The Spiritual Perspective

When the word “genocide” comes to mind, one might think these heinous acts occurred deep in history. Yet they’ve occurred as recently as 1994, when 800,000 innocent Tutsi Rwandans were attacked by their fellow countrymen. Today, we speak to Consolee Nishimwe about her experience surviving the Rwandan Genocide and how her life as a survivor. We open the show by learning about the history between the Hutu and Tutsi social classes and find out how Belgian colonial powers turned these two groups against one another. Consolee then expands on this, describing her childhood as a “privileged” Tutsi, and how shame was cast down on her for this status. She touches on her living conditions, and colors a vile picture of the genocide, talking about how machetes became a symbolic weapon of choice and ways Rwandan radio encouraged the ruthless murder of Tutsi people. In the latter half of the show, listeners will find out about how Rwanda slowly returned to a state of normalcy. Although a different path to what she’d imagined as a child, Consolee now uses her story as a tool to help others. She talks about how she uses it to inspire survivors to come out and tell their story. To hear more about Consolee and her incredible story of struggle, survival, and ultimately triumph, be sure to join us for this very special episode.Key Points From This Episode:Introducing Consolee Nishimwe, a genocide survivor and today’s guest.Consolee tells us about her simple childhood and the fun she’d create for herselfWe learn about the two previously competing ethnic groups in Rwanda. How Belgium incited tensions and divide between these two groups.Being aware of her status as a Tutsi as a child.Ways that Tutsis were treated since 1959. How Consolee’s family status was well-known in her village.How Consolee felt as a young Tutsi.RTLM Hit Radio and its place in society.Why the machete became the weapon of choice during the genocide.Consolee talks about how everything changed in her village the day the genocide began.Hear about Cnsolee’s experiences of day-to-day survival.Despite being part of a Christian family, how Consolee received the most help from a Muslim friend.Consolee’s experiences with sexual assault.We take stock of what happened in the first 100 days of the genocide.How Rwanda returned to a state of normalcy after the genocide.Consolee describes her mental wellbeing, post-genocide.What interactions were like with Hutus once the genocide was over.Consolee’s genocide experiences as a tool to help others.We hear Consolee’s thoughts on the current American political divide.How Consolee stays so hopeful and how she defines success.How Consolee would approach a survivor.Console answers the question: How does a survivor know that they’ve healed?Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Consolee NishimweConsolee Nishimwe on TwitterConsolee Nishimwe on InstagramTested to the Limit: A Genocide Survivor's Story of Pain, Resilience, and Hope on AmazonRalph Waldo EmersonSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today’s guest is somebody who inspires a lot of people with his words. His name is Adam Schmalholz, but you may be more familiar with his stage name, IN-Q, which stands for IN-Question. IN-Q is a National Poetry Slam champion, award-winning poet, multi-platinum songwriter, recent first-time author, and one of the most electric spoken word performers on the scene. In this episode, you’ll discover that his backstory is equally as fascinating as his poems. Listening to this conversation, you’ll find out how he first discovered his gift for poetry in school and how he went on to develop and refine his unique style. You’ll hear about the lean years, when IN-Q had no way of making money as a spoken word poet, when he had to pay for food with pocket change and work odd jobs to survive. You’ll also learn that, after putting in well over 10,000 hours in writing and performing, IN-Q finally had the opportunity to perform for people like Quincy Jones, Hillary Clinton, and even President Barack Obama. He went on to win awards, get featured on Def Poetry Jam and Oprah's Super Soul 100 List. His spoken word videos have received nearly 100 million views and he has sold out as the largest one-man poetry show in Los Angeles history. Like most changemakers, IN-Q’s backstory was not linear. All of the ups and the downs played a crucial role in navigating him along his path, and that is what makes his story so compelling – it’s something that we can all relate to. Tune in today to find out more about IN-Q’s incredible journey.Key Points From This Episode:• IN-Q’s favorite toy as a child was a G.I. Joe Snake Eyes action figure, perhaps because mystery makes history.• IN-Q talks about what it was like for him, not having his father around while he grew up.• His natural attraction to subjects that dealt with storytelling in school – like English.• When IN-Q was first introduced to hip-hop and the impact it had on him.• From Will Smith to Run DMC and A Tribe Called Quest – how IN-Q’s taste in hip-hop evolved.• Practicing his freestyle, learning to focus his energy, and the mentor he had at a young age.• What IN-Q’s idea of success was at that age and what he saw himself becoming.• The problem with setting high expectations for yourself and manipulating your truth in order to achieve them.• Freestyle versus written material and the incredible number of poems IN-Q has memorized.• IN-Q’s first rap name, and how he became known as IN-Q thanks to his curious nature.• Hear the story of when IN-Q met his father for the first time – Spoiler alert: It didn’t go well!• How IN-Q was first introduced to Da Poetry Lounge and ended up staying for 14 years.• The differences between music and spoken word poetry and what that shift was like for him.• How IN-Q funded his dreams during the lean years and the obsession that drove him.• Where IN-Q’s philosophical perspective on life came from – that he couldn’t control life, only go along for the ride.• Learn about the incredible support IN-Q received from his community in the early days.• IN-Q talks about his relationship with actor and poet, Omari Hardwick, and how Def Poetry Jam changed (or didn’t change) his life.• What IN-Q has learned from performing for and connecting with strangers versus those who are already familiar with his work.• The importance of setting clear boundaries and asking others to respect them.• When IN-Q says he is still finding his voice, it means that he is ever-evolving and learning.• Where the commentary starts and the poem begins – and why the story is key.• Find out how IN-Q cSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today we are back with another story behind the story of a change-maker who is an absolute podcast role model. In this episode we welcome Rich Roll, a champion swimmer turned alcoholic, turned lawyer who ended up having a few run-ins with the law himself. Rich’s incredible story about hitting rock-bottom and clawing his way back to sobriety is one that has inspired many along the way. After going through the recovery process, Rich began putting the pieces of his life back together only to realize that he was out of shape and burning the candle at both ends — essentially hitting rock-bottom physically. So, in his 40’s, Rich dusted off his training trucks and started swimming again, switched to a plant-based diet, and used this combination to gain back his health. This led him down a path towards doing ultra-endurance races and being in the best shape of his life! Rich then when ton to write about how he overcame all of these rock-bottom moments in his #1 bestselling book, Finding Ultra, which led to the launch of his wildly popular and inspirational Rich Roll podcast. During our conversation with Rich, we are going to explore how he went from being a bestselling author to starting his super successful podcast, which was not as linear of a process as you might think. Rich discovered that even with a bestselling book under his belt, the speaking gigs and other paid opportunities that you’d expect with all that success simply were not happening! This resulted in Rich hitting rock-bottom again, financially, which got so bad that his house was in foreclosure, his cars were repossessed, and the city even repossessed his garbage cans. It was at that time that Rich stepped out and launched his podcast in his friend’s barn, while flat broke, but still full of hope and inspiration. So whether you are thinking about getting sober, quitting your day job, starting a plant-based diet, writing a book, or even getting into the best shape of your life, don’t miss out on this episode!Key Points From This Episode:Reflecting on Rich’s favorite activities during his childhood.How Rich was impacted by his grandfather’s legacy later in life. Rich’s journey into swimming and his determination to get to the top.The work ethic that drove Rich; where did he get the motivation?How Rich decided to cold-call a swimming coach to get recruited.The Bruce Kimball backflip story: Rich’s introduction to alcohol.Rich’s slip into the dangerous life of drinking and driving.Two lucky breaks that changed the trajectory of Rich’s life.What ultimately pushed Rich over the edge and got him motivated to find sobriety.The shock Rich had when he found out how far down the path of alcoholism he was.Rich’s epiphany: pivoting his career away from being a lawyer.A health scare and existential crisis that Rich was faced with at age 40.The first step Rich took towards his health journey: a week-long fast.What is an Ultraman race and what does it include?Why Rich sees the Ultraman as a spiritual odyssey; something that will transform your life.How the opportunity to write his book came about and the financial implications.The role that podcasts played in Rich’s journey towards health.Importance of being vulnerable in order to be impactful when telling your story.How the podcasting landscape has changed over the last few years.Rich’s tendency to go all-in on his choices and mute out the rest of the world.Why it is important to remember that, no matter what, nobody is you.The most recommended interviews to listen to on Rich’s podcast.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

One of the biggest obstacles our society faced in 2020 is mental health, with a surge in cases around the world. So for this episode, we’re going back through stories that are specific to navigating mental health.The objective is to give you tools and inspiration for dealing with the darker forces that can haunt all of us at different times and in different ways, whether external or in the case of mental health, internal. The stories in this episode cover the spectrum of mental health, from anxiety to loneliness, to depression, as well as the various solutions the guests have used, such as therapy, meditation, volunteering, and adopting a bigger life purpose.There are six clips, 7 to 10 minutes long each, with various guests such Emma Mainoo of Surviving Sundays, Ben Nemtin, who helped to start The Buried Life, and Bronnie Ware who’ll remember from the 5 Regrets of the Dying episode. There’s a clip from Ajay Relan, from Hashtag Lunchbag, talking about his experience with volunteering. And there’s a clip from Jesse Israel, who founded the mass meditation movement called The Big Quiet. And Leon Logothetis of The Kindness Diaries fame talking about his before moment when he suffered meltdowns.I hope you enjoy this episode. And if you’re a long-time listener of the podcast, you’ll remember hearing some of these stories. But listening to them all in one episode, will be incredibly helpful, especially if you’re navigating through a difficult time personally. Or maybe if you know someone who is and you’re not quite sure what to say or do. Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

When he hears the word ‘changemaker’, we imagine someone’s who’s predestined to take on some special role in following their inner calling. What Light has found through having dozens of these conversations is that changemakers are often just like us. Today’s guest is Steven Reed, a childhood friend of Light’s and someone who, back in 2019, became the 57th mayor of their hometown of Montgomery, Alabama. What's significant about that is that Mayor Reed was the first Black mayor in a town that was, for a brief period of time, the official capital of the confederacy. It was also the place where Dr. King launched the Montgomery Bus Boycott in the 1950s, the place where Rosa Parks was arrested 65 years ago for her participation, and the home of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Dr. King began his career as a minister and an activist. Montgomery has a very rich history and, for that reason, Mayor Reed's election made international headlines. In today's episode, listeners hear about Steven’s unlikely journey of leaving Montgomery for business pursuits, trying to do the traditional thing by becoming a financial analyst, his failures as an entrepreneur, and why he decided to become the change he wanted to see by running for office – first as a probate judge, even though he did not have a law degree, and then later as a mayor. Find out why most people think they cannot run for public office and how, believe it or not, you are more qualified than you think. This fascinating conversation might inspire you to get more involved in local politics and become the change you want to see in your area of the world, so make sure to tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Steven reflects on his favorite toy as a child, and why he enjoyed it.The history of the Reed family in Montgomery, Alabama, and their political ties to the city.How much of this history of activism was casually shared with Steven as he was growing up.Steven’s love for football and his dream of becoming a player or coach when he got older.What it was like growing up in the cradle fo the confederacy in such a politically aware family.His decision to follow in his brother’s footsteps and attend Morehouse College in Atlanta.One of the tenets Steven learned at Morehouse: Not only push yourself to be your best, but push the community and culture beyond that.How he defined success at that point in his life – to bring his mindset to corporate America.Choosing business over political science thanks to his generation of opportunities.A work ethic philosophy he inherited from his dad – “Ain't nobody going to build you a temple and make you high priest.”Steven shares his main takeaways from his three years as a financial analyst.Realizing he wasn’t as numbers-driven as others and leaving for management consulting.How Steven came to learn real-world entrepreneurial experience in a non-traditional way.Steven talks candidly about some of his entrepreneurial failures and discouragements.What Steven’s dad taught him about removing ego and pride from business ventures.Learn about Steven’s first foray into lobbying and the reasons he chose to get into it.The 2008 speech Barack Obama gave that changed the way Steven viewed public service.Who Steven has around to support and guide him in his decisions and his role in that group.The combination of inspiration and frustration that led him to take the risk of running for probate judge in Montgomery.Steven explains how people mistake mediocrity for excellence when it comes to politicians.Why Steven believes he was elected as probate judge – given Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In the internet age, the idea of reinvention and our lives' seasons have become more prevalent and accepted. Our episode today explores and exemplifies these ideas along with many others, as we talk to artist Matty Mo, also known as The Most Famous Artist.We hear from Matty about his wild journey through business and the art world, as he talks about his days in startups, how he effectively lost everything and then turned his failures into lessons and eventual success. Matty starts by unpacking memories of his childhood and the values that he feels he absorbed from his parents at an early age. From there, we progress into his college years, wrestling pursuits, and Matty's entry into the wide world of tech and startup entrepreneurship. It was during this period that Matty suffered a major setback, after a video of him stumbling around drunk and naked went viral, he lost the funding for the exciting project he was working on and forced him to go back to square one. It was then that he began a mission of learning, starting with the lesson about viral content that he had just learned! Through some reflection of soul-searching, Matty started exploring the idea of art and how he could turn the current era and its ideals on its head to create a message. Matty talks about the stunts he has pulled in order to boost his reach and visibility, and how this approach has evolved and continues to grow into the community-oriented project that The Most Famous Artist is today! This is a story that has it all, excellence, setbacks, determination, and ultimately the ongoing quest, so make sure to listen in with us today for this amazing conversation!Key Points From This Episode:Matty's childhood interest in building model rockets. The messages about sacrifice that Matty imbibed during his childhood.Shifting role models through the years; leaders in fields of interest for Matty.The mythical and fictitious story that Matty tells about his childhood.How Matty got into wrestling out of a dislike for running!Attending Stanford — Matty's attachment to this idea of success and achievement.Interning at a wake-boarding magazine and working up into more and more prominent roles.Hacking the reach of video content and how this led to a great internship. How this work in video led to co-founding Sharethrough! Making waves in advertising in New York and a taste of living the good life.  A turning point and public humiliation that Matty experienced on the eve of a big acquisition. The launch of The Most Famous Artist in 2014 — and the ideas behinds it.Artists that influenced Matty's vision for The Most Famous Artist. Understanding how to manipulate the media and create headlines in the art world! The projects of Matty's that did not turn out in the way he had hoped. The power of building in public as an artist or business owner. Matty's respect and appreciation for his community and audience. The process around devising and creating the art that Matty has become known for. Matty's criteria for projects and the work he has undertaken during 2020.The death of the Most Famous Artist as it existed before the pandemic.Books that have made a big impact on Matty's journey!Matty's views and belief around success and self-care at this point in his life.Advice for young artists from Matty! Patience, process, and lifestyle. Reflections on Matty's journey since childhood and the themes that have run through his work. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Light WatSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

This podcast is about a lot of things, like hope and perseverance, but, if there is one thing that all of Light’s guests have in common, it’s that, at some point in their life, they discovered that the light at the end of the metaphorical tunnel was inside of them all along. This week, we hear from someone who had to die in order to find his light. After being shot, he flat-lined and, while he obviously recovered, he was transformed. After making a deal with God, he went on to become a mentor and set up a non-profit in South Central Los Angeles called Share Necessities, which helps teach and inspire underprivileged and at-risk kids mindfulness, yoga, and social responsibility practices. His name is Arjuna O’Neal, and he grew up on the east side of Detroit, Michigan, where his surroundings were governed by violence, drugs, and gangs, all of which negatively influenced his perspective on life. However, he was able to rewrite the traumas and painful experiences in life that keep him stuck and prevented him from living in their full potential and highest vibration. His latest achievement is his new business called Mind Elevation, which focuses on helping others do the same. In this episode, he shares with us how the seeds of his transformation were planted and began to sprout in the face of tragedy. Listen in as he shares with us his journey and the incredible impact he is making today for some of our most underserved communities, by sharing the same tools he used to develop and rebuild himself.Key Points From This Episode:Arjuna explains why his favorite activity as a child was being outdoors in nature.What it means to be part of a Hare Krishna community, as Arjuna was during his childhood.What Arjuna understood about the meaning or significance of his name as a child.The spiritual practices in the Hare Krishna community and the early abuse and neglect Arjuna experienced in his life.Reintegrating into the mainstream world in Detroit and experiencing bullying in school.How Arjuna’s father used his spiritual knowledge as a means to manipulate and control.Arjuna’s father imparted a sense of mistrust in others, of getting ahead without helping others.The hypocrisy between what his father was teaching him and what they celebrated at temple.Getting kicked out of school and the record or reputation that followed Arjuna afterward.Why Arjuna couldn’t envision his future as a teenager or comprehend success.While everyone feared his father, it looked like he was following his spiritual philosophy.Becoming a drug dealer had nothing to do with wanting to sell drugs – it was about building a relationship with his father.Arjuna tells a story about how far he was willing to go to have a relationship with his father.What Arjuna calls his first real assignment and coming up with his own rules.Aspiring to reach the top, putting in the work, and going around his father’s superiority.How Arjuna came to have a bounty on his head, ordered by his own father.Learning that his father was just a regular person with a damn good mask on.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Arjuna O’Neal on LinkedInArjuna O’Neal on InstagramArjuna O’Neal on FacebookShare NecessitiesMind ElevationShiva RaeSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Mindfulness, intention, and meditation might be common concepts in the Western world now, but this is a relatively recent development. Joining us on the show today to talk about these subjects and the important role that she and her family have played in the dissemination of these powerful tools, is Mallika Chopra. We get to hear from Mallika about her interesting childhood, what is was like to watch her father Deepak's transformation through meditation, the power of her mother's steadfast strength, and how they all managed a most unusual familial arc. Mallika shares many personal experiences from over the years, reflecting on what was normal to her, the difficult parts of her journey, and the lessons she learned around staying present and trusting the process. Our conversation covers the cultural and racial divides she experienced from a young age, what it was like to become familiar with some of the most famous people in the world during the '90s, and the decisions that Mallika made that have the most resonance for her now. From working for MTV and running the Heal the World Foundation to studying and raising children, Mallika has had a full and meaningful life, one which can hardly be explored in only an hour! Listeners will also learn a little about the ideas behind her books and the uncertainty of what the future holds now, tune in to hear all about it!Key Points From This Episode:Mallika's birth, childhood years, and fuzzy memories of the time. Experiences of racism on arrival in the US. The bad habits that Mallika's father, Deepak, had in her younger years.  A major shift in the Chopra family — Mallika's father's spiritual rebirth through meditation. Mallika's memories of meeting and spending time with the Maharishi.Rising fame in the family and typing up all of her father's books during the '90s. Rubbing shoulders with The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Elizabeth Taylor! Mallika's aspirations during her college years and the different career dreams she entertained.   Moving to LA, launching the Heal the World Foundation, and exciting times after college.Dealing with the accusations against Michael Jackson and the upheaval that they caused.The time that Mallika spent traveling, visiting friends, and seeing the world.Falling in love at a rave, returning to the US, and enrolling at business school. Going back to school while pregnant, Tara's birth, and help from the family.Mallika's thoughts on asking for help — balancing family and career.The process of personal check-ins and re-evaluations of our purpose.The story of Mallika's interview with Eckhart Tolle, and Deepak's advice to her.Mallika's meditation books for children, and the collaborative process these entailed.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Light WatkinsMallika ChopraLiving with IntentJust Be YouMallika Chopra on TwitterIntent BlogDeepak ChopraElizabeth TaylorMichael JacksonMaharishi Mahesh YogiSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today’s guest is one of the smartest, best-informed, and most insightful voices on all things health and wellness. His name is Shawn Stevenson, and he is a highly sought after speaker, the author of the best-selling books, Sleep Smarter and Eat Smarter. He is also the host of the very popular podcast, The Model Health Show. Listeners will discover that Shawn is basically a walking health encyclopedia with extensive knowledge of hormones and biochemicals, and he can cite from memory obscure studies that either prove or disprove the point he is trying to make about what's healthy or what’s not. His true gift, however, is making all of this complex information accessible for the average person. That's why his platform has become the go-to place to find out about the efficacy of various health studies and claims. In this episode, Shawn shares a bit about his own wellness journey, from a fast food-eating, pill-popping couch potato to the model of health he is today, and he talks candidly about the serious health issues he suffered from and how he has healed himself by changing his diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough good-quality sleep. His message is about reclaiming his health, and his mission is to help others do the same. Find out about Shawn’s childhood, his health journey, and the genesis of his skill to make information accessible and digestible, as well as some crucial and valuable information for finding your way to model health. Tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Shawn’s favorite childhood memories center around the ThunderCats and his grandparents.Why Shawn grew up with his grandparents and not his mother, who had him at 18-years-old.Shawn talks about his perception of race as a child and what his mental state was like.Shawn shares the story of when his mother got stabbed to articulate the polarity between the bootstraps mentality and a broken system.How Shawn learned the ability to make something out of nothing from his mother.A Wiffle ball incident that inspired Shawn to always seek and speak the truth.Where Shawn’s high level of self-discipline comes from – his grandparents and sports.What Shawn’s life aspiration was and how that was influenced by his environment.Breaking his hip at 15 and being diagnosed with an incurable spine disease and how this impacted Shawn’s view of pharmacology.When nutrition became important to Shawn, after two years of living with chronic disease.Once Shawn started asking himself what he needed to get healthy, that led him down paths of research and discovery.Shawn asserts the importance of diet, exercise, and sleep, and how they changed his life.The backdrop of racism and police brutality during Shawn’s health journey in Ferguson.Discovering nutrition and realizing he was living in a food desert at the time.It’s important to Shawn that listeners understand this: There are many paths to a goal.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Shawn Stevenson on TwitterShawn Stevenson on LinkedInShawn Stevenson on InstagramShawn Stevenson on YouTubeSleep SmarterSleep SmarterEat SmaSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

The phrase “at the end of the tunnel” can be reminiscent of death. While this podcast isn’t about death itself, it often addresses the death of the part of ourselves that believes we don't have what we need in order to pursue our passion, our purpose, or our calling in life. It's a rebirth of what's truly important, which is saying yes to whatever is in our hearts. These conversations are about real people, with real obligations and real obstacles, that have somehow found the courage to say yes to what was in their heart. As a result, they found themselves on quite the adventure! This week's guest could be the poster child for that paradigm. Her name is Pam Grout, and she's 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 has 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!Key Points From This Episode:Pam’s favorite activity as a child was going to the library and reading.Listeners hear a bit more about Pam’s childhood, growing up in Kansas.If she wanted to achieve her dreams, Pam realized she had to come up with creative capital.Why Pam believes she always saw herself becoming a writer, even as a teenager.Pam’s first job at a newspaper and why she doesn’t consider herself a corporate person.What it meant to Pam to become a New York Times best-selling author.Choosing experiences over material things and becoming a travel writer in her 20s.Finding her spiritual foundation in a loving, benevolent force and learning to trust in it.Hearing God’s voice, questioning the source, and studying A Course in Miracles (ACIM).Pam provides a synopsis of what ACIM is and how it helped her choose a different path.How a psychic reading predicted her pregnancy and how Pam chose to see things differently.The affirmation or appeal to the universe Pam repeated when her daughter was a baby.Self-publishing Jumpstart Your Metabolism – why Pam decided to write that book.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Pam Grout on TwitterPam Grout on LinkedInPam Grout on FacebookPam GroutA Course in MiraclesGod Doesn’t Have Bad Hair DaysTaz Grout’s 222 FoundationSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!