Growing up as a Dominican-Colombian in Queens, Christopher Rivas didn’t feel the weight of his difference in the world until he was introduced to the real James Bond. Learning about Porfirio Rubirosa, the Dominican diplomat on whom the famously white character was based, changed everything for him and informed the culture-centered trajectory of his career. Christopher is a professional storyteller, podcaster, actor, and author. In this episode, we learn about the most pivotal moments of his childhood, his path to becoming an actor, and the serendipitous tale of how he landed on the art of storytelling. We discuss the importance of representation, the value of meditation, and the profound difference between stories you’ve been made to believe and those you’ve chosen to believe. Tune in to discover the anatomy of an impactful story, the script-shifting theme of Christopher’s book, Brown Enough, the art of code-switching, and so much more.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today I am doing another solo episode, which as you may know, I do on occasion. And in today's solo episode, I'm talking about minimalism, one of my favorite topics, and how minimalism helps you to become more present and more liberated, and more self-sufficient in your day-to-day life. I'm also describing an experiment that you can run starting today that will give you a taste of the liberation that you feel when living the minimalist lifestyle. And the best part is you don't have to get rid of anything in order to have the experience of minimalism. I also will show those of you who are watching this on YouTube, the actual backpack that I've been living from for the past few years, as well as my one pair of shoes and my shirts that I hand wash each night after wearing them. I also will go through the detailed instructions of how I hand wash my clothes in case you're in a situation where I don't know, you're flying, and your airline use loses your luggage, and for whatever reason, you have to make do. The clothes on your back for a day or two.And I also talk about some of the other interesting aspects of my minimalist lifestyle and how it's evolved over the last four years because the way it started is not the way it is right now. And of course, I've written extensively about minimalism in my upcoming book, which is called Travel Light.That's coming out in April of 2023. So there's a lot more to say in that book. But for now, I wanna just give you a peek into the minimalist lifestyle, cuz I think you'll get a lot from it, even if you have no desire to become a minimalist yourself.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today’s guest, Chip Conley, has been a serial disruptor of the hospitality industry for many decades, and since acquiring his first hotel in his 20s, has blazed a trail of innovative and successful businesses catering to a variety of different client bases. Chip was also instrumental in the rise of Airbnb in the contemporary landscape, and has most recently founded the amazing Modern Elder Academy, which is aimed at mentoring individuals through the later stages of human development. In our chat, we get to hear from Chip about the lessons he learned from his father, why he has always pursued creativity over profit, and the vital part that mentor relationships have continually played in his life. Our guest shares some great book recommendations and some insightful thoughts on living with purpose, before we close off with some thoughts on courage, self-belief, and his continued commitment to his calling of social alchemy. Join us to hear it all!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Who we are as individuals are shaped as much by the good experiences in our lives, as the bad ones. And it’s important to acknowledge the full spectrum of events that shape us, even if it’s challenging or uncomfortable. Our guest today, Desi Bartlett, is no stranger to this truth. Through her practice of meditation and movement, she has studied how to take powerful lessons from both the positive and negative aspects of her life and apply them as an author, fitness professional, woman, and mother. In our conversation, Desi shares some of the details about her unstable upbringing, how she left home as a teenager, and why so much of what she does is in honor of her mother and her limitations as a parent. We delve into Desi’s journey with fitness, the transformative power of movement, and how her career has evolved since she first began to pursue fitness as a profession. We also discussed Desi’s work as an author, the release of her latest book Total Body Beautiful, and her passion for empowering women through movement, yoga, meditation, and nutrition. For a wonderful conversation that will surprise and delight you with its thought-provoking insights and joyful advice, make sure you tune in today!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Adam Roa knows how it feels to be living a life that doesn’t speak the language of your soul, and he also knows the power that comes with choosing to follow your heart, no matter what expectations the world has of you. Although it didn’t make logical sense to give up a promising career in advertising to pursue a risky one in acting, or to rent out an apartment without knowing where the rent money was going to come from, these decisions were led by the heart, and as you will hear in today’s episode, they paid off! Today, Adam is a spoken word poet whose words have gone viral across the globe and have had such an impact on some people that they have had them tattooed on their bodies. Moreover, Adam is a lifestyle and business coach who has built communities and created courses that have had transformative effects on many lives. Listen to this episode to hear about the journey that led to Adam’s spiritual awakening, the evolution of his understanding of relationships, and how to truly love yourself!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

The approach of middle age tends to inspire dread. For too long, we have been told that our “best years” are behind us once we reach midlif and that all we have to look forward to is the slow decline of our bodies and minds. But, for many of us, it’s actually the first time that we begin to make sense of life. This realization led performance coach, Greg Scheinman, to create a community where men who have been around long enough to own their mistakes and celebrate their successes could gather to maximize the second half of their lives. He calls it the Midlife Male Movement, devoted to the proposition that the middle is the sweet spot, not the end! In this episode, Greg shares his story with humor and vulnerability, offering us some insight into the life decisions that led him to where he is today. Listening in, you’ll learn how Greg is taking all of the experiences that he’s had and everything he has learned along the way and applying it to the next phase of his life. You’ll also hear some practical tips for how to stop seeing midlife as a crisis and start seeing it as an opportunity. Tune in today for a no-BS guide to living a longer, happier, healthier, and wealthier life (and having more fun) in your 40s, 50s, and beyond!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

LaRayia Gaston might be the definition of inspiring. She is the heart behind Lunch on Me and LaRayia's Bodega, as well as the author of Love Without Reason. In today's episode, we are rerunning an amazing conversation with LaRayia from one of the earliest and most powerful episodes of the podcast! Tuning in, listeners will hear about all the most critical steps in LaRayia's journey, from her challenging childhood to her burgeoning and diverse career, and how she took her gifts and decided to dedicate her life to giving back to those less fortunate than herself. It was during her time in LA, around the age of 20, that LaRayia found the place to pour her desire to help the community. Always a hard worker and a generous giver, LaRayia began finding ways to provide food for the unhoused on Skid Row, and it was out of these efforts that Lunch on Me was born. Our guest talks about the influence that different family members had on her, how she funded this work at various points, and what has kept her going. We also get some insight into why LaRayia spent 43 days on Skid Row herself, her meditation practice, and her spiritual beliefs, so make sure to listen in to hear it all.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

All of us are constantly faced with many choices and possibilities, and it is the decisions that we make that shape our lives. On the show today to talk about the path she has carved out for herself and her family is the supercharged Jessica Janzen, author of the book Bring the Joy! Jessica has such an amazing story and we are able to go deep with her, from her early days on a family farm in Canada to the twists and turns she has encountered in the different parts of her life. She tells us about the instinctual choice she made to help a family with two children struggling with spinal muscular atrophy, and the ripple effect this has had on the rest of her life. We then spend some time exploring Jessica's marriage, the birth of her own children, and the loss of her second child, Lewiston. Jessica is so open and honest about the ups and downs, and the lessons she has learned, delivering messages about showing up out of love, how acts of service can fill us up, and the hard work that goes into making magic happen! To hear it all from this wonderful guest, please join us!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today on the show, we are joined by the 'Sprout Guy', Doug Evans, to talk about his mission to bring this amazing group of superfoods into kitchens and common usage. Doug gives us such a great overview of his amazing journey and the different chapters of his life; we talk about his early days as a graffiti artist in New York City, joining the military, working in the world of design, and then starting his own businesses. We spend a good portion of time exploring the very important relationship that Doug developed with Paul Rand and the lasting influence that Doug garnered from the time he spent with him. One of the major themes of Doug's story is that of persistence, and how his commitment to his different projects was ultimately what allowed him to be successful. We also talk about his penchant for trouble, the impetus to get into the health sector, and the moment that Doug realized his excitement about sprouts. So if you want to learn more about this magical part of the natural world, and hear an inspiring story along the way, join us for this great episode of the Light Watkins Show!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In the increasingly digital world that we live in, finding ways to authentically connect and communicate with each other remains a vital part of a meaningful life. This concept lies at the foundation of the work of today's guest, Kalina Silverman.Kalina is the mind and heart behind the amazing Big Talk project, which started out as a series of viral videos in which Kalina asked her subjects existential questions, like 'What do you want to do before you die?' The success of the videos led to a TEDx Talk, further speaking engagements, and the transformation of Big Talk into a broader and more international initiative. For Kalina, Big Talk and the ideas that ground it are a way to get past the barriers of social conventions and a means to connect in a way that we all crave and relish! In today’s conversation with Kalina, we get to hear the story behind her first video and all the important moments that informed her decisions. So, if you are ready for a fresh dose of inspiration and an insider's look at how this amazing dream became a reality, make sure to listen in with us!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!