The Light Watkins Show

What does it take to shift your path and find success in doing what truly lights you up on the inside? We are joined today by an amazing individual whose journey and dedication to pursuing meaningful work is something to be inspired by. Cole Cuchna is the host of Dissect, an incredibly well-received podcast aimed at countering our scrolling culture. A serialized music podcast where he examines a single album every season but doesn’t merely discuss the musical arrangements of the songs in these albums, but talks about the history, the culture, the philosophy, and the storytelling done by the musicians as well as the impact of the times in which those songs were created. In our conversation with Cole today, we hear about his childhood and significant moments that impacted his path through life, his thoughts on the hard-work ideology taught to him by his parents, and what eventually led him to leave his band and the touring lifestyle. He shares how he faked his way into his music program, the debate that ensued post-graduation, and the story behind falling in love with coffee. We then dive into the birth of Dissect, and he walks us through his process of gathering insights and interpretations for each song on the album. Cole’s story is relatable, and his journey is proof that you don’t have to choose between following your passion and paying the bills. To hear why he believes Beethoven and the likes stood the test of time, don’t miss out on this great episode. Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of The Light Watkins Show, we are re-airing the captivating interview with renowned film director Ava DuVernay. Known for her groundbreaking work in movies like "Selma" and "13th," as well as the hit TV series "Queen Sugar," Ava has become a force in the industry. Host Light Watkins takes us through Ava's inspiring journey, from her upbringing in South Central Los Angeles to her career in PR and her eventual leap of faith into directing and storytelling.Ava shares how she overcame challenges, downsizing her life and making sacrifices to pursue her passion for filmmaking. Despite picking up a camera later in life, Ava's dedication to telling diverse and important stories shines through. She discusses the creation of her nonprofit organization, Array, which focuses on distributing films by people of color and women.With numerous awards and nominations under her belt, Ava's message is clear: it's never too late to pursue your dreams. She emphasizes the importance of using your voice and platform to uplift others, a mission she has embraced throughout her career. Join Light Watkins as he delves into the remarkable life and work of one of today's most influential creative voices, Ava DuVernay.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In 2022, Marianne Williamson relinquished her bid to become the next president of the United States of America. There years later and this prolific author (affectionately known as Oprah’s advisor) is back at it again, this time in an attempt to don the nation’s presidential crown at the end of 2024. Marianne believes that the political status quo will not disrupt itself, so it’s up to spiritual candidates like her to bring about healthy, systemic change for all. Marianne joins Light on the show today to discuss how A Course in Miracles changed her life, the ins and outs of her decision to get into politics, why she believes that systemic change for the better is still possible, and how her current presidential race differs from the previous one. We explore the intrinsic link between spirituality and politics and how spiritual seekers can support their representatives, and end with a deep examination of the bipolar consciousness of America. Marianne is one of Light’s real-world inspirations and after you hear this enlightening conversation, she’s bound to climb up your list of motivational superstars! Enjoy.   Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

We are so happy to welcome back Martinus Evans, Founder of the Slow AF Run Club. Since our last conversation, Martinus' amazing journey and inspiring story have kept unfolding and progressing, and in today's episode, we speak about his new book, his online community, his different business avenues, and his perspectives on success right now. Martinus has always been about taking things to the next level, and that is probably why running is such a strong and apt metaphor for his life. We get into his thoughts on “going through the fire,” reliance on self, making the right sacrifices, and also how he schedules his time; all of which listeners will find highly actionable and motivating. Martinus unpacks his framework of values, goals, and habits, and how the synergy of these three components can truly drive you forward. If you want to catch it all from the one and only Martinus Evans, be sure to join us for this essential episode! Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Spiritual minimalism can be simply explained as minimalism from the inside out. It is seven basic principles that serve as a guideline toward doing more with less in an effort to live a more fulfilling life. Today, in Light’s 6th solo episode, he breaks down the seven principles of spiritual minimalism and how they can be used as a framework for understanding relationships. After introducing his upcoming book, Travel Light, our host explains the joys of flâneuring, why “relationships” is an ever-relevant topic, and why the illusion of separation can be a source of confusion in how you relate to relationships. Then, we explore the essence of minimalism before Light clarifies how each of the seven principles of spiritual minimalism can help you foster meaningful relationships. Ultimately, practicing stillness and cultivating your heart voice (the first principle) will activate all the other principles, as you begin to take action in nurturing the learning opportunities that come with every relationship while being deliberate to be present in every moment. And remember to pre-order your copy of Travel Light to stand a chance to win one of Light’s personal-item giveaways — each with its own unique and memorable backstory! Thanks for tuning in. Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Welcome back to the Light Watkins Show as we bring you the second half of Light’s chat with his father, attorney Donald V. Watkins. The conversation resumes with Donald explaining how going to prison as a Black man in the 1960s was as good as attaining a Ph.D. While in prison, Donald found himself rubbing shoulders with many innocent men who were mostly there as a result of poor legal representation. He took it upon himself to be their voice in the darkness and he describes the tactics that he used to free 47 of his fellow inmates, as well as the intricacies of why the criminal justice system in America is failing. We learn how the prison staff received Donald’s charity toward the other inmates, why he never stopped writing and publishing articles, how his legal acumen saved his life, and the best and worst moments of his time in incarceration. Our guest then shares some very useful tips for how to find and properly vet a lawyer that you want to work with, before detailing how he would change the criminal justice system and why his plan to own an NFL team is not as audacious as it seems when you consider his tenacity for working hard to get what he wants! Finally, after two remarkable, informative, and emotional podcast episodes, the sensational Donald V. Watkins offers some important advice for green-eared lawyers who are looking to make their mark on the world. Tune in for all this and more!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

This week’s episode is very special as Light finally gets to interview his lifelong inspiration: his father. It’s an absolute pleasure to introduce to you, Mr. Donald V. Watkins. Understandably, Light and his father have a lot to discuss, so the conversation with Donald will be a two-part series. In part one, we learn about Donald’s childhood of growing up in a close-knit community in the South during the civil rights movement, with loving parents who demanded a high work ethic, and with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a Sunday-school teacher and Rosa Parks as a close family friend!  Donald recounts his first memory of experiencing direct racism and how his teachers taught him to be resilient against it, before explaining how he got into architecture and why he eventually left it to study law. We hear about a special custodian who mentored the black students of Alabama State College, what Donald learned from his days as an attorney, what inspired him to run for city council, and how he fought back against police misconduct while he was in office. Donald’s life could be written as a movie, and you can get a glimpse of him as an attorney in action in Episode 4 of season 1 of the Netflix series, Trial by Media. We wrap up part one with Donald V. Watkins by exploring his incredible 154-case win streak, how he ended up in prison, and why he believes that prison was his finest hour as a lawyer. Be sure not to miss this riveting, wonderful, wholesome conversation, and be on the lookout for part two! Disclaimer: Please note that this episode contains graphic accounts of racism and prejudice. Please listen with care. Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today’s guest, Steve Izen, is a true inspiration who made his mark on the world by getting everyone around him to follow in his steps and embrace the idea of impermanence. After hearing of his grandfather’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Steve began to toil with the idea of how we are all constantly experiencing highs and lows and the aim is for us to find balance. That seed grew into his company Lokai, a bracelet brand that combines actual water from Mount Everest with actual water from the Dead Sea (the highest and lowest points in the world) to preach the word that life is ever-changing, and one should always seek internal peace and balance in an otherwise chaotic world. We talk about how Steve’s idea of success has changed from when he was younger to now, how he thought up Lokai, why many retailers rejected Lokai at the start, and how word-of-mouth was crucial to Lokai’s success. We explore the value of community, Steve’s hiring process and Lokai’s manufacturing process, why Steve prioritizes family and friends over everything else, and the ins and outs of the other company he founded, Elements of Balance. Steve truly is an example of how to work hard, earn well, and give money to charity and time to the people you love. You do not want to miss this remarkable conversation!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of the podcast, host Light Watkins is in conversation with Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith. Beckwith is the founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, California, which has a congregation of over 9,000 people a week. He is also known for his work in the film and book called The Secret, which is about the law of attraction.The episode dives into Beckwith's life story and his journey toward spirituality. He shares how he found his calling and created the Agape International Spiritual Center, as well as the foundational principles of affirmative prayer. Beckwith's experience growing up in a family with a probate officer turned judge father and a mother with psychic powers also shaped his perspective on life and spirituality.The conversation covers Beckwith's new podcast, Take Back Your Mind, which is designed to guide listeners back to their minds and away from worry, doubt, and fear. The episode is full of inspirational stories and insights that will leave listeners feeling empowered and motivated to live their best lives. If you're looking for a transformative and inspiring conversation, this episode with Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith is not to be missed.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

The natural world has so much to teach us, and the different ways we are able to interact with it in the modern context, offers endless inspiration. Today on the show we welcome documentary filmmaker, Louie Schwartzberg, to talk about his intriguing life and career, and what has inspired his amazing films, such as Fantastic Fungi and Gratitude Revealed. The child of Holocaust survivors, Louie felt the impact of his family's trauma acutely, and in our chat, he talks about how this shaped many parts of his upbringing, in both positive and negative ways. He shares his recollections of his early fascination with plants and film and the events that led up to his exploring early time-lapse photography.Louie underlines his prioritization of learning through watching and doing, and his desire to tell different kinds of stories. We also get into the practical steps that allowed him to build a career and reputation. Louie remains hopeful of building a movement that can change the world and believes that our gratitude is central to this project. So to hear it all from this amazing guest, be sure to tune in!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!