The Light Watkins Show

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!

So many of us confuse success with happiness, and this belief can influence our life in a myriad of ways, both seen and unseen. Today’s guest, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, has witnessed the consequences of this belief, not only in his own life and the lives of his patients, but also his closest family. For thirty years his father sacrificed his sleep and his health for the sake of his career and providing for his wife and children. By the age of 58, Dr. Chatterjee’s father had developed the autoimmune disease, lupus, due to decades of chronic sleep deprivation and stress. In the years leading up to his father’s death, Dr. Chatterjee prioritized caring for his father and treasured the time they were able to spend together. The experience irrevocably changed Dr. Chatterjee’s outlook on life and what it means to be successful. Since then, Dr. Chatterjee has made it his goal to inspire 100 million people to start living a healthier lifestyle. He is the author of several books on health and wellness and is also the host of Europe's #1 Health and Wellbeing Podcast ‘Feel Better. Live More. with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’, where he interviews experts on a variety of topics from mindfulness to fitness. In our conversation, we discuss what Dr. Chatterjee has learned from his many interviews, why he chose to become a general practitioner, and the impact that his father had on his life. Dr. Chatterjee shares details about his latest book, the concept of core happiness, and why authenticity is so important. He also explains how being in the public eye has made him prioritize his inner life, the value of daily meditations, and how these practices have helped him maintain perspective. We hope you tune in for this powerful conversation on the meaning of happiness, what it means to live a healthy life, and much more!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today on the Light Watkins Show, we are joined by Steve and Dave Flynn, who you may know as the twin faces of The Happy Pear. Our guests have been helping people all over the world eat more delicious, plant-based diets and live better lives for the better part of the last two decades! In our chat we chart the most important parts of the brothers' journey, from their early days in Ireland to their time at university, travels, and starting their business. They have always viewed their work as a way to sell a better way of life, and not just simply as a vegetable shop, which is how they began almost twenty years ago. We talk about the value of community, movement, discomfort, and some of the elements of their lives that they see as the most impactful. Steve and Dave share thoughts on their morning routines, and what a sunrise swim does for their mental and spiritual state. We also get into meditation, yoga, and a whole lot more, so do not miss this great episode.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Ed Mylett, an ultra-successful entrepreneur and bestselling author known for overcoming profound hardships, shares his transformative journey. He discusses the power of one more intentional action in discovering one's best life. Ed delves into the difference between happiness and fulfillment, the significance of genuine relationships over material success, and the importance of setting personal standards. His philosophies intertwine spirituality and practical solutions that inspire listeners to achieve personal growth and embrace the value of meaningful connections.

In this week’s episode, my guest is Chris Pan, founder of MyIntent (which you can hear more about in Episode 13) and more recently, VOMO, who is here to give a masterclass in the creation of movements! From his childhood days as an immigrant in the United States, and throughout his time working for big corporations like Facebook and Pepsi, music has always played a meaningful role in Chris’s life. VOMO stands for Voice Movement, and it is Chris’s way of bringing the joy of singing and dancing to as many people as possible. Tune in today to hear where the inspiration for VOMO originated, the expansion plans that Chris has for its future, and some valuable advice for starting your own movement! Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Too often, conventional medicine treats the body as separate from the mind, ignoring physical issues like chronic illness or weight gain, but science shows that these issues are often intricately entwined with mood issues like depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue. Today’s guest believes that we have the inherent capacity to create a powerful shift or ‘state change’ within ourselves and take control of our health, by ourselves, for ourselves.Tuning in, you’ll hear from Dr. Robin Berzin, who is the Founder and CEO of Parsley Health, America's leading holistic medical practice designed to help women overcome chronic conditions. She founded Parsley to address the rising tide of chronic disease in America through personalized holistic medicine that puts food, lifestyle, and proactive diagnostic testing on the prescription pad, right next to conventional medications. Since founding Parsley in 2016, Robin has seen 80 percent of her patients improve or resolve their chronic conditions within their first year of care, demonstrating the life-changing value of making modern holistic medicine accessible to everyone, anywhere.Her new book, State Change, offers readers a 30-day program for reaching a new level of energy, clarity, and calm based on one paradigm-shifting idea: you have to change your body to change your mind and mood. In today’s episode, Robin shares how practicing yoga inspired her to go to medical school, the story of how she came to work with Dr. Oz, and the steps she took to become the change she wanted to see in the world, as well as why her approach is centered around a real-world modern lifestyle, not a series of ‘shoulds’ and ‘should nots’, plus so much more. We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring conversation!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

This week, I’m publishing my first solo episode that is not about a  book that I wrote. For long-term listeners, you may remember my previous solo episode was about my recent book, Knowing Where To Look. I’ve recently rebranded the podcast, and it's no longer At The End of the Tunnel. It’s now called The Light Watkins Show. This episode will take you back to how the podcast started  in 2020, what was going on in the background, and what the original intention of the show was, and how it's evolved over the last couple of years. I’ll also talk about where I would like for the show go in the foreseeable future.So this is a part autobiographical, it's part masterclass, and it's part manifesto. And I plan to do many more solo episodes in the future.  Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!