The Spiritual Perspective

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!

Welcome to another incredible story from At the End of the Tunnel! You might be wondering: what tunnel is Light always referring to? Well, your tunnel is that darkest moment in your life when you think all hope is lost. If you haven’t had your dark tunnel moment yet or you are currently working your way through one, these stories serve as reminders that, while these tunnels signal the end of a part of your life, they also signify the beginning of another. This next phase is often when the real you has an opportunity to shine through.Today’s guest had his dark tunnel moment when he got caught up in an attempted robbery as a teenager and was facing life in the New York State prison system. Marlon Peterson also saw the light at the end of the tunnel, however, and struck up a letter correspondence with a teacher from his old neighborhood and her students. Because of everything he had been through in his life, he became uniquely qualified to offer these kids insight and wisdom into their issues, traumas, and “brokenness.” With a renewed sense of purpose, Marlon went on to earn an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice with Honors. He also spent the last five years of his incarceration as the head of the Transitional Services Center, where he created programming and curricula for men nearing release from incarceration and spearheaded and designed an experiential work-shop for incarcerated men and college students.Since then, Marlon has been named him one of America's 100 Most Influential and Inspiring Leaders in the Black Community by Ebony magazine, is an Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar, a Fall 2016 TED Resident, and a 2015 recipient of the prestigious Soros Justice Fellowship. His TED Talk, ‘Am I not human? A call for criminal justice reform’ has over 1 million views and he is the best-selling author of Bird Uncaged: An Abolitionist's Freedom Song. He is also the host of the Decarcerated Podcast, an Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity, and the founder and chief re-imaginator of The Precedential Group, a social justice consulting firm. Marlon’s story proves that there is hope at the end of any dark tunnel if you have the honesty and resolve to let your inner light shine. Tune in today for a candid, challenging, inspiring and, ultimately, uplifting conversation with Marlon Peterson!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Welcome back to At the End of the Tunnel, a podcast that shines a light on the backstories of people who've taken a leap of faith away from convention and toward helping or inspiring people through their story, their work, or, in the case of today’s guest, their art. Saul Williams is a multi-talented rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, poet, writer, and actor. He is known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop, and for his lead roles in films like the 1998 independent film, Slam. Like this generation’s Harry Belafonte, Saul is first and foremost an activist whose medium is song. Themes that show up in his work include social justice, race, gender, and capitalism, and he has gone on to collaborate with the likes of Nine Inch Nails, NAS, Allen Ginsburg, and Rick Rubin. Though he has been interviewed countless times during his prolific career, today’s conversation focuses on his backstory, diving deep into his upbringing as the son of a minister and an educator, both of whom were activists as well. Saul describes the moment that he discovered his passion for spoken word, which happened almost by accident, and how he had been preparing for that moment without even realizing it. He also touches on his unlikely path to starring in Slam when he wasn’t the director’s first choice and explains why he decided to get into music later, a leap of faith that surprised even him. Tune in today to learn more about the incredible, inimitable Saul Williams!Key Points From This Episode:Saul reflects on his favorite activities as a child and why he says he was never bored.Hear about Saul’s family heritage and his personal relationship with the church, activism, and the Civil Rights Movement.How Broadway, gospel music, and Shakespeare influenced his decision to become an actor.A moment in Saul’s life that influenced his view of the socialization process going forward.The exposure he had to queer and trans communities growing up in New York.How Saul envisioned his life playing out as a teen when he was enrolled in acting school.How attending acting courses at Spelman helped Saul discover the intersection between Black art, expression, feminism, and progression.How performing ‘Amethyst Rocks’ at Brooklyn Moon Cafe in 1995 officially opened the doors to his career as a poet.The feeling that he was on the precipice of calling that night, reciting a poem he had written.Why checking his ego as a poet was important; there was no room for braggadocio.What Saul means when he says that he sees poetry as an algorithm, a coded language.How practicing meditation helped him question the role of ego and remain centered.Being on the cusp of the spoken word movement in New York and his responsibility to ensure that what he wrote was open and progressive.Hear about Saul’s path to acting in Slam when he was originally meant to write for the film.Looking back to his childhood and seeing how Saul’s imagination has come into play throughout his life.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Despite its prevalence in our society, pornography is not a topic that is discussed very openly. Without having these difficult conversations, there is no way we can create the cultural shifts needed to move past the issues in the space. As someone who has never shied away from tough conversations, Maria Ahlin is on a mission to get people talking. Maria's viral TEDx Talk, Let's Talk Porn, has garnered over five million views, and she has given hundreds of educational talks over the years. Maria also runs her own non-profit, Changing Attitudes, which looks to eliminate the attitudes which lead to sex-buying. In this conversation, we hear about Maria's childhood, how her parents fostered her inquisitive spirit was fostered, and the final year high school project she did that opened her eyes to sex trafficking. She talks about some of the lessons she has learned and how her own attitude has shifted along her journey. We talk about porn addiction, where Maria shares her refreshing point of view, the importance of teaching children critical thinking skills, and the power of tackling a big issue by taking small steps. Maria's mission is a grand one, and her commitment, tenacity, and open-mindedness around topics that so many of us would rather avoid is incredibly inspiring. Tune in to hear it all!Key Points From This Episode:Hear about Maria's childhood and her love of horses and books. The leadership lessons Maria learned from looking after her horses. What Maria's home life was like and the independence she had early on in her life. Maria's first exposure to porn when she saw a Playboy at 12, and her reaction to it. The spirit of debate and discussion in Maria's home growing up. Hear about Maria's first involvement with activism. The encouragement Maria has always felt from adults with regard to her writing. Why Maria views her mental health and strength as success. Addiction struggles in Maria's close family. The genesis of Maria's final year high school project which explored sex trafficking. Research Maria undertook for her project and what she learned along the way. How Maria knew that she had found her calling after completing the project. The findings that surprised Maria most about sex trafficking and porn. What happened when Maria Googled porn, putting herself in a curious child's shoes. Two sides to the debates around porn addiction; some people don't acknowledge that it's real. Why Maria decided to start her organization, Changing Attitudes. How Maria's understanding of pornography and sex trafficking has changed over the years. Maria's passion for preventative work and getting to the root cause of issues. A moment where Maria felt discouraged on her journey. The value and the cumulative effect of many small positive steps. Where Maria has seen the biggest shifts occur. Maria's definition of success for her mission; sparking conversations. Advice Maria would give a young person who wants to devote themselves to a cause. The books Maria has written, which will hopefully be released in English soon.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

The more compassionate we are, the more we will want to help others, and often it is our own suffering that helps us understand those experiences outside of ours. Today we speak to Joseph Bradford about how the challenges of his childhood led him to dedicate his life to helping the homeless. Joseph started a non-profit called B.A.R.E. Truth, an organization that provides mentorship, independent living assistance, and wellness services to impoverished individuals and families, helping them attain healthy, purpose-driven lives, ultimately changing the economic and living conditions of communities. Our conversation begins as always with Joseph’s upbringing and he tells a story about being born to a very young mother as the oldest of his siblings. He talks about the responsibilities placed on his shoulders to look after those more vulnerable than himself, even while he was just a small kid. This sparked an early tendency in Joseph to be caring and to see that the people around him were safe before he thought of his own wellbeing. We hear about the many challenges Joseph faced through school and college before he finally wound up in California and began to help the homeless after giving away half his dinner one night. Joseph talks about consistently trying to lend a hand and how this process slowly scaled up to the point where he started B.A.R.E Truth. We spend the last part of our conversation focusing on good approaches to helping the homeless, the work Joseph does to keep his non-profit running, and the centrality of his desire to care in keeping him motivated each day.Key Points From This Episode:What childhood was like for Joseph growing up in the projects of Kansas City.How basketball helped Joseph feel free and escape being the oldest sibling.The feeling of responsibility that Joseph had as a child with no father figure.Lessons Joseph learned about the value of taking care of others as a child.The many people in Joseph’s family who died after his father did.Joseph’s relationship with his neighbor and his early definition of success.How Joseph offset being teased for being dark-skinned by being good at school.Life and responsibilities for Joseph in different shelters after his house burned down.More wealth and big changes for Joseph and his family after his mom got a boyfriend.How Joseph sold drugs during his struggling phase and why he stopped.Work and college for Joseph after high school and his mom and her boyfriend separated.Why Joseph wishes he encouraged his siblings more.Joseph’s opinion on drugs and alcohol and why he abstained.New challenges Joseph faced through different moves after finishing college.A desire Joseph developed to feed the hungry after giving a homeless person half his meal one night.How receiving help would have made Joseph’s life better and how this influenced his choice to help others.How Joseph learned property management with the goal of providing housing to the homeless.Joseph’s core desire to help people and how this feeds into his work with B.A.R.E Truth.The role Joseph’s mother played in keeping him motivated to achieve his dream.Connections Joseph built up as he secured food and spoke to different people.How Joseph straddled his job while also handing out food at night.Joseph’s explanation of the words that make up the name B.A.R.E Truth.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Light WatkinsJoseph Bradford on LinkedInSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Some of you might be wondering why this podcast is called At the End of the Tunnel. Well, it’s because all of Light’s guests have had to go through some period of uncertainty or darkness or had to take a huge leap of faith in order to find their inner light, which ends up leading them to their path and purpose. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Jasmine Mason, a Los Angeles-based contemporary dancer turned author. She has been dancing since she was three years old but, in the last few years, she became inspired to take a big leap of faith in the direction of self-publishing a book about breakups.One day, while doing laundry in between shows, Jasmine realized that she had acquired a collection of oversized t-shirts from some of the people she had dated. Wondering how many other women were keeping an ex-boyfriend’s shirt after the breakup, she had the idea to publish You Ain’t Shirt, an inspiring and uplifting coffee table book about the breakups, healings, and lessons of 65 women that held onto an ex’s t-shirt. Of course, there is no way Jasmine could have known that her initial curiosity around a shirt from an ex-boyfriend could have led to the production of a stunning coffee table book that helps people move through breakups, but that is the beauty of following your inspiration; you never know where it might lead you!In this interview, Jasmine shares the backstory of how she grew up, how that influenced her ideas around relationships, why she had that curiosity, and all of the steps that led to the conception and the execution of You Ain’t Shirt, as well as how she knew that she had to take action on the idea, even though it could potentially be a money pit. Make sure to tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:Back to the beginning: Jasmine shares a bit about her childhood and family life.Why she says she was born to dance and the impact that having an ‘alter ego’ had on her.Jasmine reflects on what it takes to become a world-class performer: her love for dance.Find out how she viewed success early on and why she never had a plan B to dance.How her parent’s divorce and her mother’s pain informed Jasmine’s view of relationships.The career decisions she made once she graduated and how she learned to deal with rejection without taking it personally.Hear about her formative dating experiences and what they taught Jasmine about herself.Some traits of an impactful relationship, including the importance of healthy communication.Even though her mom didn’t provide the best examples of healthy relationships, Jasmine says she gave great breakup advice.The origins of You Ain’t Shirt: how realizing she wasn’t creating for herself anymore sparked the idea to create a book.The t-shirt that inspired the book and Jasmine’s personal experiences with breakups.What drove her to keep moving forward with the book and devote her love and energy to it.How Jasmine knew that the project was worth every penny she spent on it; it’s expensive to make a coffee table book!Jasmine speaks candidly about overcoming the voice in her head that said she couldn’t do itFind out what Jasmine learned in the process of creating You Ain’t Shirt, including that it’s okay to lean on others.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Jasmine Mason on InstagramYou Ain’t ShirtYou Ain’t ShirtYou Ain’t Shirt on InstagramSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Many of the stories we share on this podcast feature a winding journey, with unexpected events and results, and none more so than that of today's guest, Jason Wachob. Jason went into early adulthood, as an aspiring basketball player with a serious hedonistic streak. This led to him scraping through university and ending up as a money-focused equities trader on Wall Street, and it was only the world-shaking events of 9/11 that woke him up to the possibility of finding work that was more aligned with something deeper in his core. We get to hear about these moments of transition, and the challenges that Jason went through while traveling the country for a chocolate chip cookie startup! It was while confronting a resurgent back issue that Jason began his journey into yoga, health, and a different way of living. This personal quest ended up sparking the beginning of his business, mindbodygreen, an early blog-turned-health brand that aimed to share the lesson that Jason himself was learning. In our conversation, we hear about the tricky first three years of the business, and the resulting success and growth that they have experienced. Jason underlines the power of surrender, conducting your own wellness orchestra, and so much more, so be sure to join us today!Key Points From This Episode:Jason's childhood fascination with Star Wars and sports.An emerging passion and talent for basketball and the work that went into improving. Early life lessons that Jason learned while pouring his time and energy into basketball. The round-about way that Jason found his way to Columbia University. Work that Jason did during his college years, waiting tables, delivering beer, and more! How reading Liar's Poker inspired Jason to pursue bond trading out of college.Personal loss that Jason encountered and his emotional response to the events. The legacy of Jason's father and the philosophy he absorbed growing up. Beginnings of Jason's career as an equities trader and how he found his feet. The impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Jason's outlook and goals. Prioritizing fulfillment over money; looking for a career with more meaning, purpose, and significance. Jason's organic cookie company and the terrible back issues he ran into around this time.The changes that Jason made in his diet, approach to health, and his adoption of a yoga practice.How a personal journey into health and wellness birthed the mindbodygreen business! Jason's belief in letting go and surrendering in order to heal. Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

The path to success in the culinary world is almost never an easy one, and reaching the top of the game in New York City as a black chef is undoubtedly even more difficult. Today, we are joined by the amazingly inspiring and energetic Marcus Samuelsson, world-famous chef, the founder of Red Rooster, and author of several great biographical and culinary books, including his latest, The Rise. In our conversation, we chart Marcus' winding and challenging journey, from his earliest memories in Ethiopia, to his adoption in Sweden and the journeys he made across the globe chasing his dreams of working in the world of high cuisine. Throughout our chat, Marcus' progressive perspective and positive outlook shine through. Even when faced with hurdles and unfair circumstances, he has managed himself and his aspirations in a way that has clearly paid off. He talks about the importance of community and how he tied that into Red Rooster, the failures that preceded his bigger successes, and the legacy of great black chefs that he hopes to continue. We also talk about the influence of family, making it on a shoestring budget, and why he forgot about how hard he was working! Listeners can expect to come away with great insight into the life of an activist chef, someone committed to excellence as well as social change, so make sure to tune in!Key Points From This Episode:Marcus' awareness of his early years, losing his birth mother, and his adoption. The focus that Marcus inherited from his Swedish mother, and how this has served him through his life. The moment that Marcus realized his calling was bringing new flavors to the world around him. Developing a strong work ethic and the prioritization enabled Marcus to live cheaply. Marcus' mentality around working outside of his comfort zone in the early years. What it meant to find a groove, work hard, and forget about the hours and labor it took.  The professional failures that helped Marcus with his eventual success with Red Rooster. How Marcus brought together his past and present, and the community in his restaurant.   Moving on from a difficult dispute over the intellectual property of Marcus' own name!The bumps in the road; losing and gaining friends, and persisting through tough times. Community work in Harlem and Marcus' involvement in responding to the pandemic. Marcus' view of the opportunity presented by the pandemic for a potential reset. Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Tracee Stanley is a noted and lineaged teacher of Yoga Nidra, meditation, and self-inquiry, and one of Light’s dear friends and mentors. Back when he was a yoga teacher, Tracee’s studio, Divine Motion in L.A., was one of the very first studios that Light taught at after his teacher training program. Since then, Tracee has become one of the foremost leaders of Yoga Nidra and mindfulness, teaching all over the United States.Her practices are inspired by the tradition of Himalayan Masters and Sri Vidya Tantra, into which she was initiated in 2001. She is the co-founder of the Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra School and created the Empowered Life Self-Inquiry Oracle Deck. Tracee practices internationally, leading retreats, teacher training, and presenting at festivals and conferences, including Oprah and Gayle's Girls Get Away. In this episode, she shares a bit about her experience of being one of the only Black yoga teachers in L.A. when she started out, how she felt about hiring Light as one of the first yoga teachers in her studio, and she describes of the many leaps of faith she had to take in order to become a teacher, community leader, and author. Her recently released book, Radiant Rest, is all about Yoga Nidra, which is the best kind of yoga there is; the yoga of sleep. Tracee is an all-round inspiring person as a wife, step-mom entrepreneur, teacher, student, community leader, and host of the Radiant Rest Podcast. She has so much life experience and wisdom to share with you, from leading her successful career as a film producer to opening a yoga studio and following her heart when it came to getting out of an earlier relationship, as well as overcoming self-betrayal and finding her purpose in life. This conversation will resonate with you, no matter who you are, so make sure to tune in today! Key Points From This Episode:Tracee reflects on her favorite toy or activity as a child; reading.Find out more about her family structure, her strict upbringing, and where she grew up.Some of the lessons that stand out from her childhood, like always be on time.How she perceived success as a child; why she wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up.How conscious her family was about race and what it was like for Tracee growing up Black in her neighborhood.Why Tracee got spanked often as a child and the most defiant things she did back then.Her father’s entrepreneurial spirit; how he started his own insurance agency in Long Island. Watching him building his empire and how that influenced Tracee.What informed the decision to go to Stony Brook College and her experience as an introvert.Learn about the moment Tracee got scouted as a model and the travels that followed.Traveling to South Africa after Nelson Mandela was elected and the epiphany of peace and stillness she experienced there.Tracee speaks about her spiritual foundation and the influence of books like the Bhagavad Gita, The Prophet, and Way of the Peaceful Warrior.Why, after her first experience with chakra meditation, she knew she needed to learn more.How having her bag stolen in South Africa signaled the end of her modeling career and her first steps into “something more.”To offer an indication of the culture in South Africa, Tracee tells “the water bottle” story.Find out more about her family aspirations at the time; why she wanted to adopt children.Her foray into film production and the first internship she did at a production company in L.A.Returning to L.A. from South Africa; how her attitude towards modeling changed.When Tracee discovered yoga, the studio at Yoga West, yogic philosopSend us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!