Practice You with Elena Brower
Content and conversations for times of transition and change. Join me in discussion with renowned luminaries and dear friends to explore life's myriad transitions, our understandings and our responses. What does it mean to be present, to shift our perceptions, to engage with the world meaningfully, with dignity and care? With respect for the ancient practices and the modern wisdom that continue to inform and elevate our exchanges, each episode is an invitation to Practice You.
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Episode 232: Jessie Harrold
12/20/2025
Episode 232: Jessie Harrold
For mothers, mothers-to-be and those supporting mothers: On matrescence as transformation; offering the Four Elements model as a map for the rite of passage that is motherhood. (0:00) – Introduction and Guest Welcome (1:16) – Importance of Rites of Passage (3:09) – The Four Elements of Radical Transformation (6:19) – The Earth Element: Grounding and Taking Stock (8:11) – The Water Element: Grief and Letting Go (15:19) – The Air Element: Liminality and Uncertainty (20:07) – The Fire Element: Exploration and New Beginnings (25:27) – Rituals and Practices for Self-Care (29:49) – The Mother Powers: Skills and Capacities (33:56) – Conclusion and Resources Jessie Harrold is a coach and doula who has been supporting women through radical life transformations and other rites of passage for over fifteen years. She works one-on-one with women and mothers, facilitates mentorship programs, women’s circles and rituals, and hosts retreats and nature-based experiences. Jessie is the author of the Nautilus Gold Medal Award-winning book, Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage (Shambhala 2024). She is also the host of The Becoming Podcast. Jessie lives on the east coast of Canada where she mothers her two children, writes, and stewards the land. Jessie is also the founder of the internationally acclaimed matrescence support program MotherSHIFT, and its sister program for perinatal professionals, The Village.
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Episode 231: Nevine Michaan
12/06/2025
Episode 231: Nevine Michaan
On participating in your life by orienting to practice; befriending time to stabilize your mind, meditating polarities to map your world. (0:00) – Introduction to Nevine Michaan and Her Journey (2:26) – The Katonah Yoga Calendar (6:36) – The Concept of Mapping in Yoga (16:48) – The Magic House and Personal Responsibility (20:55) – Balancing Self-Actualization and Interbeing (36:15) – The Role of Numbers and Measurement in Yoga (39:03) – Practical Techniques for Maintaining Energy and Vitality (39:16) – The Importance of Personal Responsibility and Discipline (39:33) – The Role of Myths and Fairy Tales in Understanding Yoga (39:51) – Final Thoughts and Practical Advice Born in Egypt in 1954, Nevine moved to New York at the age of three. In her early 20’s, while studying history and comparative religion at Vassar College, she discovered meditation. She understood that there is a function, a formality and a fit to the universe and that yoga is a tool, a technique – a practice with repetition which gives us the opportunity to participate in life with intelligence and joy. Nevine started a daily practice in NYC with renowned yoga instructor Allan Bateman in the 1970s and became fully immersed in what would become her life’s work. She began teaching yoga in 1978, and founded the Katonah Yoga Center in Katonah, New York in 1986. Nevine seamlessly relates her approach to yoga through comparing it to the likes of a musician. Her artful use of metaphor is one of her most well honed techniques when articulating her teachings, which are empowered by her practical approach to integrating the mind, the body and the breath. Nevine continues to teach both online and in person through her studio, the Katonah Yoga Collective in Bedford Hills NY and others throughout the community. and learn more about our
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Episode 230: Sara Bercholz
11/22/2025
Episode 230: Sara Bercholz
On supportive friendship, persistence, practice, and what it means to hold nothing. (0:00) — Launch of Elena Brower's New Book "Hold Nothing" (1:44) — Evolution of the Book Project (6:47) — Personal Stories and Vulnerability (9:56) — Feedback and Reflections on the Book (15:12) — Storytelling and Relationships (20:37) — Prompts and Practical Insights (32:07) — Final Reflections and Gratitude Sara Bercholz is a second-generation book publisher. She is co-owner and Publisher of her family business, Shambhala Publications. She is a Buddhist practitioner, yogi, cook, and outdoorswoman. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her two children, Milo and Dashiell.
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Episode 229: Deva Premal
11/08/2025
Episode 229: Deva Premal
On respecting the evolution of this life and consistently responding to the call of the brightest light of all. (0:00) – Introduction and Welcome (3:01) – Experience of Performing Live (7:24) – Deva's Connection to Miten (11:01) – Life on the Road and Practices (14:01) – Evolution of Deva's Work (18:18) – Collaboration with India.Arie (23:55) – New Album and Favorite Tracks (27:05) – Upcoming Tours and Retreats Deva Premal is a world-renowned, Grammy-nominated mantra singer whose ethereal voice and sacred chant-based music have touched millions around the globe. Blending ancient Sanskrit mantras with contemporary melodies, her work creates a powerful space for inner peace, healing, and spiritual awakening. In collaboration with her partner, musician/composer Miten, she has played a key role in bringing mantra music to a worldwide audience through concerts, retreats, and acclaimed recordings. Deva and Miten’s music is celebrated for its depth, purity, and universal resonance, making them beloved figures in the global yoga, wellness, and mindfulness communities. Deva's new album:
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Episode 228: Megan Dalla Camina
10/25/2025
Episode 228: Megan Dalla Camina
On practices of empowerment, support and the archetypes that instruct and inspire us to evolve. (0:00) — Introduction and Guest Overview (2:47) — Table of Contents and Initial Discussion (7:34) — Confidence Paradox and Internalized Patriarchy (11:08) — Archetypes and Inner Critic (21:47) — Motherhood Paradox and Reflection Questions (22:26) — Archetypes and Personal Growth (24:44) — Vision for Life and Financial Security (27:24) — Path of Purpose and Job Crafting (41:12) — Final Thoughts and Gratitude Megan Dalla-Camina is the founder of Women Rising, a global women’s empowermentcompany supporting hundreds of thousands of women through leadership, education, and transformational growth. A PhD researcher in women’s spirituality, she brings more than 30 years of experience in executive leadership and entrepreneurship into her work guiding women to reclaim their feminine power. Megan weaves ancient wisdom, embodied practice, and modern science to help women awaken to the truth of who you are. Megan is the best selling author of 4 books including Women Rising: The Forces That Hold Us Back, The Tools To Help Us Rise (Wiley), and Simple Soulful Sacred: A Woman's Guide To Clarity, Comfort and Coming Home To Herself (Hay House).
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Episode 227: Susanna Barkataki
10/11/2025
Episode 227: Susanna Barkataki
On staying true to the practices of yoga by living a life of conscious care and respect. (0:00) — Ignite Your Yoga: Introduction and Book Overview (4:26) — Cultural Appropriation and Service in Yoga (4:47) — Living the Yoga: Practical Applications (6:31) — Cultural Appropriation and Respect in Yoga Practice (15:03) — Inner Decolonization and Self-Care in Yoga (15:14) — The Four Stages of Sadhana (35:32) — Practical Tools for Inner Decolonization (40:53) — Reparations and Decolonizing Yoga Practices (42:42) — Resistance and Trust in Yoga Practice (47:55) — Final Reflections and Gratitude Susanna Barkataki is a yoga teacher, bestselling author, viral TEDx speaker, and currently pursuing her PhD in yoga philosophy. She is the founder of Ignite Institute and Yoke Yoga. Susanna's new book, , is a resource for teachers and practitioners alike, replete with prompts, practices, reminders, and respect.
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Episode 226: Heather A. Campbell
09/27/2025
Episode 226: Heather A. Campbell
On realizing that 'good' is actually more than enough, and the joy of letting go of the exhausting pressure we place on ourselves. (0:00) – Heather Campbell's Journey and Achievements (2:17) – Sharon Salzberg's Praise and Heather's Book (7:22) – Ready, Set, Recover: Heather's Initiative (12:22) – Heather's Personal Journey and Overachievement (21:53) – Parenting and Balancing Life (27:54) – Naming Inner Critics and Coping Strategies (44:13) – Heather's Book and Its Impact (45:43) – Final Thoughts and Encouragement Heather Campbell is a writer, motivational speaker, and CEO dedicated to making people feel seen, heard, and celebrated. As co-founder of Ready Set Recover, and former senior executive at ESPN and Audacy, she intimately understands the toll of overachievement—and the liberation that comes from letting go. Campbell holds an MBA from NYU, a BA from the University of Wisconsin, and after nearly 30 years in NYC now lives in the Berkshires with her husband, children and their dog, Tobin. Heather A. Campbell’s New Book, Good Is Amazing, challenges the Culture of Overachievement and Champions the Power of Good. What if striving to be “the best” is what’s actually holding us back? In a world obsessed with unicorns, GOATs, and relentless self-improvement, Heather A. Campbell delivers a refreshing—and bold—reframe: good is not just enough. Good is amazing. The relatable, hilarious, and heartfelt moments from her life—like when her mom begged her to become President of the United States, or when an ESPN executive casually told her to “just make the book a New York Times bestseller,” anchor a deeper message: the constant pressure to aim higher, do the most, and be the best is exhausting—and it’s not working. With wit, warmth, and wisdom, Campbell invites readers to consider a radical idea: What if stopping the chase for perfection and instead embracing good—the joy, simplicity, and genuine satisfaction it brings—is the real secret to success? Each chapter blends real talk, personal insight, and simple, actionable steps to help readers slow down, breathe, and reconnect with what really matters. Parents, professionals, students, caregivers, entrepreneurs—anyone burdened by the relentless pursuit of perfection—will find powerful inspiration here. Good Is Amazing is available now online at . To learn more about Heather or inquire about speaking engagements, visit
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Episode 225: Daria Burke
09/13/2025
Episode 225: Daria Burke
On the quiet work of befriending ourselves, and the remembered language of healing. (0:00) – Introduction and Guest Overview (2:47) – Daria's Childhood and Early Life (9:01) – Impact of Grandmother's Death and Early Loss (12:14) – Discovering the Truth About Her Grandmother's Death (20:14) – Intergenerational Trauma and Addiction (26:12) – Emergence and Mentoring (34:19) – Success and Ambition (41:48) – Meditation and Emotional Independence (46:13) – Letter to Her Mother Daria Burke is an American writer, speaker, and wellbeing advocate. A marketer by trade and a seeker at heart, Daria is a storyteller and sense-maker, weaving together personal experience and the science of healing and transformation to explore new ways of understanding how we choose who we become. Her debut memoir, OF MY OWN MAKING (Spring 2025), is a soulful and scientific exploration of overcoming adversity, healing from childhood trauma, and rewriting one's own story. As a Chief Marketing Officer, Daria was named a 2020 AdAge Woman to Watch whose work has been recognized by Women’s Wear Daily, Forbes, Vogue, Town & Country and the Cut. She has written for Fast Company, The Huffington Post, and Black Enterprise, and has appeared on The Melissa Harris-Perry Show on MSNBC. A distinguished alumna of NYU Stern School of Business (MBA) and the University of Michigan (BA), Daria was born in Detroit and now calls Los Angeles and East Hampton home. Daria's memoir Part memoir, part methodology, OF MY OWN MAKING is a soulful and scientific exploration of the power to shape one’s destiny and a fearless rallying cry to excavate and examine the stories that define our lives.
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Episode 224: Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
08/30/2025
Episode 224: Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
On healing our emotional biography, the unwounded soul within, and the choices we keep making to evolve. (0:00) — Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's Introduction and Background (3:35) — The Importance of Holding Ourselves (7:02) — Navigating Addiction and Hyper-Vigilance (8:33) — The Science of Happiness and Integrity (10:56) — Understanding Human Behavior and Emotional Intelligence (14:38) — The Role of Nature and Playfulness (15:32) — Navigating Personal Relationships and Trauma (40:01) — The Impact of Patriarchy and Toxic Masculinity (45:42) — The Importance of Self-Care and Emotional Regulation (46:00) — The Role of Playfulness and Humor in Emotional Health (49:08) — The Impact of Menopause and Andropause on Relationships Through the years, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau has had the occasion to meet inspiring world leaders — Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron, Pope Francis, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Michelle and Barack Obama, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, First Lady Jill Biden and President Joe Biden, and more — who've inspired her to bring about change and justice in the world. Sophie studied commerce at McGill University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Montreal, as well as a certificate from the Promedia School of Television and Radio. Deeply passionate about exploring the great outdoors, she loves sports, movement, and yoga. She's the former First Lady of Canada, and she's also certified to teach yoga for children and adults, practicing and guiding meditation and yoga nidra sessions to reset the nervous system and find calm. Her first book, Closer Together (Penguin Random House and KO Éditions), encourages us to better understand the mechanisms of our own personality and the quality of all our relationships — most importantly, the relationship we have with ourselves.
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Episode 223: Rosemerry Trommer
08/16/2025
Episode 223: Rosemerry Trommer
On the facets of grief, the joy in the depths, and the presence we bring. <ul> <li>(0:00) — Introduction and Guest Introduction</li> <li>(3:23) — Rosemerry's Son Finn</li> <li>(6:05) — Grief and Connection with Finn</li> <li>(11:53) — Exploring Darkness and Light</li> <li>(18:39) — Metaphors and Connection</li> <li>(24:30) — Meadow and Listening</li> <li>(28:15) — Talking to the Dead</li> <li>(29:53) — Rosemerry's Work and Resources</li> </ul> Devoted to helping others explore creative practice, Rosemerry is co-host of , a podcast on creative process, co-founder of Secret Agents of Change (a surreptitious kindness cabal), and co-leader of Soul Writers Circle. She directed the Telluride Writers Guild for ten years and co-hosted Telluride’s Talking Gourds Poetry Club for another ten years. She teaches and performs poetry for mindfulness retreats, women’s retreats, teachers, addiction recovery programs, scientists, hospice, literary burlesque and more. Clients include Craig Hospital, Business & Professional Women, Think 360, Ah Haa School, Desert Dharma, Well for the Journey, and the Women’s Dermatological Society. She performs as a storyteller, including shows in Aspen at the Wheeler Opera House, at the Taos Storytelling Festival, Page Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN. Her TEDx talk explores changing our outdated metaphors. For five years, she performed in the Telluride Literary Burlesque. She has been writing a poem a day since 2006, posting them since 2011 on her blog, A Hundred Falling Veils. In 2023, her poems can be heard daily on the Ritual app, The Poetic Path. Favorite themes include parenting, gardening, ecology, love, science, thriving/failure, grief and daily life. She has 13 collections of poetry, and her work has appeared in O Magazine, A Prairie Home Companion, PBS News Hour, American Life in Poetry, on fences, in back alleys, on Carnegie Hall Stage and on hundreds of river rocks she leaves around town. Her poems have been used for choral works by composers Paul Fowler and Jeffrey Nytch and performed around America. Her most recent collection, Hush, won the Halcyon prize. Naked for Tea was a finalist for the Able Muse Book Award. Other books include Even Now, The Less I Hold and If You Listen, a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. In 2023 she released All the Honey; Beneath All Appearances an Unwavering Peace (a book for grieving parents with artist Rashani Réa); a book of writing prompts, Exploring Poetry of Presence II; and Dark Praise, a spoken word album with Steve Law. She’s won the Fischer Prize, Rattle’s Ekphrastic Challenge (thrice), the Dwell Press Solstice Prize, the Writer’s Studio Literary Contest (twice) and The Blackberry Peach Prize. She’s widely anthologized including Poetry of Presence, How to Love the World, The Path to Kindness, Send My Roots Rain, Come Together: Imagine Peace, Dawn Songs, and To Love One Another. She’s been an organic fruit grower, a newspaper and magazine editor, and a parent educator for Parents as Teachers. She earned her MA in English Language & Linguistics at UW–Madison. One-word mantra: Adjust. Three-word mantra: I’m still learning.
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Episode 222: Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati
08/02/2025
Episode 222: Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati
On befriending the mind; when negative emotions have positive outcomes, and the practice of coming home to yourself. <ul> <li>(0:00) — Introduction</li> <li>(1:34) — Discussion on Sadhvi's Book "Come Home to Yourself"</li> <li>(3:05) — The Importance of Spirituality</li> <li>(10:58) — Bringing the Mind to Your Side</li> <li>(24:45) — Using Anger Constructively</li> <li>(41:07) — Daily Practice and Service</li> <li>(47:41) — Evening Routine and Community Involvement</li> <li>(49:57) — Closing Remarks and Future Plans</li> </ul> Bestselling author, a world-renowned speaker, serving on the United Nations Advisory Council on religion, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is a renunciate monk, living in an ashram on the banks of the Ganges River in Rishikesh, India. Originally from Los Angeles, California, and a graduate of Stanford University, she holds a Ph.D. in psychology and has dedicated her life to sharing the profound wisdom from the ancient Vedic tradition of India, as well as serving local communities. Her new book, Come Home To Yourself, is a journey through the heart of householder practices, befriending the mind, mastering the emotions and living a life of exemplary presence. RESOURCES
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Episode 221: Mara Branscombe
07/19/2025
Episode 221: Mara Branscombe
On embodying the creative, intuitive, fortifying feminine spirit at every stage of our lives. (0:00) - Introduction to Mara Branscombe and Her Work (2:01) - The Importance of Ritual in Daily Life (5:27) - Elemental Wisdom and Connecting with Nature (8:53) - Exploring the Archetypes in "Sage Huntress Lover, Queen" (14:58) - The Role of the Sage and Huntress Archetypes (20:20) - Navigating the Transition from Huntress to Lover and Mystic (29:41) - The Queen Archetype and Leadership with Love (32:32) - The Weaver Archetype and Centric Consciousness (35:49) Conclusion and Call to Action Author of Ritual as Remedy (Findhorn Press, 2022) and Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen (Findhorn Press, 2023), Mara Branscombe is a yoga and meditation teacher, author, artist, ceremonialist, and spiritual mentor. Teaching for twenty years, she runs international retreats, corporate leadership programs, and online personal development programs. She is a regular contributor for Spirituality and Health and Wanderlust, and lives with her husband and two daughters in Vancouver, Canada. Ritual As Remedy: Embodied Practices for Soul Care Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen: Access Your Power and Creativity through Sacred Female Archetypes
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Episode 220: Colleen and Jason Wachob
07/05/2025
Episode 220: Colleen and Jason Wachob
On our commitment to joy as key to longevity. On prioritizing curiosity, compassion and empathy for true well-being. (0:00) - Welcoming Colleen and Jason Wachob (4:04) - Overview of "The Joy of Well Being" (5:25) - Colleen's Story and the Importance of Breath (15:23) - Jason's Insights on Connection and Loneliness (21:15) - Real Food Chapter and Nutrition Philosophy (27:47) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts (34:29) - Closing Remarks and Future Plans Jason & Colleen Wachob are the husband and wife Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of mindbodygreen, the leading independent media platform dedicated to well-being with 15 million monthly unique visitors which they launched out of their Brooklyn apartment back in 2009. Jason is also the host of the popular mindbodygreen podcast, and together Colleen and Jason recently co-authored The Joy of Well-Being: A Practical Guide to a Happy, Healthy & Long Life. Colleen graduated from Stanford University with degrees in international relations and Spanish and Jason graduated from Columbia University where he played varsity basketball for four years.
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Episode 219: Nan Seymour
06/21/2025
Episode 219: Nan Seymour
On our imperiled bodies of water, focusing on the majestic Great Salt Lake, and the urgency of divesting from harm. (0:00) - Introduction to Nan Seymour and Her Work (3:18) - The Great Salt Lake and Its Significance (6:06) - Human Impact and Environmental Concerns (9:07) - Efforts to Protect the Lake (13:58) - Hope and Future Actions (18:23) - Nan's Poetry and Personal Connection (26:01) - Community Engagement and Future Plans (31:27) - Closing Remarks and Resources Nan created in order to foster voice and authentic connection. Everyone is welcome in her circles. This community-held writing practice was designed for anyone willing to pick up a pen. A recent highlights River Writing as a method of repair for what is broken in our relationship with the natural world. Her debut poetry collection, was published by Toad Hall Editions in the summer of 2021. Nan's story lake woman leaving, a modern myth, was awarded the 2022 Alfred Lambourne prize by Friends of Great Salt Lake. As the poet-in-residence on Antelope Island, Nan led day-and-night vigils on behalf of the imperiled Great Salt Lake throughout the 2022 and 2023 Utah State legislative sessions. During her weeks on the receding lake shore, she assembled the praise poem called , ;a collective love letter containing over 400 individual voices from lake-facing citizens. The epic ode is a community cry for this essential ecosystem's full restoration. In the May 2023 , Nan offers a reflection on relationship with the lake from the perspective of two winter vigils. Nan continues to advocate for legally defensible personal rights for ecosystems, including Great Salt Lake. Her work gives voice to their inherent right to live, flourish, and evolve in natural way. The words emerge from a devotion to repairing the breach between humans and the rest of the sentient, singing earth.
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Episode 218: Christie Tate
06/07/2025
Episode 218: Christie Tate
On the finer practice of friendship, tending to ourselves in order to be present, and learning what it means to be a good friend. (0:00) - Introduction and Author Background (2:48) - Discussion on the Book's Title and Theme (5:02) - Reflections on Meredith's Role in the Book (7:56) - Navigating Joy and Sorrow in Friendships (12:45) - Exploring Spirituality and Recovery (16:13) - Healing and Overcoming Envy (21:05) - Supporting a Friend Through Illness (26:39) - Maintaining Friendships After Loss Christie Tate is a Chicago-based writer and essayist. She has been published in The New York Times (Modern Love), The Rumpus, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Eastern Iowa Review and elsewhere. Kiese Laymon selected her essay, , as the winner of the New Ohio Review’s nonfiction contest, which was published Fall 2019. In this episode, we discuss B.F.F., her latest book, which strikes a deep chord of love and understanding.
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Episode 217: Chelsey Luger
05/24/2025
Episode 217: Chelsey Luger
On the ways in which we can respectfully learn from Indigenous cultures about creating instances of meaning, integrity, health and happiness. The Seven Circles encompass a series of interconnected, intersecting circles to help us all live well. (0:00)- Introduction and Guest Introduction (2:54) - Overview of "The Seven Circles" (3:49) - Movement as an Antidote to Addiction (10:28) - Connection to Land and Environmentalism (16:46) - Spiritual Aspects of Land and Prayer (21:46) - Ceremony and Its Role in Wellness (38:11) - Resources for Allies and Cultural Revitalization (38:42) - Final Thoughts and Gratitude Chelsey Luger is a writer, multimedia journalist and wellness advocate whose work focuses largely on reclaiming healthy lifestyles and positive narratives in Indigenous communities. She is Anishinaabe, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa (maternal) and Lakota from Cheyenne River and Standing Rock (paternal). She holds a BA in history and Native American studies from Dartmouth College, and an MS in journalism from Columbia University. Luger has written for the Atlantic, Self Magazine, the Huffington Post, Well + Good, Indian Country Today and more. She is a former VJ (on-air talent), script writer, and producer for NowThis News. She is a trainer/facilitator for the and is the cofounder of , an Indigenous wellness initiative. Luger has worked as talent, cultural consultant, producer, content creator and copywriter for brands such as Nike, Athleta On Running and REI. She is originally from North Dakota and now resides in O’odham Jeved (Arizona) with her husband, Thosh Collins, and their children. Chelsey and Thosh are the authors of now available everywhere books are sold.
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Episode 216: Ash Canty
05/10/2025
Episode 216: Ash Canty
On serving and shifting the narrative around death, dying and our transition to the other side. On entering into deep heart healing and becoming ourselves. (0:00) - Introduction (3:01) - Ash's Journey and Personal Background (7:04) - Ash's Work and Certification (13:13) - Ash's Approach to Death Coaching (14:57) - Stories of Helping Clients (29:25) - Ash's Retreats and Private Spiritual Coaching (39:05) - The Impact of Healing on Generations (43:25) - Final Thoughts and Gratitude Ash Canty is a wonderfully queer, Afro-Indigenous-made Psychic Medium and Death Walker, supporting others to consciously and gracefully face their death. Ash's work serves those actively dying as well as those wishing to feel more connected to their own spirit in everyday life. Ash also supports you in connecting with loved ones with mediumship readings, guiding you in transforming your grief into even deeper wells of meaning and aliveness. This work of walking with grief and death found Ash after being diagnosed and hospitalized with a chronic illness called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. It was in their most challenging days and scariest moments where death was close---that Ash realized what it was they would offer to this world. "It was when I began to face my own death from my long term chronic illness that I was initiated in the astral plane by my grandmother Ida Canty, who was in spirit. She told me I would be supporting others in the physical world, lessening their fear of death and being a bridge of communication from the spirit realm to this physical realm." Certified as a death care provider through Alua Arthur's Going With Grace program, Ash's hope and prayer is to bring about healing from the other side and a profound peace regarding life after death.
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Episode 215: Philipp Samor von Holtzendorff-Fehling
04/26/2025
Episode 215: Philipp Samor von Holtzendorff-Fehling
On remembering our original state; the use of quantum energy to boost regenerative competency and overall health. (0:00) - Introduction to Philip von Holtzendorf-Fehling (2:47) - Understanding Quantum Energy (4:21) - Practical Applications of Quantum Energy (10:55) - Impact of Quantum Energy on Water and Food (15:27) - Scientific Evidence and Research (21:04) - Personal Experiences and Practical Uses (23:01) - Accelerating Cell Recovery and Physical Benefits (29:19) - Spiritual and Consciousness Benefits Philipp Samor von Holtzendorff-Fehling is a coach, conscious entrepreneur, and energy healer. In parallel to a successful international business career, he constantly worked through blockages and barriers that had prevented him from fully connecting with his true self. With that, he also started to see energy fields and developed his unique skills as a healer, and he went through two decades of training in shamanic and other energy healing practices. During his business career, he's worked as an executive for several companies, including T-Mobile International and T-Mobile US, where he served as Vice President. He’s the founder and CEO of Leela Quantum Tech and Quantum Upgrade. While he’s also a passionate bio- and bio-energy hacker in his personal life, he’s also a kundalini yoga teacher, a father of two, loves dogs, and is currently No. 2 in the Tennis Senior US Nationals (Men's 50). Code ELENA means 10% off.
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Episode 214: Shirin Etessam
04/12/2025
Episode 214: Shirin Etessam
On the six key steps to freeing ourselves from the inside out. (1:44) - Overview of "Free to Be" (4:02) - Heart Detox and Self-Care (6:21) - Body Detox and Self-Care (8:58) - The Role of Play in Neuroplasticity (13:28) - Finding Your True North (15:28) - Rewriting Your Story (20:01) - Conclusion and Closing Remarks A proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Shirin Etessam is an entrepreneur, producer, creator and founder. Shirin founded OML TV, a popular platform dedicated to streaming and curating quality, queer female content, and OML Originals, a female-led production company telling diverse female stories through a vast spectrum of film and television genres. Her book leads us away from the prioritization of accomplishment toward a simple, structured, six-week reset for mind, heart and body. Shirin lives in Marin County with her wife and two children.
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Episode 213: Mallory McDuff part 2
03/29/2025
Episode 213: Mallory McDuff part 2
On our last best act, planning for the end of our lives and aligning our end-of-life choices with our values. Exploring new, sustainable practices such as green burial, aquamation, conservation cemeteries, home funerals and human composting. (0:00) - Introduction and Background of Mallory McDuff (2:05) - Defining Green Burials and Their Importance (5:47) - Exploring Cremation and Aquamation (14:06) - Choosing a Green Burial Site (29:53) - Personal Stories and Final Wishes (36:28) - Practical Considerations and Resources (36:39) - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks In this second conversation with Mallory McDuff, environmental education professor, we discuss her book, Our Last Best Act. She is the author of four books, with essays featured in the New York Times, The Washington Post and more.
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Episode 212: Mallory McDuff part 1
03/15/2025
Episode 212: Mallory McDuff part 1
On the women who've designated themselves as voices for the Earth and prioritizing joy amidst the truths of our times. (0:00) - Introduction to Mallory McDuff and the Podcast (1:52) - Hannah Herman's Connection to Mallory McDuff (4:49) - The Power of Climate Storytelling (6:20) - Colette Pichon Battle's Story (12:03) - Ayanna Elizabeth Johnson's Focus on Ocean Justice (24:50) - Mari Copeny's Activism in Flint, Michigan (36:11) - Kendra Pinto's Fight Against Fracking in New Mexico (44:55) - Conclusion and Call to Action Mallory McDuff discovered the field of Environmental Education as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Central African Republic, where she saw the critical importance of integrating local communities in conservation. She's the author of four books examining the intersection of spirituality and the climate crisis: (OUP, 2010), (New Society Press, 2012), (Broadleaf Books, 2021), and (Broadleaf Books, 2023). She also co-authored a book for practitioners (OUP, 2015) and written more than 50 essays for the New York Times, Washington Post, WIRED, Newsweek, and more. In this episode, we discuss Love Your Mother. Much of her writing draws on her life at Warren Wilson College, where she lives with her two daughters. In her classes, students collaborate with diverse community partners—from youth to senior citizens—to teach and learn together using the forests, farms, and fields of the campus.
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Episode 211: Alua Arthur
03/01/2025
Episode 211: Alua Arthur
On living your fullest life so you can meet the end with grace. (0:00) - Introduction and Book Reading (2:08) - Alua's Journey from Law School to Death Doula (3:57) - Meeting Jessica and Reflecting on Judgments (7:04)- Alua's Background and Going with Grace (9:23) - Alua's Childhood and Adaptability (12:47) - Life in Los Angeles and Death Doula Work (14:37) - Peter's Illness and Its Impact (18:11) - Reflecting on Peter's Death (20:02) - Alua's Family and Legacy (24:43) - Final Thoughts and Resources Author of BRIEFLY PERFECTLY HUMAN: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End, Alua Arthur is the most visible death doula in America today. A recovering attorney and the founder of Going with Grace, a death doula training and end-of-life planning organization, Alua has been featured on The Doctors and in Disney's Limitless docu-series with Chris Hemsworth, as well as Vogue, InStyle, the Los Angeles Times, The Cut, The New Yorker, and the New York Times. Her TED talk entitled “Why Thinking About Death Helps You Live a Better Life,” went online in July 2023 and has already received over 1.5 million views. Alua has appeared on dozens of podcasts, and a Refinery29 video feature on Arthur and her work received ten million views across social platforms. For her clients and everyone who has been inspired by her humanity, Alua Arthur is a friend at the end of the world. As our country’s leading death doula, she’s spreading a transformative message: thinking about your death—whether imminent or not—will breathe wild, new potential into your life. Warm, generous, and funny AF, Alua supports and helps manage end-of-life care on many levels. The business matters, medical directives, memorial planning; but also honoring the quiet moments, when monitors are beeping and loved ones have stepped out to get some air—or maybe not shown up at all—and her clients become deeply contemplative and want to talk. Aching, unfinished business often emerges. Alua has been present for thousands of these sacred moments—when regrets, fears, secret joys, hidden affairs, and dim realities are finally said aloud. When this happens, Alua focuses her attention at the pulsing center of her clients’ anguish and creates space for them, and sometimes their loved ones, to find peace. , Alua's work Alua's TED Talk: This has had a profound effect on Alua, who was already no stranger to death’s periphery. Her family fled a murderous coup d’état in Ghana in the 1980s. She has suffered major, debilitating depressions. And her dear friend and brother-in-law died of lymphoma. Advocating for him in his final months is what led Alua to her life’s calling. She knows firsthand the power of bearing witness and telling the truth about life’s painful complexities, because they do not disappear when you look the other way. They wait for you. Briefly Perfectly Human is a life-changing, soul-gathering debut, by a writer whose empathy, tenderness, and wisdom shimmers on the page. Alua Arthur combines intimate storytelling with a passionate appeal for loving, courageous end-of-life care—what she calls “death embrace.” Hers is a powerful testament to getting in touch with something deeper in our lives, by embracing the fact of our own mortality. “Hold that truth in your mind,” Alua says, “and wondrous things will begin to grow around it.
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Episode 210: Chazz Scott
02/15/2025
Episode 210: Chazz Scott
On the gift of childlike faith, guarding your mind and the crucial connection between your well-being and your success. (0:00) - Introduction (2:50) - Chaz's Journey to Writing the Book (5:40) - Guard Your Mind and Meditation (12:09) - Self-Talk and Affirmations (16:13) - Work toward ascension and childlike faith (21:58) - Success and Self-Care (26:33) - Conclusion and Call to Action Chazz Scott is an author, speaker, mindset and resilience coach. He is the founder of Supra Mentem, a consulting firm specializing in training leaders in peak performance, well-being, and sustainable success. His clients include the D.C. Hospital Association, the Maryland Association of Election Officials, and the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce. Chazz is the Executive Director of Positively Caviar, Inc., a nonprofit focused on using optimism to build resilience and disrupt youth mental health stigmas. He lives with his wife in the Washington D.C. area. Chazz is the author of his latest book, , which seeks to bridge the gap between wellness and accomplishment by illuminating a simple principle: our outward success is only as viable as our inner well-being. On Amazon:
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Episode 209: Arli Liberman
02/01/2025
Episode 209: Arli Liberman
On sonic gratitude, developing our deeper gifts, the peril of expectation, the potency of the present, and the beauty of self-acceptance. (0:00) - Musical Journey and Transformative Work (5:12) - Early Career Challenges and Breakthroughs (12:25) - Personal Transitions and Professional Growth (14:57) - The Power of Gratitude and Creative Process (15:38) - The Role of Meditation and Yoga in Creative Work (19:35) - The Impact of Friendship and Support (19:57) - Arlie's Musical Projects and Future Aspirations (20:21) - The Influence of Elena's Writing on Arlie's Music (20:42)- The Importance of Self-Acceptance and Present Moment Awareness Arli Liberman is an award-winning screen composer, producer and guitarist who creates vibrant, immersive music for film, TV, multimedia and live experiences. With an unwavering dedication to his craft, Arli's approach to music serves as a transformative force that resonates both on and off the screen. As a screen composer, Arli has worked on a wide range of films, including Sam Kelly's gang movie 'Savage', winning the 2021 APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award. In 2024, he collaborated with Tiki Taane to create the score to the historical drama in Te Reo Māori 'Ka Whawhai Tonu - Struggle Without End' directed by Mike Jonathan, with the theme song 'Hold On To The Dream' featuring Louis Baker, released as a single. Arli composed the original score for NZ film 'The Mountain' (2024), with music by Troy Kingi, directed by Rachel House and produced by Piki Films and Sandy Lane Productions. In 2023, he scored 'Stylebender' a documentary directed by Zoë McIntosh about Nigerian - New Zealand mixed martial artist Israel Adesanya, which was premiered at Tribeca Film Festival. His signature sound can be heard on the 36th America's Cup theme, the opening titles of the FIFA Women's World Cup, The All Blacks Experience at SkyCity, and in the Auckland Art Gallery's filmic exhibition Te Mata. As a solo artist, Arli is also prolific, with his fifth solo album coming out on Bigpop Records, in addition to creating a new collaborative album with renowned composer Rhian Sheehan due out in 2024. Arli's production work on Ngatapa Black's album 'I Muri Ahiahi' earned a nomination for Māori Album of the Year at the Aotearoa Music Awards, and he has performed at MoMA New York and the Montreux Jazz Festival, among other international festivals. Originally from Israel, Arli was a member of the groundbreaking White Flag Project, a pioneering crossover band uniting Palestinian and Israeli musicians. Under the mentorship of platinum-selling English record producer Mark Smulian, he was urged to 'find the back door of the electric guitar sound', which marked the beginning of Arli’s journey in developing his sonic identity. In 2009, Arli moved to Aotearoa New Zealand, where he continued to develop his innovative approach to music and began exploring the synergy between composition and visual storytelling.
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Episode 208: Rocío Marte
01/18/2025
Episode 208: Rocío Marte
On rest as our birthright and the vital importance of remembering to pause. (0:00) - Rest and relaxation with a focus on honoring ancestral heritage and claiming birthright to rest. (5:09) - Rest and self-care, with a focus on yoga nidra and inner peace. (13:06) - Rest and self-care with a meditation course and 21-day program. Born in the Caribbean Dominican Republic and living now in Mianjin/Brisbane, Australia, Rocío is dedicated to finding inner resources of ease. Offering Restorative Yoga, Meditation and Nidra for almost 10 years, building bridges with community and world, Rocío is a woman of color, devoted to honoring the space her ancestors missed to pause. Claiming rest today, she nurtures the lineage before her. She encourages us to "Think less. Feel more."
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Episode 207: Melissa Berry Appleton
01/04/2025
Episode 207: Melissa Berry Appleton
On growing up at fifty, practice as a modern-day chaplain and cultivating a domestic monastery. (1:48) - Parenting Practices and Transitions (3:51) - Addiction Recovery and Personal Experience (5:33) - Talking to Children About Addiction (10:02) - Living in a Domestic Monastery (15:24) - Marriage and Personal Growth (23:50) - Chaplaincy and Palliative Care (26:13) - End-of-Life Celebrations and Legacy (29:07) - Connecting with the Community and Future Plans Melissa Berry Appleton is a Buddhist Chaplain, lay ordained in the Soto Zen Prajna Mountain Order, by Roshi Joan Halifax of Upaya Zen Center. Currently serving as a Chaplain with the University of British Columbia Okanagan, British Columbia Interior Health Physicians and the clinical counselling and social work graduate intern practicum program, Melissa has worked as a front-line worker in geriatric cognitive impairments, palliative care, and residential treatment centers for addiction. Almost complete with her Masters of Clinical Counselling in Psychology she's practiced and taught yoga, somatics and meditation for more than 20 years. Melissa is mama to three incredible humans now launching as young adults; her deep commitment to practice in the Domestic Monastery is her greatest source.
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Episode 206: Octavia Raheem
12/21/2024
Episode 206: Octavia Raheem
On rest as the way to reclaim your brilliance, at the altar of now. (0:00) - Octavia's Background and Introduction (2:16) - Losing Parents and Spiritual Connection (2:58) - Rest as a Healing Practice (16:03) - Reading from the Book "Rest is Sacred" (16:19) - Personal Reflections on Rest (16:38) - The Power of Rest and Collective Care (27:01) - Daily and Collective Rest Practices (27:19) - Protecting Energy through Rest (31:57) - Practicing Self-Care and Listening to Oneself Octavia Raheem is a mother, author, yoga teacher and practitioner, and activist. She has received national attention for her work training yoga teachers and diversifying the yoga and wellness industry. Her work as a yoga professional focuses on practical tools to teach individuals how to manage stress, anxiety, and fatigue through yoga and meditation in a way that is accessible to all levels/abilities, and restorative to the nervous system. Her work has been featured in Yoga Journal, Mantra magazine, Well+Good, CNN, WXIA, and Atlanta Magazine. Excerpt from by Octavia F. Raheem: Divine One of Rest, You said come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. You said I will fight for you; you need only to be still. You said be still and know. And here we are. Here, being this portal within these pages. Here, being this place. Here, at this altar called right now. We come in gratitude for our Ancestors who are well enough in spirit to tend to our wellness. Because of them, we found a way to rest. We made a way to rest. We are here to reclaim rest as our birthright. Let it be so.
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Episode 205: Mirabai Starr
12/07/2024
Episode 205: Mirabai Starr
On the temple of your regular life, and the daily practices of attention, surrender and wonder. (0:00) - Introduction to Mirabai Starr and Her Work (2:16) - Discussion on "Ordinary Mysticism" (5:15) - Accessibility and Intended Audience of "Ordinary Mysticism" (7:18) - Personal Stories and Everyday Mysticism (11:34) - Mirabai's Identity and Role as a Young Elder (14:29) - Current Rituals and Spiritual Practices (19:03) - Memories from Taos and Early Influences (21:29) - Embodying Contemplative Practice (25:44) - The Practice of Wonder and Surrender (32:13) - Final Reflections and Mantra Practice Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author, internationally acclaimed speaker, and a leading teacher of interspiritual dialogue. In 2020, she was honored on Watkins’ list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People. Drawing from 20 years of teaching Philosophy and World Religions at the University of New Mexico-Taos, Mirabai now travels the world sharing her wisdom on contemplative living, writing as a spiritual practice, and the transformational power of grief and loss. She has authored over a dozen books including Wild Mercy, Caravan of No Despair, and God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Mirabai has received critical acclaim for her revolutionary contemporary translations of the mystics John of the Cross, Teresa of Ávila, and Julian of Norwich. Mirabai offers the fruit of decades of study, teaching, and contemplative practice in a fresh, grounded, and lyrical voice to a growing circle of folks inspired by the life-giving essence of feminine wisdom. Mirabai continues to teach seminars, workshops, and retreats, both in person and through her online community Wild Heart. She lives with her extended family in the mountains of northern New Mexico.
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Episode 204: Nisha Moodley
11/23/2024
Episode 204: Nisha Moodley
On the soul of our work, the re-indigenizing of our minds and the vital force of sisterhood. <ul> <li>(2:21) - Nisha's Background and Family Life </li> <li>(4:09) - Hiro Boga's Influence on Nisha's Work </li> <li>(7:55) - The Concept of Devotion and Partnership </li> <li>(10:43) - Civilization and Disconnection </li> <li>(15:26) - The Muse and Creative Practice </li> <li>(23:37) - Global Sisterhood Day and the Importance of Friendship </li> <li>(36:43) - Cultivating Friendship and Community </li> <li>(42:52)- Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts </li> </ul> Nisha Moodley is an integrative leadership coach that holds her work – and our collective work – within devotional, animist relational ways. Nisha has 15 years of experience leading mastermind groups, online courses, and nearly 60 retreats. She was first trained to work with subtle energy nearly 30 years ago, and has since received in-depth Health Coach and Executive Coach training, become a Family Constellation facilitator, and deepened her practice through breathwork training, Ancestral healing, and archetypal studies. All of these teachings and modalities (and others) are integrated for guidance that works not just on the level of mindset, but also through much deeper listening and moving. Nisha is the mother of two small children, a newbie land steward, constantly seeking to understand the deeper systemic and historical implications of the individual and collective challenges we face today, weaving those considerations into the work as well.
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Episode 203: Dr. Kamilah Majied
11/09/2024
Episode 203: Dr. Kamilah Majied
On bringing joy to justice; learning how to bear witness to our oppressive patterns and tendencies; fierce compassion as a quality of mind, heart, body and spirit. (2:41) - Engagement with Music and Nature (4:23) - Application of Enlightened Mind (9:06) - Oppression and Human Revolution (17:41) - Emergent Strategies and Joyful Just Action (28:38) - Fierce Compassion and Self-Care (37:54) - Language and Terminology (46:32) - Conclusion and Resources Dr. Kamilah Majied is a mental health therapist, clinical educator, researcher, and consultant on advancing equity and inclusion using meditative practices. Drawing from her decades of contemplative practice and leadership, Dr. Majied engages people in experiencing wonder, humor, and insight through transforming oppressive patterns and deepening relationships toward ever-improving individual, familial, organizational, and communal wellness. Author of Joyfully Just: Black Wisdom and Buddhist Insights for Liberated Living
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