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!

For Light Watkins, it is an honor to be able to spread inspiration through conversations with exceptional people. However, making a podcast is an arduous task, requiring hard work, dedication, and a lot of time. But once you are consistent and when you get it right, it can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences.Today, our host Light Watkins is riding solo once again, this time to dive deeper into the origins of this podcast. After giving us a taste of the incredible sounds of Mexico City, Light tells us what it’s like to record a podcast with a minimal setup while reiterating the importance of not giving up on your podcasting dreams. Light takes us on a journey back to the early days of the podcast, sharing some of the mistakes that he has made along the way. In this captivating episode, you’ll be inspired by how our host overcame many initial obstacles to get this podcast to where it is today. We talk about three big interviews that Light was very nervous about and how they, ultimately, led to him overcoming fear, insecurity, and imposter syndrome. You’ll learn how to be more efficient when doing deep research, how our host engages with his guest’s personal stories and philosophies, the importance of recording podcasts in advance, what the common thread is between all of Light’s guests, and why you should always only do that which is aligned with the mission and purpose of your podcast. Be sure to tune in to hear it all.      Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Our guest today, Tara Stiles, first discovered yoga in New York while training to be a dancer. In our conversation, Tara shares how that first yoga class ignited her curiosity, and how she gradually made the transition from hustling in New York and being an aspiring dancer, to starting her own yoga studio, called Stråla, with her husband, Mike. We spend some time talking about the yoga scene at the time (including the pushback she received for diverging from established methods of teaching), and why she was determined to make yoga accessible to anyone eager to learn. Tuning in you’ll hear how Tara went from teaching yoga in Central Park to starting her studio and flying around the world for a dizzying array of opportunities. She reveals feeling overwhelmed at this time, the effect it had on her marriage, and how she ultimately realized that she needed to slow down. We also discussed Tara’s book Clean Mind, Clean Body: A 28-Day Plan for Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Self-Care, and what it was like writing it. As we wrap up, Tara shares the most important things she’s learned about life, entrepreneurship, and marriage over the course of her life and career. Life is rarely simple (or straightforward), and no matter how much you plan, it never seems to go quite as expected. Tune in to learn about Tara’s fascinating life journey and what she has learned from it!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today on the show we sit down with Kimberly Snyder, author of several best-selling books, including Radical Beauty: How to Transform Yourself from the Inside Out, which she co-authored with Deepak Chopra. She is also the founder of Solluna, a lifestyle brand focused on progress, not perfection. In our conversation, Kimberly shares how her experiences growing up in New England as the daughter of a Filipino immigrant shaped her identity. She unpacks how constantly feeling like an outsider caused her to fixate on hard numbers, like achieving excellent SAT scores and restricting the number of calories she consumed, in an effort to help her feel more grounded.We discuss how traveling through challenging areas within Asia and Africa helped her develop her intuition and how she learned to let go of her fixation with perfection. Kimberly also gives a detailed account of her yogic journey, how her career developed, and the events that led her to become an author. You’ll also learn about Kimberly’s latest book You Are More Than You Think You Are: Practical Enlightenment for Everyday Life, and why she felt it was important to make a modern, accessible work on the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. Kimberly has faced profoundly difficult challenges and choices in her life, but it has always been a spirit of fearlessness that has guided her in pursuing unknown paths and living an extraordinary life. Join us today as we delve into the power of yoga and meditation, and why looking inward is the truest source of inspiration!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today’s guest came into my life through his book, The War of Art, which is all about overcoming resistance. Steven Pressfield has since become a friend and mentor, having visited the Podcast once before to speak about his novel, A Man at Arms. Join us today to hear where Steven first encountered the idea of the Muse, drawing on Greek mythology alongside his own experience. Steven believes that there is an underground river of creativity running through all of us and that Resistance blocks its flow. We talk about overcoming Resistance as a path toward our destiny, and Steven shares his story of turning to write in a moment of despair. We talk about his latest book, Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be, what motivated him to choose that title, and explore the process of self-publishing. You’ll hear about our guest’s relationship with envy, why he describes himself as learning alongside his readers, and more. Thanks for tuning in. Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

We welcome Ben Nemtin back to the show to talk about his most recent project, The Bucket List Journal, and how it continues the line of curiosity and drive that we discussed back in Episode 3 of this very podcast! Ben is now one of the most in-demand keynote speakers in the world and has presented extensively on his favorite subjects of mental health and following your dreams. This work as a motivational speaker led Ben to wanting his message to be even more accessible, and hence the journal. In our chat, we hear about this process of discovery and publishing, and along the way, we get to hear many inspiring reflections from Ben about purpose, passion, permission, death, and so much more. Ben underlines why action is often the best plan, how asking for help can be great for accountability, and why setting bigger, more challenging goals might make them more accomplishable! Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

The term ‘should’ may seem innocuous, but its outsized role in our vocabulary and society has had a profound effect on how we perceive the world and our place in it. Our guest today is a firm believer that eliminating the word ‘should’ from your vocabulary is the first step in developing a mindfulness practice that will help you establish decision-making practices that are aligned with your wants, values, and needs.Tricia Huffman is a self-described joyologist, speaker, and author of the book F the Shoulds. Do the Wants: Get Clear on Who You Are, What You Want, and Why You Want It. In our conversation, Tricia shares what she has learned from working with stars like Dolly Parton and Jason Mraz on tour, and what her work has taught her about fear, happiness, and success. We also talk about how the sudden death of her father triggered a massive career shift, and how she finally gave herself permission to write her book after 12 years of living a life without the word ‘should’.We loved having Tricia on the show and we’re sure you’ll find our conversation every bit as enlightening and inspiring as we did. Tune in for profound insights from our guest and plenty of practical examples on how to stop using the word ‘should’ and instead make decisions based on what you truly value!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of The Light Watkins Show, we are going back to one of our favorite conversations from the past, in which the amazing and inspiring Arjuna O'Neal came on to talk about his incredible journey, and unlikely road to healing and helping others. Arjuna talks about his early years in Detroit and West Virginia, his family's confusing connection to the Hare Krishna temple, the abuse he was subjected to while growing up, and how all of these traumas, coupled with his father's criminal mindset, led to him join the world of drug dealing before he left high school. Unsurprisingly this resulted in him being involved in many dangerous situations, including having a bounty on his head and being shot by a girlfriend. It was during this near-death experience that Arjuna first truly experienced God and love, and began his journey to a new life. Arjuna talks about the time he spent in jail, the trials he faced, and the important stepping stones that led to the amazing work he does today with Share Necessities and the Mind Elevation Project. To catch it all, in a conversation so good that we had to run it back, join us today! Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Discovering your dharma is, by definition, a lifelong pursuit, and many doors may open over time as our soul's purpose constantly becomes more clear. Here on the podcast today, we have a fascinating conversation about the calling to help others, the lessons we learn along the way, and truly embrace our uniqueness, with the one and only, Sahara Rose! Sahara is the author of a number of books including The Idiot's Guide to Ayurveda, Eat Feel Fresh, and Discovering Your Dharma, and we have an illuminating chat about the twists and turns of her journey, looking at many of the hills and valleys that have brought her to the present. We get to hear about her family history, tricky relationship with her parents, the urge she felt to go traveling, and how she managed to get her first book deal! Sahara also shares a little about her main inspirations, and the historical characters that she was drawn to from a young age. Towards the end of conversation, Sahara talks a little about a more nuanced and authentic idea of spirituality that is suited to our actual outlook and personality, and how this has evolved over time for her. So, to catch this inspiring and open chat with a wonderful worker in the mind and body health space, press play now! Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Elissa was living the American dream. She had a prestigious job, the perfect husband, and the future looked bright. One day, however, her reality was broken into pieces when she discovered she had cancer. She was able to win the battle by using holistic, alternative approaches and treatments; despite the advice of medical professionals, friends, and family. Unfortunately, her experience with cancer did not end there. Her husband was also diagnosed with cancer shortly after her recovery and passed away not from the disease but rather from the treatment itself. This ignited Elissa’s passion for educating other people on alternatives and holistic approaches, and to show people the benefits of a healthy life. Today, Elissa works as a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle expert, creating her own programs and diet plans based on the lessons she had learned through improving her health. She is also the author of the book, Cancer Hacks, which provides readers with common-sense, natural, and holistic advice for those battling cancer. In today’s episode, Elissa shares her story and the role of health and wellbeing in her life. We learn about her life growing up, why she felt sick all the time when she was young, and when Elissa first became interested in holistic healing, as well as the moment that she first found out she had cancer. You’ll also gain some insight into why Elissa chose the approach she did and the steps she took to living a healthier life, plus so much more. Don’t miss out on this inspiring story and insightful conversation with health and wellness expert, Elissa Goodman!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!