In this bite-sized Plot Twist episode, Light Watkins dives into the transformative journey of Doug Evans, a trailblazer in the health food world. After a series of devastating family losses to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, Doug’s perspective on health and nutrition shifted dramatically. These painful experiences set him on a mission to reimagine food as medicine, leading him to discover the power of sprouting—a practice he’s championed for over 25 years.Doug takes listeners back to the beginning, sharing how his journey started with an encounter at a nightclub that introduced him to veganism. He talks about the impact of losing loved ones, the challenges of questioning a lifetime of eating habits, and the powerful transformation that led to co-founding Organic Avenue, a pioneer in raw food and juice culture.The episode also unpacks the rise and fall of Juicero, Doug’s ambitious Silicon Valley venture that sought to revolutionize fresh juice consumption. With raw honesty, Doug reveals the hard lessons he learned from running a high-profile startup and how those experiences ultimately fueled his passion for sprouting.Listeners will be inspired by Doug’s resilience and creativity as he explains how sprouts—a simple, affordable, and nutrient-packed food source—became his ultimate calling. This episode is a testament to the power of turning failures into opportunities, challenging norms, and pursuing health in its purest form.If you’re curious about healthy living, the story behind sprouting, or the mindset needed to bounce back from setbacks, this conversation with Doug Evans is one you don’t want to miss.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this inspiring episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light sits down with transformational health and fitness coach Brix Glover for an honest and motivating conversation about achieving lasting change. Brix turned his own life around by losing 150 pounds, going from 360 pounds to stepping on stage in a fitness competition with a six-pack. Now, he’s on a mission to help others take charge of their health and transform their lives.Brix shares his journey and breaks down the realities of weight loss, emphasizing the power of small, sustainable habits over extreme measures. Listeners will learn the importance of creating "non-negotiables" in their routines, such as tracking food intake, setting boundaries with late-night snacking, and being intentional about their environment. Brix also dives into the emotional side of transformation, explaining how mindfulness and reframing failure can help conquer emotional eating and build mental resilience.The episode highlights practical strategies for better nutrition, like understanding calorie deficits, choosing whole foods, and even navigating fast food options in a healthy way. Brix and Light also discuss the critical role of sleep, the value of consistency over perfection, and how small wins can create momentum for bigger changes.Whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or looking for inspiration to stay on track, this episode is packed with actionable advice, heartfelt insights, and powerful reminders that transformation is about so much more than just the number on the scale. Tune in for an uplifting and empowering conversation!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this Plot Twist episode, Light Watkins introduces Dr. Robin Berzin, whose unexpected career pivot reveals how life's challenges can lead to meaningful transformation. After watching her grandmother's battle with preventable cancer and feeling unfulfilled in her role at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Robin realized she wanted to help people rather than prosecute them—a realization that would eventually revolutionize modern healthcare.Through a series of serendipitous events, including landing a volunteer position with Dr. Oz before his TV fame, Robin discovered her passion for making health information accessible to everyone. Her experience producing Dr. Oz's early radio show challenged everything she thought she knew about nutrition and wellness, opening her eyes to new possibilities in healthcare.The episode takes listeners behind the scenes of modern medicine, where Robin shares candid insights about the unsustainable reality of 15-minute doctor visits and the broken system that prioritizes quick prescriptions over lasting solutions. Despite facing criticism for choosing primary care medicine at Columbia Medical School—where a neurosurgeon dismissed it as "a waste of a spot"—Robin stayed true to her vision of creating better healthcare.Listeners will find themselves deeply invested in Robin's story of transformation, learning how personal experiences, including her grandmother's battle with cancer and her early exposure to integrative medicine, shaped her innovative approach to healthcare. This episode is perfect for anyone questioning their career path, interested in healthcare reform, or simply seeking inspiration to trust their instincts and make meaningful change—even when it means challenging the status quo.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light sits down with Dr. Frank Anderson, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, world-renowned trauma expert, and the author of To Be Loved: A Story of Truth, Trauma, and Transformation. Dr. Anderson has spent his career helping people heal from deep wounds of trauma, but his ability to connect so profoundly comes from his own personal journey of resilience and self-discovery.Dr. Anderson shares his powerful story of growing up in a household filled with pain, anger, and secrets. From his father’s outbursts of rage to his mother’s passivity, his childhood left deep scars that he later had to confront head-on. Through his work, he’s turned those challenges into a unique approach to healing—one that combines neuroscience, compassion, and the Internal Family Systems model of therapy.Listeners will learn why trauma is less about identity and more about what happened to you, how unhealed trauma shapes behaviors like overworking or even overachieving, and what the first steps are to begin healing. Dr. Anderson also dives into how his own experiences shaped his relationships, his parenting style, and ultimately his path to self-acceptance.This conversation offers hope, actionable insights, and a reminder that healing is not about erasing the past but finding a new way to live with it. It’s an inspiring episode for anyone seeking to understand trauma, navigate difficult relationships, or embrace their true self.Tune in for an honest and heartfelt discussion that just might change how you view your own healing journey.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this Plot Twist episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light Watkins sits down with Simon Hill to uncover the pivotal moments that led him to become a leading voice in nutrition and wellness. For Simon, the journey began with a family crisis—a heart attack his father suffered at the age of 41. This health scare became a wake-up call, as a cardiologist warned Simon that, due to genetics and lifestyle, he might face the same fate. Although the warning lingered, Simon initially pursued a career in sports physiotherapy, enjoying the fulfillment of helping athletes heal and perform. But a persistent curiosity about nutrition and its connection to heart health gradually shifted his focus.After an eye-opening experience with his brother’s dietary changes, Simon found himself compelled to dig deeper into nutrition science. What began as a personal journey to prove his diet was “right” turned into a full commitment to research, including earning a master’s degree in nutrition science.In the episode, Simon breaks down why understanding nutrition is far from simple, explaining the science behind food studies and why it’s challenging to determine what’s truly healthy. He talks about the importance of rigorous research, the evidence hierarchy, and what it means to “do your own research” in a world of conflicting dietary advice.Listeners will walk away with new perspectives on nutrition and gain insights into the discipline it takes to uncover the truth in a sea of information. This episode is ideal for anyone curious about the role food plays in their long-term health and eager to make more informed choices.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light Watkins sits down with licensed therapist, mental health educator, and author Israa Nasir to dive deep into the topic of toxic productivity. Israa recently released her debut book, Toxic Productivity: Reclaiming Time and Emotional Energy in a World that Always Demands More. Her story is rooted in personal experience, having grown up in a culture where productivity and achievement were prioritized above all else. Like many, Israa was driven to constantly push forward, only to face burnout and realize that nonstop productivity was not a sustainable way to live.Throughout this insightful conversation, Israa shares her journey of redefining success and self-worth on her own terms. She explains how she let go of her perfectionist tendencies and began prioritizing genuine rest and self-care, as opposed to the commercialized self-care that is often sold to us. Israa also discusses the impact of her cultural background on her mental health journey and offers listeners guidance on finding balance in an overwhelming world.For anyone who feels pressure to always be "doing more" or finds it hard to take a break, Israa’s insights offer a fresh perspective on why slowing down can actually help us live more fulfilling lives. Tune in to learn how to escape the traps of toxic productivity, redefine your values, and reconnect with a more intentional way of living. Whether you’re battling burnout or just looking for ways to simplify, this episode is packed with practical tips and relatable stories that will leave you feeling inspired to reclaim your own time and energy.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this Plot Twist episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light Watkins brings listeners the inspiring story of Christine Platt, a writer, speaker, and advocate for minimalism. Christine’s journey, shared through a heartfelt and relatable narrative, explores the defining moments that led her to rediscover her passion for storytelling and become known as “The Afrominimalist.”The episode begins with Christine’s early experiences—her unexpected choice to attend law school, becoming a single mother, and her determination to succeed as a young Black woman in a world where opportunities felt limited. As she navigates the high demands of her career in law, Christine begins to feel the weight of burnout and a growing lack of fulfillment. But then, after a life-changing divorce, she finds herself at a crossroads: surrounded by material items she doesn’t need, Christine faces the choice to either stay comfortable or completely redefine her path.When a friend invites her to join a 30-day writing challenge, Christine rediscovers her love for writing, unleashing a spark that sets her on a new course. This experience leads her to publish her first novel and embrace a minimalist lifestyle, which soon evolves into a larger movement around intentional living and her identity as The Afrominimalist.Light and Christine’s conversation is a powerful reminder of how “plot twists”—even those that seem daunting—can lead us toward a more authentic life. Listeners will walk away with insights on the courage to let go of what doesn’t serve them, the joy of rediscovering long-buried passions, and the beauty of simplifying life to make space for what truly matters. Whether you’re at a career crossroads or looking for ways to simplify, this episode offers inspiration for anyone ready to take a leap into the unknown.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light sits down with Mihalis Eleftheriou, the creator of the revolutionary language-learning platform Language Transfer. Mihalis shares his inspiring journey, from growing up in a multicultural neighborhood in East London to creating a powerful method for learning languages that’s changing the way people approach not just language, but communication and connection itself.When Mihalis first began learning Spanish, he noticed that traditional language programs were missing something fundamental: a real-world understanding of how the mind processes language. In a moment of frustration, he began to experiment with a different approach that focuses on translating thoughts instead of just words, allowing students to truly think in the new language rather than relying on memorization. The result? Language Transfer—a program that offers free courses in Spanish, French, Swahili, Greek, Arabic, and even music theory, all designed to make learning simple, enjoyable, and surprisingly fast.Throughout the conversation, Mihalis dives into his unusual journey, including his early experiences with activism and the cultural struggles that shaped his desire to create Language Transfer. He also opens up about the personal challenges he faced growing up, and how these inspired his unique perspective on learning, teaching, and living authentically.Whether you’re interested in language learning, exploring new ways to connect with others, or simply curious about how an idea can become a movement, Mihalis’ story offers inspiration, wisdom, and practical insights into following your unique path. Join Light for this fascinating, eye-opening discussion on how language can be a bridge to a more connected world.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light Watkins sits down with Tara Stiles, the pioneering founder of Stråla Yoga, to explore how she transformed a simple idea into a global wellness movement. Tara shares her journey from modeling in New York to becoming a yoga icon known for making yoga accessible, relaxed, and truly inclusive. If you've ever thought about starting something new or felt drawn to create a positive impact, Tara’s story is filled with down-to-earth insights and inspiring moments that might be exactly what you need to hear.Through her innovative approach, Tara made yoga available to people who thought they “weren’t yoga people.” She began by offering free classes in Central Park, which then led to the launch of Stråla Yoga in her apartment—a simple but powerful space where anyone could show up as they were. Light and Tara dive into the ups and downs of her journey, from her humble beginnings to building a studio without the traditional “rules” of yoga. Together, they discuss why charging for classes can actually create a stronger community and how keeping things simple often leads to the most meaningful impact.Listeners will hear practical lessons on following intuition, making wellness accessible, and building community without needing fancy equipment or big budgets. Tara’s story is a reminder that success doesn’t always follow a set path; sometimes, it’s about doing what feels right and watching something beautiful unfold. Whether you’re a yoga enthusiast, an entrepreneur, or someone just starting out, this episode offers refreshing, real-world advice on how to build something that matters.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this enlightening episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light Watkins welcomes back Reverend Michael Beckwith, renowned founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center and one of the world’s leading voices in modern spirituality. Reverend Beckwith shares how his understanding of spirituality has evolved over the years, moving from teaching concepts to fully embodying the wisdom he now offers to countless seekers worldwide. He opens up about the powerful shifts that transformed his spiritual practices, showing listeners how his journey continues to unfold in ways that deepen his connection to purpose, joy, and service.This episode goes beyond Beckwith’s well-known backstory to explore his newest insights on meditation, personal growth, and the art of finding meaning in a complex world. He dives into the nature of suffering, explaining why he believes it’s optional, and offers practical wisdom on approaching life’s challenges with greater awareness. For anyone curious about balancing purpose with financial stability, he breaks down how inner alignment can help cultivate abundance. The conversation also delves into relationships, exploring how our closest connections can become powerful spaces for spiritual growth and self-discovery.Beckwith shares relatable stories, humor, and deep insights, making this episode a treasure trove of accessible spiritual wisdom. Listeners will come away inspired to embrace their own unique journeys, empowered to shift their mindset around challenges, and equipped with simple yet transformative practices to incorporate into their daily lives. Whether you’re new to spirituality or looking for guidance to deepen your path, this conversation with Reverend Beckwith offers timeless lessons and practical takeaways for living a more fulfilled life.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!