your own. Connect with Mark: Instgram: Linkedin: Facebook:
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36: Disrupting The Script: Awakening Beyond Autopilot with Dr. Jada Phillips
11/24/2025
36: Disrupting The Script: Awakening Beyond Autopilot with Dr. Jada Phillips
What if the pause you’ve been avoiding is the very thing that could change your life? In this powerful conversation, host Holly McNeill sits down with trauma therapist and coach Dr. Jada Phillips to explore what it means to step off autopilot and come back home to yourself. From working in prisons to guiding frontline workers through the pandemic, Dr. Jada shares how moments of stillness can spark transformation, healing, and a deep reconnection with self. You’ll hear how she: • Turned the COVID “pause” into a personal and professional awakening • Helps clients break free from self-abandonment and people-pleasing • Guides others through “disrupting the script” to rewrite their stories with intention This episode is an invitation to slow down, check in, and rediscover the light within you. Connect with Dr. Jada Phillips: Linkedin: Instagram: Facebook: Follow Holly McNeill: LinkedIn: Instgram: Facebook:
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34: Mindfulness Meets The Techie Brain with Adam Kobler
11/10/2025
34: Mindfulness Meets The Techie Brain with Adam Kobler
What happens when a tech-savvy mind takes a deep dive into mindfulness? In this episode of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill sits down with Adam Kobler—leadership coach, technologist, and founder of Protagonist—to explore how meditation and awareness transformed his life and career. From his early days in management information systems to guiding tech professionals into conscious leadership, Adam shares how mindfulness became his most powerful tool. Key themes include: * How routines and automation shape our lives (and how to break free) * The TAP method: Take A Pause before reacting * Why AI can’t replace human intuition—and never will This conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about the intersection of technology, consciousness, and personal growth. Tune in and discover how awareness can reprogram your life. Connect with Adam Kobler: Website: https://protagonist.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akobleroriginal/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-kobler-geek-leadership/ Follow Holly McNeill: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollymcneill/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollymcneillofficial/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollymcneillofficial/
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33: Speaking From The Soul with Cheyenne Moore
11/02/2025
33: Speaking From The Soul with Cheyenne Moore
Is self-discovery a final destination—or a story we keep rewriting? ✨ In this heartfelt episode of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill sits down with Cheyenne Moore—author, producer, and host of Safe Space with Cheyenne—for a conversation that feels like coming home. (Fun fact: Safe Space was the very first podcast Holly ever guested on!) Cheyenne opens up about her journey from rural Illinois to creative and spiritual awakening, sharing how journaling and poetry became her earliest forms of healing and self-expression. Through years of reflection and faith, she discovered that true growth often comes from listening to the soul’s quiet nudges—the parts of us that whisper who we really are. Together, Holly and Cheyenne explore what it means to live authentically in a world that rewards performance, how creativity becomes a form of prayer, and why vulnerability is the real superpower in both art and life. If you’ve ever felt the call to reconnect with your inner voice—or if you’re on your own journey of transformation—this episode will remind you: you are always evolving, and that’s the beauty of it. 💫 🎧 Tune in to hear: How writing can become a sacred act of self-discovery The spiritual lessons hidden in everyday life Why sharing your story might be the most healing thing you’ll ever do 💬 Connect with Cheyenne Moore: 🔗 LinkedIn | 📘 Facebook | 🎵 TikTok |
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32: You're Not Crazy, You're Connected - Embracing The Paranormal
11/02/2025
32: You're Not Crazy, You're Connected - Embracing The Paranormal
Holly's guest this Wednesday is ✨ Dr. Margaret Arnd-Caddigan ✨ A lifelong explorer of both the seen and the unseen, Margaret bridges the worlds of psychotherapy, spirituality, and the paranormal. With a PhD in social work and a master’s in religious studies, she began her career studying the relationship between magic and religion—a curiosity that grew into decades of clinical work helping others navigate the mysteries of the mind and spirit. Now retired from academia, Margaret continues her calling as a teacher of meditation and the author of four transformative books, including Embracing Paranormal Experiences: A Guide for Experiencers and Their Helpers. Her work offers grounded, compassionate guidance to those seeking to make sense of extraordinary experiences that defy easy explanation. 🎧 Tune into her podcast, Finding Our Minds, available on all major platforms, where Margaret invites listeners to explore what it truly means to understand consciousness, healing, and the boundaries of human experience. 📩 To connect or learn more, reach out at findingourminds@gmail.com 🌙 Where science meets spirit, and the mind meets mystery.
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31: Unlocking High Performance and Overcoming Trauma with Dr. Don Wood
10/10/2025
31: Unlocking High Performance and Overcoming Trauma with Dr. Don Wood
Welcome to Pay Attention — a podcast guiding you from the chaos of the mind 🌀 to the clarity of the open heart ❤️. (broadcast every Wednesday at 10 am PST / 1 pm EST). We're going BACK TO THE ARCHIVES on this powerful episode of The Pay Attention Podcast.🌿 In this episode, host Holly McNeill welcomes Dr. Don Wood, PhD — author, speaker, and Founder & CEO of the Inspired Performance Institute. Dr. Wood is the creator of the revolutionary TIPP Method (Trauma Informed Performance Psychology) — a neuroscience-based approach proven to help people heal from trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction, unlocking their true potential for peak performance. In this deeply insightful conversation, Dr. Wood opens up about the origins of TIPP and the science behind reprogramming the mind for healing and high achievement. From personal transformation to professional breakthroughs, you’ll learn how unresolved trauma affects the brain and how TIPP empowers thousands to regain clarity, confidence, and calm. ✨ If you’re ready to heal, perform at your best, and live with fulfillment, this episode will change the way you think about the mind-body connection. 👉 Feeling inspired? Connect with Dr. Don Wood and let him know you heard him on The Pay Attention Podcast! 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/DrDonWoodPhD 📸 Instagram: @drdonwood 🎵 TikTok: @drdonwood 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drdonwoodphd
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30: From Heartbreak to Healing: Sara Davison on Divorce, Abuse, and Reclaiming Your Power
09/26/2025
30: From Heartbreak to Healing: Sara Davison on Divorce, Abuse, and Reclaiming Your Power
We're going BACK TO THE ARCHIVES on this powerful episode of The Pay Attention Podcast. Host sits down with —The Divorce Coach. A multi-award-winning coach, two-time bestselling author, and host of the Heartbreak to Happiness Podcast, Sara is also a global media voice on breakups, divorce, and domestic abuse. Together, Holly and Sara open up about their own divorce journeys—sharing the raw challenges, the lessons learned, and the ways they stayed grounded while protecting their children’s well-being. From the pain of heartbreak to the power of resilience, they explore practical tools for rebuilding your life and reclaiming your happiness. 💡 Whether you’re navigating the end of a relationship or supporting someone who is, this episode offers: Compassionate insights from lived experience Proven strategies for healing and moving forward Encouragement to find strength, even in the darkest times FEAM (Financially Emotionally Abused Mothers) is a Survivor-Led Network dedicated to reviving financially and emotionally abused Mothers through emotional & mental support, domestic violence advocacy, and a jumpstart to financial independence post your traumatic experience and beyond. If you're interested in donated to FEAM or need support, go to their website at the following link: https://www.feamrevived.org/ 🎧 Tune in to discover how to transform heartbreak into growth and step into a healthier, more empowered future.
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28: From Chaos of the Mind to Clarity of the Heart
09/11/2025
28: From Chaos of the Mind to Clarity of the Heart
Step into a space where the noise quiets and presence takes center stage. 🎙️ Pay Attention is a weekly podcast (Wednesdays at 10am PST / 1pm EST) hosted by Holly McNeill — an architect turned teacher and spiritual guide who has spent decades weaving together neuroscience 🧠, psychology 📚, Buddhism 🪷, and spirituality 🌌. This is more than a podcast — it’s a guide to living with awareness, compassion, and freedom. Inside each episode, you’ll discover: ✨ Practical insights into how the mind works ✨ Tools to break free from patterns that keep you stuck ✨ Practices to create space for real transformation ✨ Deep wisdom from special guests and kindred spirits Holly’s journey — balancing career, single motherhood, and inner exploration — has led her to the heart of what it means to live with clarity and purpose. Now she’s sharing that wisdom with you. 🌟 Join us each week to slow down, breathe deeply, and uncover what lies beyond the chaos. It’s time to truly Pay Attention. 🌿
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29: Rewiring Your Life with Better Habits with Dr. Tamsin Astor
09/02/2025
29: Rewiring Your Life with Better Habits with Dr. Tamsin Astor
What if changing your life was as simple as changing your habits? In this powerful episode, host Holly McNeill sits down with Dr. Tamsin Astor—Chief Habit Scientist, neuroscientist, yoga teacher, and Ayurvedic coach—to explore how Eastern wisdom and Western neuroscience converge to help us take back control of our minds, our behaviors, and ultimately, our lives. Tamsin shares her journey from academic burnout and caregiving exhaustion to personal transformation through intentional daily rituals. Key takeaways include: Why habits—not willpower—shape your destiny How to create space between thought and reaction Tools to rewire your brain through repetition and mindfulness The power of community in building lasting change If you're tired of feeling stuck and ready to reclaim your freedom, this conversation is the reset you’ve been waiting for. Follow Dr. Tamsin Astor: LinkedIn: Instagram: Youtube: Follow Holly McNeill: LinkedIn: Instagram: Facebook:
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27: The Puzzle Pieces of Global Impact with Gretchen Villegas
08/26/2025
27: The Puzzle Pieces of Global Impact with Gretchen Villegas
What if the key to solving global poverty starts with truly listening? In this powerful episode, Holly McNeill sits down with Gretchen Villegas, a global development executive and “social impact architect,” whose journey began as a Peace Corps volunteer in South America and led to decades of transformative work across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Gretchen shares what it means to build trust, empower communities, and design solutions that actually work—by paying attention to what people truly need. Key takeaways: Why empowerment begins with listening, not assuming The overlooked power of community in the world’s poorest regions The current state of global aid and why new approaches are urgently needed How corporations, nonprofits, and individuals can meaningfully raise impact What each of us can do—through intention, choices, and small actions—to be catalysts for change This conversation is a heartfelt reminder that we’re all connected—and that hope, compassion, and intention can lead us toward a more equitable world. Connect with Gretchen: LinkedIn: Connect with host Holly McNeill: Instagram: Website:
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26: From Rock Bottom to High-Speed Healing with Debora Wayne
08/12/2025
26: From Rock Bottom to High-Speed Healing with Debora Wayne
What if your chronic pain isn’t just physical — but deeply connected to your thoughts, emotions, and energy field? In this episode of Pay Attention, Holly McNeill sits down with Debora Wayne, founder of the International Chronic Pain Institute® and creator of the revolutionary HighSpeed Healing® method. After a spiritual awakening on her closet floor at 28, Debora began a journey that led her to heal herself and eventually thousands of others struggling with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and other “mystery symptoms.” Together, they explore: How unprocessed emotions, buried beliefs, and stuck energy can cause physical pain The science and spirituality of the biofield and quantum healing The connection between thoughts, illness, and the body’s messages Why the body does keep the score — but can also return you to peace and vitality How to break the cycle of pain without pills, wine, or constant distraction 🌟 Stay tuned until the end for a powerful, guided HighSpeed Healing® session with Debora that you can experience right from home. Let this episode be your invitation to finally feel like yourself again. 📌 Free Resources from Debora Wayne 🎁 Healing Bundle: 📷 Instagram: @deborawayne1 🌐 Website: 📌 Connect with Host Holly McNeill 📷 Instagram: @hollymcneillofficial 🌐 Website:
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25: What Your Dreams Are Trying to Tell You | Inside Holly’s Dreams (Part 2)
07/29/2025
25: What Your Dreams Are Trying to Tell You | Inside Holly’s Dreams (Part 2)
What if recurring dreams held the key to understanding who we truly are—and what we’re here to do? In this follow-up to their first conversation on dream tending, host Holly McNeill invites dream tender and therapist Valerie Johns back for a raw and revealing live dream tending session. If you’ve ever wondered who Holly really is beyond the mic, this is the episode. It’s raw, unpolished, and deeply personal—and through the process, Holly learns more than she expected. Together, Holly and Valerie explore: How live dream tending can reveal hidden wisdom within recurring dreams Why dreams often uncover unresolved identity, self-worth, and the longing for mentorship How the ego loses control in the dream state—and why that matters for personal growth How some dreams come from the collective unconscious, calling us to healing and action in the world This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a vulnerable, transformative experience that invites listeners to tend their own inner landscapes with curiosity and care. ✨ Haven’t listened to Part 1 yet? Go back and start there for Valerie’s full introduction and insights into dream tending. Connect with Valerie Johns: 🌐 📷 🔗
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24: What Your Dreams Are Trying to Tell You (Part 1)
07/15/2025
24: What Your Dreams Are Trying to Tell You (Part 1)
What if your dreams weren’t random at all—but meaningful messages from the deepest parts of you? In this two-part episode of Pay Attention, Holly McNeill sits down with dream tender and therapist Valerie Johns for a profound, soul-stirring conversation about how your dreams can support emotional healing, personal clarity, and spiritual growth. Unlike traditional dream interpretation, Valerie’s approach to dream tending invites you to form a relationship with your dreams—to listen, explore, and allow the subconscious to speak. She explains how some dreams come not just from the personal psyche, but from the collective unconscious, offering insight into what the world is asking of us and how we’re being called to act. Together, Holly and Valerie explore: Why we forget our dreams (and how to start remembering them) How to engage with dream images as living, healing messengers Why recurring dreams and nightmares are actually calls for attention, not fear How the ego has no control in the dream world—and doesn’t like it What skeptics often miss about the transformative power of dreaming Whether you’re spiritually curious or cautiously skeptical, this episode invites you to soften, look within, and start listening to what your dreams are trying to tell you—about your healing, your purpose, and your place in a world that needs your full presence. ✨ Stay tuned for Part 2 of this powerful conversation, featuring Valerie’s live dream tending session with Holly you won’t want to miss. Connect with Valerie Johns: 🌐 📷 🔗
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23: “Hey, Wait”: A Pause Practice with Jay Moon Fields
07/01/2025
23: “Hey, Wait”: A Pause Practice with Jay Moon Fields
In this episode of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill chats with Jay Moon Fields, a leading educator, coach and author. She stops by the show to discuss her Hey Wait framework, which teaches people how to honor their emotional experiences and share them authentically, helping them to break free from the cycles of overthinking, people-pleasing, and self-doubt.
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22: Orgasm Equality — Reclaiming Pleasure, Dismantling Shame with Dr. Laurie Mintz
06/17/2025
22: Orgasm Equality — Reclaiming Pleasure, Dismantling Shame with Dr. Laurie Mintz
Following last week’s conversation about trauma and body-based healing, this episode of Pay Attention moves us into the next essential layer: reclaiming pleasure. Holly sits down with Dr. Laurie Mintz—licensed psychologist, sex educator, and author of Becoming Cliterate—to explore how cultural conditioning, religious messaging, and gender norms have created a world where women’s pleasure is minimized, misunderstood, or steeped in shame. With honesty and clarity, Dr. Mintz breaks down the “orgasm gap,” the taboo around masturbation, and why so many women feel disconnected from their own bodies. She also shares practical, science-backed tools for cultivating sexual confidence and embracing self-touch as a powerful form of self-care. This episode is both liberating and grounding—a reminder that pleasure isn’t indulgent, it’s essential. And as Dr. Mintz powerfully states: pleasure is your human right. Includes candid personal stories, myth-busting insight, and empowering reflections on what it means to truly know and honor your body. Connect with Dr. Laurie: More about Dr. Laurie: Dr. Laurie Mintz is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Florida teaching Human Sexuality to hundreds of undergraduates yearly. She has published over 60 scholarly works and authored two popular press books: and . Mintz is a licensed psychologist and certified sex therapist in private practice. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, indicating her work has had a positive national influence on the field of psychology. In 2023, she was named one of Forbes “50 over 50” women innovators.
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21: Reclaiming Intimacy: Healing the Hidden Shame of Trauma with Juliette Karaman
06/03/2025
21: Reclaiming Intimacy: Healing the Hidden Shame of Trauma with Juliette Karaman
In this powerful episode of Pay Attention, Holly is joined by Juliette Karaman, mentor, hypnotherapist, and creator of the Touch Base method, to explore how trauma—especially sexual trauma—gets stored in the body and quietly shapes our self-worth, relationships, and sense of safety. Juliette shares her own journey of collapse and awakening, revealing how shame disconnects us from our bodies and our pleasure. Through somatic awareness and intentional micro-practices, she teaches us how to begin restoring emotional safety, presence, and trust—within ourselves and in connection with others. This conversation lays the foundation for the next episode with Dr. Laurie Mintz, where the focus shifts from healing shame to embracing sexual pleasure. Together, these episodes invite you to reclaim the parts of yourself that trauma made you abandon—and remember that your body, your story, and your pleasure are all worthy of care. 🌀 Includes Juliette’s “Touch Base” practice, the , and real guidance on how to reconnect to your body and reclaim your story. Connect with Juliette: http://linkedin.com/in/juliette-karaman-van-schaardenburg-89399913b More about Juliette: Juliette Karaman is a self-relationship expert, mentor, and speaker who helps high-achieving leaders, couples, and visionaries reignite intimacy, rebuild trust, and unlock deep, embodied pleasure through her transformative approach, Touch Base. With decades of experience, she creates safe spaces for healing, vulnerability, and pleasure to thrive. Drawing on somatic healing, Tantra, EMDR, hypnotherapy, and coaching, Juliette blends embodied wisdom with cutting-edge methods to heal trauma, dissolve blocks, and foster lasting intimacy and self-trust.
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20: Your Soul’s Secrets Are on File | Inside Holly’s Akashic Records (Part 2)
05/27/2025
20: Your Soul’s Secrets Are on File | Inside Holly’s Akashic Records (Part 2)
In this intimate follow-up to Part 1, we open the Akashic Records—literally. This episode features Holly McNeill’s actual reading with Akashic Records expert Jennifer ALLY Kern, paired with in-depth commentary that unpacks the insights as they unfold. From patterns rooted in Holly’s nervous system to the energetic meaning of eye contact and creative purpose, the conversation dives into how the Records reveal the truth beneath our habits, struggles, and untapped potential. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to access your Akashic Records, this unfiltered look offers a powerful glimpse into the process—and how soul-level wisdom can ignite personal transformation.
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19: Your Soul’s Secrets Are on File | Akashic Records Explained (Part 1)
05/20/2025
19: Your Soul’s Secrets Are on File | Akashic Records Explained (Part 1)
I’m excited to share this episode exploring the Akashic Records—an ancient concept that invites us to look at consciousness, memory, and energy through a broader lens. This conversation is part of my ongoing exploration of how science, psychology, and spirituality intersect to deepen our understanding of the mind. Have you ever felt like your life is unfolding from a script you didn’t write? The Akashic Records—often described as the spiritual “cloud storage” of your soul—may hold the answers. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Holly McNeill sits down with Akashic Records master practitioner Jennifer ALLY Kern to demystify this vast energetic archive and explain how anyone can access it. They explore how the Records contain the history of your soul’s journey, your karmic patterns, your soul agreements—and even the energy of your creative work and business. Whether you’re craving clarity, healing, or a deeper sense of purpose, this episode reveals how the Akashic Records can guide your next steps. Want to go deeper? Check out this video for more on what the Akashic Records are: 👉
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18: Today's Conversation Will Change the Way You Think About Self-Doubt
05/13/2025
18: Today's Conversation Will Change the Way You Think About Self-Doubt
What if you could finally recognize just how powerful you really are? In today’s conversation, Holly McNeil sits down with empowerment coach Dana Theus to unpack the deep, often hidden narratives that fuel imposter syndrome—especially for women. From generational beliefs encoded in our very DNA to the brain’s surprising loyalty to outdated programming, they explore why self-doubt clings so tightly and, more importantly, how to rewrite the script. This episode will challenge how you see yourself—and reveal the unseen power already within you.
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17: Speaking From the Soul with Cheyenne Moore
05/06/2025
17: Speaking From the Soul with Cheyenne Moore
Is self-discovery a destination, or is it something we’re constantly rewriting? In this episode of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill sits down with Cheyenne Moore—author, producer, and host of the podcast Safe Space with Cheyenne (a full-circle moment, since it was the first show Holly ever guested on!). Cheyenne brings refreshing wisdom to the conversation, speaking candidly about her journey of self-discovery, creativity, and spiritual growth. Growing up in rural Illinois, she found comfort and clarity in journaling and poetry—early forms of expression that would later evolve into her life’s work. Through her spiritual awakening and inner exploration, Cheyenne began to understand life as something much bigger than the human experience alone. In this episode, she reflects on the moments that shaped her voice as a writer and a creator, and how they led her to build Safe Space with Cheyenne, a podcast that celebrates vulnerability, truth, and the power of sharing stories. Feeling inspired? Make sure you connect with Cheyenne and tell her you heard her on Pay Attention! Linkedin: Facebook: TikTok:
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16: Healing Doesn’t Have to Take a Lifetime with Barb Varcl Smith
04/22/2025
16: Healing Doesn’t Have to Take a Lifetime with Barb Varcl Smith
What if you could heal in months what took someone else decades? This episode is for you. In this installment of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill sits down with Barb Varcl Smith—Trauma Therapist, international speaker, podcaster, mentor, and educator—joining from Scotland. Barb specializes in Complex PTSD, PTSD, and the coping mechanisms that support healing. She shares her powerful journey into the field of trauma recovery, which began over 30 years ago as a deeply personal quest to understand her own mind and heal from debilitating PTSD. Through exploring non-traditional modalities like Reiki, Tarot, the Osho Method, and the energetic properties of crystals, wood, and plants, Barb carved a unique path to recovery. Now, she’s dedicated to helping others fast-track their healing journeys—so they don’t have to spend decades doing it alone. Her book, Parenting with Purpose: Breaking the Trauma Cycle to Raise Happy, Confident Children, a step-by-step guide for parents seeking self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a nurturing approach to raising children will release soon. Feeling inspired? Make sure to connect with Barb and tell her you heard her on Pay Attention! LinkedIn: Facebook: Youtube: Website:
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