The Spiritual Perspective

In today’s episode, we hear from Suleika Jaouad, author of the memoir Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted, about her journey through being diagnosed with leukemia at age 22 and how the experience of illness and recovery intertwines with her writing career. Suleika reflects on some of the frustration she experienced at the time with existing cancer narratives and how that informed the blog she chose to write during her difficult years of cancer treatment. She is also an award-winning journalist whose work on prison reform earned her an Emmy. Her TED talk What almost dying taught me about living has been viewed over four million times.Tuning in you’ll hear about Suleika’s memories growing up as the daughter of immigrant parents, her early experiences with journaling, and why she views it as a sacred activity that can have endless possibilities when you liberate yourself from expectations. We hear from Suleika about when she first received her diagnosis and how it affected her life. Suleika shares the inspiration she found in people like Frida Kahlo who undertook rich creative pursuits while being confined to their beds and how that informed her writing. We delve into what it was like for Suleika to spend years in a hospital during her early twenties and how being cured does not necessarily equate to being healed. Later Suleika unpacks what drove her writing and shares how the letters she received in response to her blog helped her feel a sense of connectedness during her most intense periods of medical isolation. Join us today for a reflective and open conversation on illness, trauma, creativity, and what it means to truly heal.Key Points From This Episode:Introducing today’s guest Suleika Jaouad.Suleika’s early experiences with journaling and how to make journaling engaging and fun.Methods for dealing with the need to keep your journals private from other people.Suleika’s experiences moving between different countries as the child of immigrant parents.How the lesson of Middle Eastern hospitality was present in Suleika’s life growing up.Suleika describes a turning point in her life as a young adolescent after watching Mona Lisa Smile.Some of the symptoms Suleika started experiencing after graduating from college.The months Suleika spent being misdiagnosed before a doctor diagnosed her with leukemia.Suleika describes some of the emotions she felt when she was correctly diagnosed, including a sense of protectiveness over her parents.The sense of liberation and vulnerability that Suleika experienced after chemotherapy altered her appearance.The inspiration that Suleika found in the life and work of Frida Kahlo.An outline of the 100-day project and how it facilitated Suleika writing her memoir.The story of how Suleika started her blog before her bone marrow transplant.How having a life-threatening illness reshuffled Suleika’s priorities.Some of the frustrations that Suleika had felt with other books, films, and stories by cancer survivors who wrote about their experiences long after they had recovered.How the letters that Suleika received during her time in hospital gave her a feeling of connection despite being so isolated.The difficulties Suleika faced after being cured of her illness, like survivors' guilt and trauma.Suleika's choice to connect with the people who had written her letters while she was sick.Why it was important to Suleika that she portrays the ripple effect that a life-altering diagnosis has on a family and community in her memoir.Suleika’s experience visiting Lil GQ in prison and some ofSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In today's episode, we hear from one of this generation’s foremost authorities on everyone's favorite topic: sex! Author, podcaster, and sexologist, Dr. Emily Morse has the longest-running sex-themed podcast on iTunes, starting Sex With Emily back in 2005 when the only people starting podcasts were tech geeks. Since then, Emily has covered literally every sexual topic you can think of, from Afro sexology to bondage, to whatever you're imagining right now; she's got an episode on that too! More recently, Emily Morse Teaches Sex and Communication has become one of the most popular courses on the Masterclass platform.In this episode, you’ll get a glimpse into Emily’s backstory, from politics to documentary filmmaking, and find out how she became a sexologist when she realized that she could help a lot of people by spreading more real-world information about sex. Listening in, you’ll learn how the path to following her curiosity was fraught with financial struggles and family interventions, how Emily overcame those obstacles, and how she came out the other side of her dark tunnel as the world-renowned ‘sexpert' that she is today.We also discuss some of the common myths surrounding sexuality, and how Emily defines a healthy sex life, particularly if one partner wants more sex than the other, which she says is actually more the norm than it is the exception. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about the power of following your curiosity!Key Points From This Episode:Emily shares her favorite activity as a child; playing with her Barbie dolls.Hear about her upbringing and her experience with “the birds and the bees.”Find out why Emily says she didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up.How her concept of success shifted after her dad died at the age of 49.What she learned about communication, making an impact, and how to get things done from her time in politics that later informed her path.Learn about Emily’s next chapter as a documentary filmmaker and her drive to create.The story of how she created See How They Run, her first documentary film.How Sex With Emily started in 2005, following her own curiosity about her friends’ sex lives.Hear the story of how Emily met Captain Erotica, thanks to her interest in Burning Man.Some of the early success and validation Emily received from her podcast.The financial challenges she encountered in 2009 when the global recession hit.How she worked her way through those struggles by remaining committed to her vision.Find out how she became involved in writing the book, Hot Sex.Emily shares her perspective on competition and why she doesn’t worry too much about it.How being known as a sexologist in her 30s affected her personal life.Why Emily believes we bury our heads in the sand as a society when it comes to talking about sex; and how she is trying to change that.The importance of including sex under the umbrella of health and wellness.What Emily hopes the conversation about sex and relationships will look like years from now.How she hopes to equip people with the adequate knowledge and language necessary to talk about sex openly.The three main causes of divorce, sex, children, and money, and the value of communication.Her advice for managing mismatched libidos or what Emily calls desire discrepancy.The value in expanding our definition of sex to include other acts of intimacy.What the experience of shooting a Masterclass was like for Emily: the responsibility to deliver.How Emily defines success these days; spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional wellness.Her thoughts on success inSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Our mental health and our physical health are inextricably connected, and our guest on today’s show has a passion for helping people tap into the power that exists within all of us to heal ourselves. After many, many years of exploration into the field, and through experiencing the incredible effects of natural remedies and a positive mindset first hand, Kelly Noonan Gores created a documentary, aptly titled Heal. Heal topped the charts on iTunes, and even made it onto Netflix (after their announcement that they wouldn’t be releasing any more independent films). In today’s episode, you’ll hear about Kelly’s personal healing journey, and gain a few insights into the stories that you can expect to hear in the film. She also shares the rollercoaster of emotions that she experienced while making Heal, books and practices which have been a key part of her process, and some very valuable advice for anyone who has a dream!Key Points From This Episode:A glimpse into what Kelly’s life was like growing up. How Kelly’s upbringing has impacted her life.Health issues that Kelly suffered with in high school, and the alternative remedy which finally resolved them.Mixed emotions that Kelly felt towards the acting she did as a child.Psychological barriers that were getting in the way of Kelly’s dreams, which led her down a path of discovery.The book which gave Kelly her spirit back.Kelly’s methods for keeping herself happy and fulfilled.Why Kelly decided to create her documentary, Heal. Feelings that helped Kelly realize that her true path was not acting.The final straw which motivated Kelly to produce Heal, after 10 years of developing it.Gratitude journaling, and the positive impact that Kelly feels it has had on her.How Kelly recruited the people who would feature in her documentary.Elements that Kelly felt confident about when it came to making Heal, and elements which she was nervous about.Kelly runs us through the experience of the first interview she did for Heal. How Heal differs from other documentaries about healing. The two healing stories which are documented in Heal, and the short film that Kelly created alongside it. Not imposing her beliefs onto others is a key part of Kelly’s philosophy.A diagnosis that Kelly received when she wasn’t even aware that anything was wrong.Kelly’s thoughts on knowing what is the right healing method to make use of. The impacts of emotions such as fear and stress on your physical health. Findings that Kelly was surprised by through the process of making Heal.Positive changes that often occur in people’s lives when they are diagnosed with a disease.Fears that Kelly felt around releasing Heal, and words of encouragement for anyone who is on a learning journey.  The public response to Heal.Book recommendations for anyone who is interested in natural healing and the power of the mind.Finding balance; the key to success.Work that Kelly is currently doing that is keeping her fire burning.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today’s guest is one of the most prolific spiritual teachers of our time. His name is Gary Zukav, and he is the author of The Seat of the Soul, The Dancing Wu Li Masters, and most recently, Universal Human. We usually devote the first part of this show to the backstories of our guests but today we will be deviating slightly from that format. This is because Gary is such a masterful spiritual teacher that I decided to use the space of the full interview to hear him speak more about what it means to be a universal human, and where he sees us going as a human race, which is in the direction of becoming what he calls multi-sensory humans. For Gary, all humans can undergo multi-sensory experiences, but not everyone is aware of them when they happen. It is during these experiences that we perceive our connection to the greater universe and they point the way to a new consciousness. We spend a large chunk of our conversation talking about the meaning of authentic power and how to live in such away so that we can access it. This process is grounded in the intention to live in love rather than fear and Gary speaks about the knock-on effects that an internal change like this will affect in our greater surroundings. Tune in and learn what spiritual growth is all about with Gary today.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today’s guest is not someone who started traditional non-profit or initiated a movement for social good, but they live their life in such a way that they have inspired many of their followers to follow their hearts, to do what they love, and to take leaps of faith; and you know by now that your host, Light Watkins, is all about a good leap of faith! Please join in in welcoming Chris Classic, father, founder, perfumer, artist, creative director, and personal inspiration. In today’s episode, Chris shares how he took a stand on what he wanted for himself and literally leapt out a window to pursue his vision, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of his life.Key Points From This Episode:Chris talks about his childhood, growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness in Long Island, New York.Why Chris says he learned to separate himself from rejection at a young age.He shares his first idea of a dream job; to write commercials for an advertising agency.How rap music sparked his decision to run away from home and live with his aunt.Hear about the relevance of 310 Riverside Drive, which was the address of Zoe Ministries.How witnessing Rev Run become a minister confirmed for Chris that rap wasn’t unholy.What the beginning of Chris’ career as a rapper looked like and where his name originated.Chris shares how he viewed success as attainable and inevitable at that point in his life.What he learned from Run DMC about keeping the crowd engaged.How he learned that he could be professional and still have a self-identity.The experience of collaborating with Run on the Let’s Get Married remix and how it launched Chris’ career as a songwriter.Why Chris says his life would’ve taken a different trajectory if Jam Master Jay weren’t killed.Find out how Millésime Impérial by Creed got Chris into exploring niche fragrances.Where his following on social media came from: his life as a dad and a creative and a sociable person in New York City.How Chris came to create his own perfume thanks to an encounter with one of his followers.Chris’ belief that his perfume brand has been successful because it is a service to others that comes from a place of love.Someone connecting with his fragrances versus someone licensing one of his songs.How the name, Savoir Faire, reflects the plight of Black creatives.Discover what the significance of the crown is on Savoir Faire’s bottles.The trick to selling something as experiential and subjective as a fragrance online.The legacy Chris hopes to build for Black men and women to aspire to create for themselves.Find out what he has learned after 10,000 orders: that he is still knocking on doors.Chris reflects on his core audience, which isn’t one that he targets.Hear his advice for other aspiring perfumers (and creatives in general): make something you absolutely love!How Chris views success these days: the ability to control his time and spend it with family.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today's guest on At the End of the Tunnel is a self-described ‘artivist'. Her name is Liza Jessie Peterson, a gifted actress, spoken word poet, playwright, author, and youth advocate. Liza grew up in West Philadelphia, graduated from Georgetown, and worked as a model in Paris before getting introduced to the New York poetry scene, where she became one of the stars of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Following her passion as a poet and an artist led her to accept a side gig; teaching poetry to kids in New York City schools. Her first assignment was at a school called Island Academy, which she ultimately discovered was the school at Rikers Island jail.That assignment, which was only meant to last three weeks, evolved into an 18-year career of working with inmates and developing a deep understanding of the prison industrial complex. Liza’s experiences with students at Island Academy led her to write a book, titled All Day: A Year of Love and Survival Teaching Incarcerated Kids at Rikers Island, and an award-winning one woman show called The Peculiar Patriot, which she has since performed at over 35 penitentiaries across the country.In this conversation, Liza shares the extraordinary series of events that led her to work at Island Academy. In particular, she talks about the kids she has worked with, how they benefited from her program and, perhaps most importantly, the invaluable lessons she learned from them. Liza’s story reveals a fascinating behind-the-veil analysis of mass incarceration in America, and she also shares some of her own career struggles, insecurities, and the leaps of faith she had to make in her own creative journey while she was amplifying the voices of others. Tune in today for an in-depth and inspiring conversation about the power of artivism and using your art to rebel against the status quo with the incomparable Liza Jessie Peterson!Key Points From This Episode:Liza reflects on her favorite toy as a kid: Rock ‘em Sock ‘em.Hear about her family growing up and how they influenced her political awareness.The sense of pride that Liza’s father instilled in her at a young age.How The Autobiography of Malcolm X introduced her to revolutionary Black consciousness.Viewing success through the lens of what her older sister was doing at the time.How the incentive to “change the white man’s game from the inside” led her to Georgetown.What Liza learned about kindness, compassion, and humility from her late mother.Why she says working as a model in Paris was the gateway drug to realizing the viability of using her creativity to make a living.How acting allowed Liza to process the pain of her mother’s loss through storytelling.Hear about the inadvertent poem that brought Liza to the Nuyorican for the first time.Laying the groundwork for the artists of today by being part of the Nuyorican movement.Learn about Liza’s process of writing a poem, which always starts with a journal entry.Liza speaks about her first one-woman show, which was inspired by Ntozake Shange.Find out how she came to teach her first poetry class at Island Academy on Rikers Island.Why she says teaching at Rikers wasn’t a mission or a purpose; until she got there.She describes her first time arriving at Rikers, including her shock at seeing so many Black, Puerto Rican, and Latino faces there.How this first-hand introduction to the prison industrial complex turned a three-week assignment into a three-year mission.What it was like teaching poetry to juveniles and the importance of validating their voices.Teaching these young men that their slang was valuable; they werSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Last week, you heard from Dr. Steven Eisenberg, who discovered the healing power of music through his work in oncology. In this week’s episode, we continue that theme with world-renowned recording artist and producer, Brandon Green, who is better known as Maejor. At the height of his career, working with top-tier artists like Mary J. Blige, T-Payne, Drake, and Justin Bieber, Maejor was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. This was a turning point for him. While he imagined that he would eventually give back later in life by creating educational music centers for children, this diagnosis changed his timeline and instilled in him a greater sense of urgency to find his true purpose; using his music to heal. He began creating music at 432 hertz, which he learned from the scientific community was the frequency that contained the highest healing properties. This led to an album called Vol 1: Frequency, produced as therapeutic music meant not only to be enjoyed but to heal and soothe the soul too. In this conversation, we unpack Maejor’s journey, how he discovered his purpose to heal through music, and why we should consider listening to more music at the 432 Hz frequency rather than the standard 440 Hz frequency.Tune in today for a powerful, candid, and inspirational conversation, with someone who is changing the music industry as we know it from the inside out!Key Points From This Episode:We start, as always, with Maejor’s favorite toy or activity as a child: basketball.Learn more about his family dynamics growing up and how they influenced his personality.Why Maejor says changing schools so many times was both a blessing and a curseWhat he learned about effort and compassion from his grandmother, Edna.Maejor tells the story of the CD that first got him interested in making music.How an interview for a website called Hip-Hop Gang led to an introduction to Trey Songz.He shares his early motivations as a music producer and explains why he stayed in school, even as he became successful.Hear about his transition from producer to writing, creating, and singing his own music.His insight into the music industry and the significance of being signed to Ne-Yo at the time.Learn what makes a good song or a good beat; and why Maejor believes it is the energy.Who inspired him, the reputation he developed, and how he came to meet Justin Bieber.The willingness to go through discomfort that aided Maejor on his journey as an artist.Hear the story of his artist name, which incorporates a name both his grandmother’s share.Maejor speaks candidly about his leukemia diagnosis and how it shifted his perspective.Why his response was to write positive lyrics, but he saw his sales go flat.How he came to understand the healing power of sound through yoga.Marrying the spiritual or consciousness perspective with technology and science.Art as a tool to expand consciousness and the artist’s role and responsibility in that.Why Maejor’s definition of success these days revolves around service to others.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

You might think that music and medicine are two totally separate worlds that cannot be brought together. However, today’s guest, Dr. Steven Eisenberg, not only brings his musical gifts to his patients, but he has also healed himself through connecting to his creative energy. Steven specializes in oncology and hematology and works with patients at all stages of their cancer. In today’s episode, we hear Steven’s incredible backstory, his lifelong passion for music, and the role his father played in showing him it was possible to practice medicine and have a creative outlet at the same time. Steven talks about the internal friction he faced when he felt like he had to decide between music and medicine and how he lost his way when he went into private practice and subsequently became gravely ill. He shares the turning point he reached when he realized how poorly he was caring for himself, despite caring so deeply for others. When he brought music into his practice, his heart expanded, and he was able to feel the light that had been dimmed for years pouring in again. Steven also shares some touching stories from his book, Love is the Strongest Medicine. As someone who is an outstanding example of combining passion with purpose, Dr. Steven Eisenberg’s story is well worth hearing.  Key Points From This Episode:Get to know Steven, his obsession with his cassette recorder when he was younger, and his experience of being bullied. Steven’s relationship with music and how his father incorporated music and medicine into his life. The fork in the road Steven faced before he went to med school. What the energy in Steven’s house was like; it was a mixed bag. The horrible bike accident that changed Steven’s life. How Steven kept his creative light burning during medical school. The first acoustic guitar Steven bought that he couldn’t afford, which he still uses today. A moving story of how Steven brought music into the hospital and what he realized when he did this. The stress of working in private practice and the toll it took on Steven. What happened when a patient called Steven out on the condition of his own health. Details about the essay contest Steven won and the life it breathed into him. There is always the possibility to heal your life; that’s what Steven wants his patients to know. Steven’s process of writing songs for his patients. Steven's dad’s decision to end his career as a physician at a prison. What someone should do if they have a cancer diagnosis. The value of drawing on both Eastern and Western medicine to ensure holistic healing. There is such a big role for compassion to play both in medicine and the world generally.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

This week’s episode is something a little different. Instead of bringing on a guest, Light uses this episode as an opportunity to talk about his own journey through the context of the book that he has coming out on May 25th, 2021, called Knowing Where to Look: 108 Daily Doses of Inspiration. The book is full of personal stories, as well as classical stories, anecdotes, and observations that he has composed over the last five years. It's important to hear about the background of these kinds of projects, because we all have some sort of project or passion that we dream about or work towards. You might think that it’s easy for someone who hosts their own podcast to write a book. In today’s episode, Light assures you that his journey has been just as busy, uncertain, and messy as anyone else’s, which is likely true for nearly anybody you admire or look up to! You are just as capable as anyone else of achieving your dreams or completing that dream project, no matter what your background or your journey looks like. Sometimes, it’s all about knowing where to look for inspiration, and this episode will hopefully form a point of reference. Light encourages you to look inside yourself, to listen to your still small voice, to consciously follow your inner guidance, and to trust yourself to take that leap of faith! You never know where it might lead you.Key Points From This Episode:Hear about the opening story of the book, which Light calls ‘Right Time, Right Place’.How he first made the decision to follow inspiration, no matter where it led him.Light shares the story of his first two hours in Paris, during which time he serendipitously landed a job, an apartment, and a group of friends.The divine lesson he learned about consciously following his inner guidance.Why this book is like a meditation on the subject of inspiration.Light reflects on why inspiration makes us feel both excited and scared simultaneously.Learn about the origins of Light’s Daily Dose of Inspiration emails.He shares the excitement and fear he felt at the outset and what he did when his greatest fear was realized; he ran out of content!As per Maya Angelou, Light discovered that “being creative generates creativity.”The concept of the muse and the role that mediation plays in Light’s creativity.The reasons it can be challenging for you to hear the still small voice inside yourself.Why your pain voice is often the loudest and can prevent you from taking a leap of faith.If our two most important days are when we are born and when we die, Light proposes a third; the day we take action on our purpose.How to decide whether to find a publisher or self-publish your first book.Why Light wrote this “treasure trove of inspiration” and how it is designed to be read.Why it is crucial for fan’s of an author’s work to preorder that author’s book.Light shares his gratitude for everyone who has supported him and his mission to leave you more inspired than he found you.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

This podcast highlights the stories of those who have gone through dark moments in their lives and come out the other side with additional wisdom, courage, and insight they could not have found had they not gone through that darkness. As a result, they often become a light unto others, and today’s guest is no exception. Gabriella Wright is a mother, an actress, an activist, a speaker, and a meditation teacher with a long-standing history of humanitarian engagement.Gabriella hails from London, where she had a very enchanting childhood. In her late teens, however, she suffered a very dark experience of abuse, which prompted her to relocate to New Zealand where she discovered meditation, spirituality, and her inner life. She ultimately traveled to India where she went deeper into her practice, not realizing that it was preparing her for an even bigger tragedy to come, one that would cause her to double down on her commitment to become an advocate for mental health. As the Cofounder of Never Alone, a suicide prevention and mental wellbeing initiative of The Chopra Foundation, Gabriella has gone on to help reduce mental health stigma and democratize access to mental health tools.She is the innovator of the Mental Hygiene Toolkit, a collection of mind cleansing and self-awareness tools to help individuals nurture their bodies, minds, and spirits, and develop inner guidance to consciously choose the best path for their lives. Gabriella’s acting and humanitarian projects bring her closer to understanding human nature and what binds consciousness to reality. In this episode, we hear how she was driven throughout her life by the word ‘freedom’, how becoming a mirror helped her through both trauma and emancipation, and how she pursues the fulfillment of her rich inner reality every day. Tune in to learn more!Key Points From This Episode:Gabriella reflects on her favorite activities as a child: running barefoot through the Hackney Marshes and hearing stories from her father.More on her household growing up, religion, and the lessons she learned from her parents.What Gabriella saw herself becoming when she grew up, directed by her pursuit of freedom.Find out how the words ‘magical’ and ‘freedom’ spun her drive to become an actor.Her traumatic experience of being abducted and sexually assaulted at 17-years-old and how “becoming a mirror” helped Gabriella escape.How this experience changed her perspective and opened her heart to the suffering of others.Hear how she came to relocate to New Zealand and how Shakespeare contributed to the spiritual awakening she had there.Gabriella describes the ad in a local gazette that ended up introducing her to meditation.The positive changes that took place for her over the next few months of meditating.What success meant to Gabriella at that time: to free herself from pain.The initially terrifying journey to meet a Maori queen that introduced her to Tibetan Buddhism.Gabriella speaks about the children that opened her eyes to the corruption and human trafficking in India and her desire to find solutions.She tells the story of a film about suicide that she helped create that turned very personal.Recognizing, in her sister’s suicide, the need for more accessible mental health support.How Gabriella thinks about success today: fulfillment of her rich inner reality.What she would say to someone who has lost a loved one to suicide: you’re not alone.How facing grief head-on can help you experience your important presence beyond griefSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!