The Light Watkins Show

After five years and nearly 300 episodes, I’m making a shift.In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why I’m stepping away from the podcast in its current form—not out of burnout, but because it feels complete. The conversations, the stories, the intention behind it all… it’s done what it came here to do.If you’ve ever found yourself holding onto something just because it’s familiar—or struggled with knowing when to move on—this episode is for you.I’ll share how to recognize when something meaningful has run its course, why alignment matters more than consistency, and what I’m choosing to focus on next.This isn’t a dramatic goodbye. It’s a graduation. And I hope it gives you language for your own next chapter—whatever that may be.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Tom Cronin, a former finance broker turned meditation teacher, shares his transformative journey from a nervous breakdown to finding peace through meditation. He discusses the effects of chronic stress and the importance of listening to one's intuition. Tom details his bold decision to bet everything on a documentary project that didn't go as planned, emphasizing how breakdowns can lead to profound breakthroughs. The conversation also explores the mix of ancient wisdom and modern science in healing the nervous system and pivoting toward a more purposeful life.

Jeff Krasno, co-founder of Commune and Wanderlust, returns for his third appearance on the show with one of his most personal and transformative stories yet.Despite leading two of the most influential wellness platforms in the world, Jeff found himself battling brain fog, chronic fatigue, weight gain, and even pre-diabetes. He had access to the best health experts and cutting-edge protocols—but like so many of us, he had normalized what he now calls a “patently abnormal” way of living.That all changed when he strapped on a continuous glucose monitor and saw the numbers for himself.In this episode, Jeff shares how he used what he calls “Good Stress”—simple, intentional challenges like cold exposure, time-restricted eating, walking, and resistance training—to lose 60 pounds, sleep better, regain his focus, and feel more alive than he had in years.This isn’t a conversation about biohacking or quick fixes. It’s about realignment—learning how to live in harmony with how the human body was actually designed to function.Listeners will come away with practical tools they can implement immediately, along with a new understanding of why modern comfort is quietly making us sick—and how to reverse that trend with small, consistent shifts.Whether you're feeling stuck, tired, or out of sync with your health, this episode offers a refreshing and actionable perspective on what it really means to feel well.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode, Light Watkins sits down with Sean Hoess, co-founder of Wanderlust—the global wellness festival that once redefined how people experienced yoga, music, and community. Sean shares his winding journey from burnt-out New York City lawyer to record label co-founder, and eventually to the unlikely creator of a worldwide movement focused on mindfulness and well-being.But what happens when your dream job starts to feel like just another grind?Sean gets real about the pressures of scaling a purpose-driven company, the quiet warning signs that something’s off, and the emotional toll of watching your creation grow beyond your control. He opens up about the moment he realized success didn’t always equal fulfillment—and how a global pandemic forced him to stop, look around, and ask a question most people avoid: “Why am I actually here?”The conversation explores how childhood patterns of self-reliance and creativity shaped Sean’s resilience, how deep friendships can evolve into business partnerships, and why it’s so easy to confuse growth with progress. He also shares what it was like navigating a professional split from his best friend and co-founder, and how that pain ultimately became the catalyst for something new: Eudemonia—a wellness summit that brings together scientists, spiritual leaders, and curious seekers in pursuit of a life well-lived.If you’ve ever wondered what to do when your mission starts to drain you instead of inspire you, or how to realign when your purpose begins to shift, this episode is for you.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, Light Watkins sits down with holistic health coach, author, and one-percenter Nate Ortiz. Nate’s life began in crisis—born with heroin in his system and abandoned in the ICU. What followed was years of instability: foster homes, abuse, addiction in the family, and the trauma of watching loved ones go to prison. But instead of letting that define him, Nate transformed pain into purpose.In this episode, Nate shares how he found his way out of survival mode by pursuing an unlikely dream—earning a full scholarship to the #1 basketball high school in the country—and how he turned that momentum into a life of service, coaching elite clients like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Cordae. He breaks down what’s really happening in your body when you’re stuck in fight-or-flight and why survival mode makes it almost impossible to think clearly or pursue your goals.Through grounded, relatable language, Nate reveals his original frameworks—the Stopwatch Method, Dream Team Jersey, and the One Percenter mindset—that helped him heal trauma, build discipline, and show up consistently for his purpose. Whether you’re burned out, stuck, or just trying to level up, this episode is packed with raw truth and practical tools to help you reclaim your power and rewrite your story.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this Plot Twist episode, former MMA fighter Justin Wren shares the incredible story of how he walked away from everything he thought he wanted—and found something far more meaningful. On the surface, Justin had it all: a winning streak, legendary coaches, and the fight of a lifetime in Tokyo with a six-figure payday. But inside, he was quietly unraveling—struggling with painkiller addiction, depression, and a deep sense that he was on the wrong path.Then came the moment that changed everything. Alone in his apartment, Justin said a prayer—and was met with a vivid vision of a forgotten tribe in the Congo rainforest. Weeks later, he found himself standing face-to-face with that very tribe, hearing the exact word he’d written in his journal: “Forgotten.” That uncanny synchronicity became the birth of his life’s mission: to fight for people who don’t have a voice.In this raw, heart-led conversation, Justin opens up about addiction, surrender, and how he learned to trust his gut—even when it made no sense. He also shares what it means to be of service, and why the most unexpected detours often lead to your truest purpose.If you’ve ever felt called to something bigger, this one’s for you.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this insightful discussion, Erin Claire Jones, a former corporate consultant turned Human Design expert, shares her journey of transformation from burnout to clarity. She demystifies Human Design, explaining its five types and how each relates to decision-making and relationships. Listeners learn how understanding their unique designs can prevent burnout and enhance personal dynamics. Erin also explores the mystical origins of Human Design and its practical applications in parenting and business, making this a must-listen for personal growth seekers.

In this solo episode, Light Watkins breaks down the real reason most people struggle with change—it's not a lack of motivation or discipline. It's the lies we keep telling ourselves without realizing it.Drawing from over two decades of personal practice and coaching thousands of people through lasting transformation, Light outlines the five distinct phases that every meaningful change journey goes through. More importantly, he reveals the hidden trap that keeps you stuck in each phase—sometimes for years.This isn’t about blowing up your life or waiting for a crisis to force change. It’s about waking up to the quiet moment when you realize you’re tired of your own BS. That’s when the real work begins.You’ll learn why your big plans often collapse after a week, how the “busy” excuse is just fear in disguise, and why real transformation requires putting something on the line—your money, your time, your reputation. Light also explains the crucial mindset shift that turns change from a short-term goal into a new way of life.Whether you’re stuck in a loop of starting over or just feeling called to level up in a sustainable way, this episode offers a grounded, step-by-step map for getting unstuck and moving forward. It’s not about changing everything overnight—it’s about choosing the next right action and building momentum one honest choice at a time.Tune in for relatable stories, hard-earned wisdom, and a powerful framework to help you finally become the person you know you're meant to be.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this special episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light brings together five individuals from his online coaching program, The Year of Transformation, to share what really happens when you commit to inner change — one challenge at a time.Each of these guests started the program feeling stuck, burned out, or simply craving something more. Over the course of a year, they all participated in dozens of seven-day challenges designed to spark personal growth without blowing up their lives. The result? Real transformation through small, consistent steps.From cold showers and writing poetry to letting go of vices and launching new creative projects, these participants pushed past excuses, embraced discomfort, and discovered parts of themselves they never knew existed. And they did it all while holding each other accountable through a tight-knit community that became like family.You’ll hear honest reflections on the obstacles they faced, the surprising breakthroughs they had, and the moments they almost quit — but didn’t. Whether it was giving up potato chips, performing stand-up comedy, or learning to forgive themselves, each story shows how powerful it can be to say yes to growth, even when you don’t know what’s on the other side.This isn’t about overnight success or radical life overhauls. It’s about the “tortoise approach” to change — slow, steady, and deeply effective. If you’re ready to create your own scavenger hunt for the soul, this episode will show you what’s possible when you show up for yourself.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Before Chad Caruso set a Guinness World Record for skateboarding over 3,000 miles across America, before the viral YouTube channel and the documentary, there was a broken-down car at 4 a.m., a failed breathalyzer, and a man staring down the barrel of a second DWI charge and possible jail time. That was Chad’s rock bottom—a wake-up call that pushed him to turn his life around.In this episode of The Light Watkins Show, Chad shares the raw, unfiltered journey of how that moment sparked his sobriety, how paying off $10,000 in legal fees with a minimum wage job set him on a path of accountability, and how leasing an iPhone kickstarted his YouTube career teaching skateboarding. But this isn’t just a story about skate tricks and social media growth—it’s about discovering purpose, self-mastery, and the power of committing fully to something you love.Chad opens up about what it really took to skateboard coast-to-coast without a support vehicle—just him, his board, and the open road. From averaging 55 miles a day to icing his battered feet in hotel sinks, to facing his fears of wild animals, silence, and exhaustion, Chad talks about the mental, physical, and spiritual grind of chasing a big, audacious goal.You’ll hear how his upbringing around Eastern philosophy and Buddhism quietly shaped his resilience, how sobriety unlocked new levels of self-awareness, and how the road tested him in unexpected ways. Chad also shares why community became a surprising highlight of the journey, with strangers showing up to support him in meaningful ways.Whether you’re in recovery, chasing a big dream, or just curious what it takes to do something extraordinary, this conversation is an inspiring reminder that you’re more capable than you think.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!