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The Light Watkins Show

Latest episodes

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Jan 4, 2023 • 1h 28min

137: Humble the Poet on How to Be Love(d) and Why Love Is Not Complicated

In a creative landscape dominated by social media and online marketing, real and original artists can have a hard time finding their audience and maintaining a career. But that does not mean it is impossible, and today's guest is an example of how authenticity and hard work can pay off and allow a great connection with the right kind of audience. Humble the Poet joins us for a fascinating conversation in which we explore his winding path, the ups and downs, and some of the pivotal moments that he has experienced. Now the author of three books, including his latest, How to Be Love(d). Humble has so many great insights into this central topic of human life, and shares some of the lessons he has learned on his own journey about what we get wrong, why it feels so complicated, and what love actually means!We also get to talk about some of the people that have helped Humble along the way, from friends and family to heroes and influences, before our guest leaves us with some great food for thought about radical honesty and success. To hear all this and so much more, be sure to listen in today!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!
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Dec 28, 2022 • 2h 20min

136: A 2022 Retrospective - Making Something From Nothing Featuring Sebastian Terry, Agapi Stassinopoulos, Shaka Senghor, Ken Nwadike Jr., J Smiles, & Joseph Bradford III

Life is full of ups and downs, but how we choose to overcome challenges defines who we are. Today is the annual complication episode, and the theme for this year's wrap-up is “Making Something Out of Nothing." Hear clips from the most memorable moments from the show about people overcoming incredible odds to fulfill their dreams. In this episode, you will hear from Sebastian Terry who created 100things, best-selling author Agapi Stassinopoulos, ex-prisoner turned writer Shaka Senghor, “Free Hugs Guy” Ken Nwadike Jr., conscious comedian J Smiles, and B.A.R.E Truth Founder Joseph Bradford. In the clips, you will hear how each guest was able to find their inner calling and overcome extreme challenges to realize their passion. Their stories demonstrate how we are usually not prepared to do the things we desire but that a leap of faith is required to begin the journey, no matter how small your resources are. Tune in, get inspired, and start taking your first steps toward making something out of nothing!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!
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Dec 21, 2022 • 1h 26min

135: Steven Pressfield on the Origin Story Behind Overcoming Resistance, Listening to the Muse, and Living as an Artist

As a bestselling author, today's guest is no stranger to the inner resistance that can hamper your creative journey. Regular listeners might recognize our guest Steven Pressfield, not just from his work as a bestselling author of titles like The War of Art and Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be, but also from his previous appearances on The Light Watkins Show. Not only has Steven produced a wealth of engrossing works of fiction and non-fiction, he has also written extensively about the writing process, overcoming resistance, and what it means to create art. His non-fiction work has helped countless artists and writers (including our very own Light Watkins) overcome their inner resistance, find their voice, and share their truth through their chosen art form. In today’s conversation, we discuss Steven’s latest book Govt Cheese: A Memoir and what inspired him to write it. Steven goes on to expand on why he is a big proponent of listening to the muse when inspiration strikes, and how your ego can get in the way of the writing process. We also discuss the types of journeys that artists need to go on, why the artist’s life may seem boring at times, and some of the key lessons Steven learned about the writing process from mentors throughout his life. Today’s episode covers a range of topics; from spirituality to trucking, and is filled with special anecdotes and insights from Steven’s life, so be sure to tune in for all the fascinating details!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!
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Dec 14, 2022 • 1h 20min

134: Sherry Walling on How to Grieve Well and Normalize the Hard Conversations Around Suicide, Loss, and Trauma

Joining us today is Clinical Psychologist and the Author of Touching Two Worlds, Dr. Sherry Walling. Dr. Sherry has been treating patients for trauma, stress, and grief for over 20 years, and in 2017, the loss of her father and brother gave her a front-row seat to the type of devastation she’d been helping others navigate. She combined what she’d learned when studying both theology and psychology with her own personal experience, to develop a memoir that is as heart-wrenching and personal as it is informative and cathartic. We talk about understanding depression as a disease, how to be present in both grief and joy, why healing requires truth-telling, and how to speak to your kids about grief and loss. Dr. Sherry then explains why we need to change the societal narrative around suicide, the best practices when you are experiencing grief, how to speak to someone when they are grieving, and how the circus can be way more than just comical relief! Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for loss, depression, and suicide. Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!
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Dec 7, 2022 • 1h 34min

133: Neil Pasricha on the Art of Noticing Awesome Things that Bring You Joy

You don’t need to lose 15 pounds, visit the seven wonders of the world, go on lavish wellness retreats, or earn a six-figure salary to be happy. In fact, Neil Pasricha believes that it’s much, much simpler than that! Neil is a leadership keynote speaker, New York Times bestselling author, and positive psychology researcher whose work focuses on gratitude, happiness, failure, and resilience. Ranked as one of the most inspiring TED Talk speakers of all time, Neil has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people around the world about cultivating a positive mindset using daily gratitudes. His now wildly popular blog, 1000 Awesome Things, started as an attempt to pick himself up after his divorce and a close friend's suicide, and has evolved into a series of internationally acclaimed books and a deeper understanding that happiness is a journey, not a destination. Today, you’ll gain some insight into Neil’s backstory, from his struggles with self-confidence to how he turned his side hustle into a successful career as an “intentional living guru,” plus so much more! No matter who you are or what your journey is, you will find valuable nuggets of wisdom in today’s episode. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget the unassuming things that make us smile. But in a world that is often overwhelming, Neil Pasricha reminds us of the power of celebrating the simple, awesome things that are all around us; if we’d just take a moment to notice them.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!
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Nov 30, 2022 • 1h 20min

132: Mudslide Survivor and Trauma Expert Mary Firestone on How to Heal From Tragedy

Today’s guest is the wonderful writer and founder of Firestone Sisters, Mary Firestone. Mary is here to tell us about a series of traumas that she has experienced throughout her life and how she overcame them on her path to healing. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Mary’s family, her childhood and early adult life, her studies in psychology, and why she decided to venture down that road. She shares a potentially triggering and emotional account of being molested as well as her life-threatening experience of being caught in the Montecito mudslide that tore through her home in 2018. Join us as we discuss what Mary believes trauma is, how she began practicing healing modalities, her experience in shamanism, and what she believes it means to be healed. Mary is an incredibly inspirational person dedicated to helping people work through their trauma in order to become “initiated" into their true selves. She tells us why she believes her life was divinely protected in the mudslide, why she does not want people to see themselves as victims, and why our bodies are our true homes, plus she shares her perspective on luck, how her experiences have helped her in her coaching, and so much more. Mary has just written a book called Trusting the Dawn, and today, she also lets us in on why she decided to write about her trauma, where the book’s name came from, and what she hopes to achieve with it. To hear this truly inspirational conversation about how trauma ignites the beginning of true living, press play now!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!
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Nov 23, 2022 • 1h 28min

131: Ayurvedic Master Dylan Smith on Finding Your Dharma and Pursuing Your Calling

Today’s guest, Dylan Smith, started his first Ayurvedic practice from his bedroom at his parent’s house at the tender age of 19! He has now become an expert at using Ayurvedic techniques to treat stress, fatigue, digestive problems, back strains, and many others. Giving up his pursuit of a degree in architecture, Dylan traveled to India to take advantage of the free accommodation that came with staying with his mom and ended up leaving Southeast Asia with so much more than he bargained for! He describes his childhood and how he understood meditation from a young age, before explaining his relationship with the legendary Thom Knoles, how cancer brought his family closer to Ayurveda, how Deepak Chopra’s words changed his life, and whether Ayurvedic practices are spiritual, scientific, or both. Pulse diagnosis is an important aspect of Dylan’s work and after describing exactly what it is and why it’s extremely beneficial, our guest explains how he relates to everything he learned during his time in India and why it will always be a part of his life. We discuss why Ayurveda is for everyone, how to align your body with nature, why the skin is so important and how it relates to oils, and what you need to look out for when trying to identify an authentic Ayurvedic doctor. Our guest confirms that fasting can be a powerful way of achieving good health, but only when done correctly. We end our fascinating conversation with Dylan’s perception of success from the viewpoint of an Ayurvedic practitioner, while hearing all about the learning courses and treatments that he and his clinic have on offer. Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!
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Nov 16, 2022 • 1h 53min

130: Dr. Robynne Chutkan on How to Become Anti-Viral By Living Dirty and Eating Clean

The topic of gut health and the importance of our gut microbiome have been gaining more and more traction in the last decade or so. Before that, there was very little attention paid to the way in which our diet and healthy bacteria impacted all the others parts of our body and mind. This is the area that Dr. Robynne Chutkan has dedicated herself to exploring and illuminating, something she has done through her patient practice, as well as in a number of books that she has published. In today's chat with the gastroenterological expert, we get to go deep into the human digestive system, with Dr. Chutkan talking about pooping, bloat, sleep, sickness, immune systems, and much more. She also explains why certain products and medications should be avoided when possible, and how small changes to our eating habits can make a huge difference. The passion and energy that Dr. Chutkan possesses for this subject is truly inspiring, and so desperately needed if we are to really make progress in the important area of human health. Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!
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Nov 9, 2022 • 1h 20min

129: Danielle LaPorte on How To Be Loving, Forgiving, and Other Hard Things

Today on the show, we welcome the wonderfully inspiring and honest Danielle LaPorte, whose journey has seen many seasons and contrasting terrains. In our chat, we get to hear all about Danielle's prioritization of healing and how this relates to love and living a good life. We also get to discuss some principles from a few of her books, including her most recent work, How to Be Loving. Danielle opens up on the important yet sometimes misunderstood concepts of gentleness, awareness, goals, and success and even shares some great practical advice for dealing with breakups! So if you want to hear it all from this spiritual sister to this podcast, make sure to tune in now.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!
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Nov 2, 2022 • 1h 34min

128: Pam Grout Uses E-Squared to Prove that Our Thoughts Create Our Reality (Replay)

Today I am re-airing one of my earlier episodes with someone who has changed the way that I see the world. Her name is Pam Grout, and for those of you who don't know, Pam is a New York Times bestselling author, a travel blogger who has visited every continent except for Antarctica, and a student of A Course in Miracles.In this episode, Pam talks candidly about the loss of her daughter, the little rituals they shared, and how she coped with the grief of her daughter’s passing. She shares the wisdom that she's gleaned from her adventures and from the rocky parts of her journey as well, because, even for those who know full well that we co-create our reality, life is still going to test us.Pam also describes her writing journey, the process of writing her bestseller, E-Squared, and her advice for those looking to write spiritual guidance books. Pam’s definition of success, after everything she has been through and after writing 20 books, is to see the face of God in every person she meets, and her whole story is incredibly inspiring, so make sure to tune in today!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

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