The Brave Table with Dr. Neeta Bhushan

Hello Brave Table fam, welcome back for another juicy episode. Today’s guest is Kelsey Chittick, a writer, mama, comedian, inspirational speaker, and author of Second Half: Surviving Loss and Finding Magic in the Missing. What you’ll get out of this episode…  - Reframing grief to experience joy, hope, and a zest for life  - Healing modalities for grieving, including alternative, psychedelics, and holistic approaches  - Explaining loss of life to your children and how to guide them through a traumatic event - Learning how to experience and embrace the full range of human emotions, working through every stage of the grief process, and not placing a timeline on your grieving - Having unapologetic confidence in who you are - Getting out of your head, into your body, and owning your sexual exploration - Letting go of the reigns as a high-achieving woman - How to do the work during challenging times to come out stronger on the other side   Kelsey suddenly lost Nate—her husband, former NFL player, best friend, and father to her children—while she was at A-Fest (where the two of us met) in Jamaica and he was back home with the kids. Her life changed in an instant.  Before Jamaica, Kelsey had lived much of her life in her head. She felt uptight, constantly nervous and high-strung, and didn’t allow herself to let loose. She was also an anxious traveler, so she was initially hesitant to go to Jamaica, but Nate insisted that she do.  As soon as she landed, she felt a sense of calm, and during the days that followed, she broke out of her shell, felt an awakening happen within her, and decided she wanted to live fearlessly and do great things, but prayed that she wouldn’t have to go through something hugely challenging to get there. Moments later, the call came that Nate had passed suddenly in front of his two children.  What followed was a journey of incredible strength and resilience as she navigated a flurry of feelings—grief & joy, devastation & hope, and everything in between. Kelsey contemplated what life would be like for her family on the other side of such a devastating event, and quickly recognized that the only way out of it would be to go through it.  Kelsey shares that it is possible to find yourself again and lead a joyful life—even after a massive, deeply heart-wrenching, and completely unexpected loss. She shows us the value in experiencing the full range of human emotions, finding what healing practices and modalities can best support you (plus opening your mind to unconventional ones including alternative therapies and psychedelics), and honoring your grief in ways that still give you pleasure. All with a little dose of laughter along the way.  More resources on things discussed in this episode…  - Purchase Kelsey’s book, Second Half: Surviving Loss and Finding Magic in the Missing. - Find her on Instagram and listen to her podcast, Keep On. - The book Kelsey speaks of at the beginning of the episode is The Code of the Extraordinary Mind: 10 Unconventional Laws to Redefine Your Life and Succeed On Your Own Terms by Vishen Lakhiani - More about being brave during challenging times. - More on finding joy in sex with Alexa Bowditch. - My own experience with grief with my family. - Kelsey’s favorite ritual right now, Dr. Joe Dispenza’s meditations. Thanks for listening, and I hope you loved this episode! Thank you so much for being here, and see you next time!

Hey Brave Table fam, and welcome back for another super juicy episode. My guest today is Regena Thomashauer, also known as Mama Gena. She is a teacher, a mama, the New York Times best-selling author of Pussy: A Reclamation, and Founder and CEO of The School of Womanly Arts, which began in her living room in 1998 and has since turned into a global movement. Above all else—Regena believes that women are the greatest untapped natural resource on the entire planet. What you’ll get out of this episode… - A brief history of the divine feminine and how we moved from a matriarchy into a patriarchy- Why now is the best time to be living on this planet as a woman- The importance of pleasure in connecting to your deepest desires- The life of the Courtesan, why it was so important, and how the women’s movement ended it- Why women need to fill up on pleasure as much as they can and use the lens of pleasure to reach a different paradigm- Tips to practice sensuality and self-pleasure so you can flood your body with feel-good hormones and turn on your radiance- Giving yourself permission to connect with your life force- The art of the turn-on and turning yourself on- Why you should always follow your desires, even when it leads to unexpected places- And much, MUCH moreRegena’s story starts with childhood abuse. From the time she was 5 years old, she remembers feeling drained, disconnected from herself, and as though she didn’t have enthusiasm for the day. She recalls being in her bed and seeing a goddess sitting on the edge of it in her peripheral vision. But every time she would turn to look at it, it would disappear. Regena longed to find her goddess. Later in life, in her 20s, she researched ancient goddess traditions and learned about the matriarchal societies of the past to find out why the feminine was missing in our modern day. Then one day at University, she got an assignment asking her to prepare as if the most important person in the world was coming for a visit (which, turns out, that's you!). As women, we’re always taught to take care of our partners, our kids, our parents—but never of ourselves. So with this assignment, Regena pampered herself for the first time... ever. She looked in the mirror in a state of pleasure and finally awakened the inner goddess she had been searching for. This was the moment that would change everything for her, realizing that this goddess is within every woman and that pleasure is the key to revealing it. The reality is that we are witnessing global unhappiness among women right now. 1 in 4 women will experience depression, and only 1 in 5 will seek treatment. There are eating disorders, an alarming level of self-harm, and built-up resentment. Despite all of the gains women have made, we are still a bit lost. But ladies, what if you could reclaim your power by exploring your sensuality and understanding what pleases you—instead of what pleases other people? Your freedom lies in following your desires; that’s your life force talking to you. It’s time we all find our inner goddess and lead lives of pleasure.More resources on Regena and things she mentions in this episode…- Buy Regena’s New York Times best-selling book, Pussy: A Reclamation.- Visit Regena’s website at https://mamagenas.com/ and find her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mamagena/ - More on the film Dangerous Beauty.- A book about Regena’s favorite Courtesan, Marie Duplessis, The Girl Who Loved Camellias: The Life and Legend of Marie Duplessis.- More about pleasure through sex with Alexa Bowditch.- And part two of that convo, what you didn’t learn about sex in school.- How my husband Ajit and I keep the fun and pleasure in our relationship.- More on healing childhood wounds with Marissa Peer.Thanks for listening, fam. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, then please consider leaving me a 5-star review so that you can help others find the show!

Welcome back, Brave Table fam! Joining me today all the way from Bali is the incredible Shayoon, a Trauma Specialist and Co-Founder of The Lightforce Center, a facility that uses ancient practices for deep healing. As a fashion icon from Los Angeles, to Ibiza, to Bali, she has been featured on the covers and in publications like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Travel + Leisure, plus many more, and was called “the powerful and most sought-after female healer” by Grazia Magazine.  Here’s what we dive into: - Dating outside of your culture and how to tell your family - How to break free from the confines of family obligations to discover yourself - Using your trauma as a tool for your healing and growth - How to question when conventional medicine says you won’t be able to walk again - Undoing your cultural and religious programming and creating your own traditions - The lessons your children have to offer and how they can help you clear trauma from your lineage - The distinction between faith and religion  - How to fiercely use your voice, speak your truth, and stand up for what you believe in  - Taking the leap when your soul is asking for more of life - Sitting with ayahuasca, freebirthing, and moving through fear Shayoon was born in Nairobi, Kenya, to a mixed-culture (Indo-Pakistani) and a conservative Muslim family. Shayoon’s family moved around the world before eventually landing in Oklahoma City when she was a teenager. Immediately, she noticed the differences between being Muslim in Kenya versus the United States, feeling like, in the US, she had to adhere to a certain identity that didn’t align with who she was and led her to ‘rebel’ against what was expected of her in her culture.  Then at 18, she got in a terrible car accident that left her feeling broken. She was told she wasn’t going to walk properly again, wouldn’t be able to have children, and couldn’t continue to play volleyball, causing her to fall into a deep depression and experience anxiety.  Longing for more than Oklahoma City could offer her, Shayoon moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in fashion. In 2010, during a weekend at Coachella, she would enter into a powerful love story, meeting her twin flame and now husband, Alexander. Shayoon’s relationship with Alexander was the catalyst for her deep healing journey and the beginning of her spiritual awakening.  Still in immense pain from her car accident and managing it with Western medicine, Alexander opened Shayoon up to holistic healing, in particular, the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Within minutes, after years of pain, medication, and feeling anger toward her body, Shayoon was freed from her chronic pain for good—and never took medication for it again.  After seeing what was possible when you begin to release unhealed trauma and stagnant emotion, Shayoon trained herself in various healing modalities and techniques so she could pay it forward. Today this mama of two is dedicated to spreading the gift of healing far and wide to relieve others of their pain and disease, help them realize their power, and live healthy, thriving lives. Alongside Alexander, they have been able to heal clients of The Lightforce Center of everything from asthma to fertility issues to depression and anxiety.  In this conversation, she also shares her free birth story, how nervous she was to bring home a non-Muslim boyfriend to meet her parents, clearing ancestral trauma, how to have unshakeable faith over fear, and trusting and honoring your intuition in choosing what practices will be most supportive for you.     If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out… - Shayoon’s Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/shayoon_/  and The Lightforce Center at https://thelightforcecenter.com/  - More about your using voice and being yourself with Vasavi Kumar. - Pursuing your dharma with Sahara Rose. - More on healing generational trauma. Thanks for listening and I hope you loved this episode. If you did, please consider leaving a 5-star review to help others find and benefit from the show. After you do, make sure you send a screenshot to support@globalgrit.co to receive my course on Emotional Mastery as my FREE gift to you. Thank you so much for being here, and see you next time!

Welcome back for another super spicy episode of The Brave Table. Today’s guest is Amber Valdez, a former TV host and NFL cheerleader turned Spiritual Awakening Mentor & 5D Business Coach to lightworkers and entrepreneurs.  We kick off the episode with a question I know all of you ladies have asked yourself at some point in your life: how do you navigate relationships as an ambitious woman? When you’re standing in your divine feminine power, it can sometimes be challenging to find a partner who can rise to the occasion and meet you at your level, without trying to ride your coattails or bring you down. Amber has been through it all when it comes to relationship experiences and the valuable lessons they can offer, even when they’re painful. She grew up in a volatile home environment with an abusive mother and a father who was an addict, which set the precedent for how she would navigate relationships in her adult life. An empath with an innate longing to heal others, she found herself dating narcissists and getting stuck in abusive relationships that she couldn’t seem to escape.  That was until she drew upon her incredible resilience and underwent a deep healing journey—using modalities like purging, fasting, reiki, energy healing, energetic cord cutting ceremonies, Akashic record readings, tapping, body talk, trauma therapy (you name it)—all of which led her to the incredible partner she has today.  There are a few things I hope you can take away from today’s conversation, depending on the season you’re in. If you are struggling in your relationship or if hearing what it’s like to date a narcissist is signaling alarm bells in your head, I hope Amber’s story can offer you the strength you need to evaluate if it’s what you truly desire, and to choose yourself instead.  And if you’re wanting to call in your king or queen, know that they ARE out there ready for you, but ultimately, it all starts with doing your inner work. Only then will you find someone who has done theirs, too, and is a match for the powerhouse that you are.  Some of the juicy nuggets you’ll get out of this episode… - What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder and how to identify it? - Softening into your feminine energy. - Establishing your self-worth and getting your needs met in relationships. - How to heal your childhood wounds.  - Breaking free of the defense mechanisms you create to protect yourself when you grow up in a toxic household. - Coping with domestic violence and abusive relationships, how to seek support, and knowing you’re not alone. - Taking radical responsibility for your self-development and personal growth. - Going through a dark night of the soul and healing modalities that can help. - How to manifest your ideal partner. Resources if you are experiencing domestic violence…  - Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 - Sakhi for South Asian Women https://www.sakhi.org/ - Manavi http://www.manavi.org/  - Apnaghar http://www.apnaghar.org/  If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out…  - Visit Amber’s website at https://www.ambervaldez.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/iamambervaldez/ - Buy Amber’s book, Stickie Affirmations: To Live Your Purpose. - Hear more about rebuilding yourself after toxic relationships in this episode with Vasavi Kumar, How To Be More Of Yourself. - And this one with Alyson Charles, Awakening Your Inner Wisdom As The Rock-Star Shaman. - Get more juicy relationship tips in my conversation with Alexa Bowditch, ​​Being Brave In Talking About Sex. - Tune into more about healing childhood wounds in this conversation with Marissa Peer. Thanks for listening and I hope you loved this episode. If you did, please consider leaving a 5-star review to help others find and benefit from the show. After you do, make sure you send a screenshot to support@globalgrit.co to receive my course on Emotional Mastery as my FREE gift to you. Thank you so much for being here, and see you next time!

Welcome back, Brave Table fam. I’m so excited to share with you today this powerful conversation with Reshma Saujani, Founder of the Marshall Plan for Moms, Girls Who Code, and Author of Brave, Not Perfect. She also just dropped her latest book,' Pay Up: The Future of Women in Work, And Why It’s Not What You Think'. 'Pay Up...' is about the big lie we’ve been told about corporate feminism, why we need to ditch ‘Lean In’ culture, and fiercely and actively championing gender equality in the workplace.  Reshma has spent more than a decade fighting for women's and girls’ economic empowerment. She also ran for Congress back in the day, where she learned about how the system is rigged against women from the top down. But it was when she became a mom herself and covid hit that things really started to shift for her, as she saw all the working mamas around her (herself included) burn out. As Reshma says, “Moms don’t break, but moms right now feel like they’re broken.” The workplace hasn’t traditionally been empathetic towards women and mothers, and there’s no doubting that this has been heightened over the past two years.  Being a mom is something a lot of us feel unconscious shame around—announcing our pregnancy at the last possible minute so we don’t mess up promotion opportunities, apologizing for our kids yelling in the background on Zoom, and basically ‘hiding our motherhood’.  But mamas and ladies, there is hope for a better future. Reshma says that right now, we have the opportunity to make women and moms feel like they matter. The US is seeing one of the biggest job booms in recent history, and CEOs are desperate. You have the chance to say “I’ll do this on my terms” and create lasting change in the workforce that doesn’t require you to choose between motherhood and your career.  To change the narrative, we have to change the patriarchal structures currently in place at the top. For example, how many of you have a paid leave structure and childcare, or as a business owner, do you have this for your team members?  If you’re lucky enough to feel well-supported in these areas, then I invite you to think of the moms and women in your life, your fellow sisters, who might be struggling. Share this conversation with them as your way of saying “I see you” and inspire hope in them that real change is happening.   Some of the juicy nuggets you’ll get out of this episode:  - What is the Marshall Plan for moms and how to start investing in economic recovery and empowerment for women - How to build the muscle of asking for what you need in order to thrive - Why it’s not your job to fix or mother your partner, but rather to figure out what you need for you  - Coping with guilt and shame surrounding what we see about motherhood on social media  - How building the workplace for the most vulnerable ends up building it in the most supportive way for everybody - Looking at toxic masculinity, changing our preconceived ideas around gender roles, and encouraging corporate policies that encourage men to take paid leave - The 4 forces of change, and the practical tips they offer that you can apply today - How to bring up the gender gap with your partner and set tangible boundaries around co-parenting - Releasing perfection as moms and learning how to “mother out loud” and mother authentically If you loved this episode, make sure you check out…  - Reshma’s website https://reshmasaujani.com/, where you can grab your copies of Pay Up and Brave, Not Perfect https://reshmasaujani.com/books/  - Her work on the Marshall Plan for Moms at https://marshallplanformoms.com/  - Find her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/reshmasaujani/ and follow Girls Who Code here https://www.instagram.com/girlswhocode/  - Listen to my journey with motherhood here. - My conversation with Ajit on fatherhood. I hope this conversation empowered you to be an agent of change for what’s happening to women in the workplace and the gender gap in our society. And if it did, I would be so grateful if you could leave a 5-star review. After you do, send a screenshot to support@globalgrit.co to receive my FREE course on Emotional Mastery as my gift to you. Thank you again for being here, and see you next time!

Welcome back to The Brave Table! Question for you—do you ever feel not like yourself? I don’t just mean feeling off your game or in a funky mood—I’m talking about a deep, to-your-core, soul-level feeling of not being the real you.  Who are you when you’re not the person your parents expect you to be? Who are you when you’re not in a relationship with a partner who has certain projections of you? How do you know what lights you up if you aren’t always trying new things, exploring, and giving yourself permission to reinvent yourself?  When I think about the ultimate reinvention queen, going from the conventional to completely UNconventional, I think of today’s guest, Vasavi Kumar.  Vasavi has lived many lives. She grew up a first-generation Indian immigrant in a household with strict rules that expected her to follow a conservative life path like her parents (her mother was a cardiologist; her father an accountant).   She tried it out for a while, going to an Ivy League school, getting married to a traditional and conventional Hindu man, and becoming a therapist—all the South Asian ‘good girl’ checks. But ultimately, Vasavi was a brown sheep, and never did things just because. From a young age, she wouldn’t take no for an answer, and was always asking the question—why? As she began asking herself why and questioning her own life—her marriage, her career, her likes and dislikes—everything changed. Following a divorce after 4 years of marriage, changing careers, a battle with drugs and alcohol, and refusing to be her family’s scapegoat, Vasavi stepped into her power and became the impactful coach she is today (and a chef, and a stand-up comedian—she’s seriously dabbled in it all!) Vasavi poses a powerful question that she would ask herself as she sought out new life experiences that I’d love for you to ponder as you listen: How do you get closer to yourself?  How do you break free from the expectations others have placed on you and get closer to the truth of who you truly are?  Some of the juicy nuggets you’ll get out of this episode: - Reparenting yourself, and how to practice what you wish your parents had given you - Softening into your feminine energy, staying in your power even when you’re confronted and being real, not performative - How to cope with shame, guilt, and secrecy in your family around topics like mental health, substance abuse, and divorce - Dealing with feelings of abandonment when you’re not supported by your family and countering them with radical self-love  - Being multi-passionate and always seeking out experiences and new ways of being to better understand yourself and love yourself - Breaking free from giving your energy to trying to fix everything around you and channeling it into healing yourself instead - Examining the role you play in your family unit and establishing boundaries - What are trauma bonds and how to break free of them so you can thrive If you liked this episode, you’ll also want to check this out… - Vasavi’s work at https://www.vasavikumar.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mynameisvasavi/  - Listen to her podcast, Say It Out Loud with Vasavi.  - Listen to my episode on Healing Generational Trauma & Breaking Free From Asian Immigrant Parents. - Learn more about pursuing your purpose—and perhaps even becoming a coach like Vasavi—in the episode How To Know If You Are Ready To Pursue Your Purpose & Change Your Life. Thanks for listening! I hope this episode inspired you and gave you your daily dose of bravery. If you enjoyed it, I would be so grateful if you could leave a 5-star review so you can help others find the show. Thank you for being here with me, and see you next week!

Hey Brave Table fam, welcome back—you’re in for a goodie today! In this chat with Miki Agrawal, the ultimate girl boss queen, we go all in—touching on everything from infertility and motherhood; to deep healing and inner work; to navigating big challenges that may come up as an entrepreneur in your journey. Miki is the founder of Tushy, Thinx, and Wild. All of these companies have been disrupted by who she is and what she stands for. She is also the author of the #1 best-selling books Do Cool Sh*T and Disrupt-Her, and was named "Fast Company's Most Creative People", “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum, and INC's “Most Impressive Women Entrepreneurs”. Miki is a true visionary when it comes to making periods, poop, and organic food sexy— completely disrupting and dominating industries that most others shy away from.  Hear why she stepped down as CEO of her own company and a breakdown that led to creating another 9-figure business—but not before sinking into the depths of an inner reckoning. She shares how to use traumatic life experiences as a means for massive growth, an opportunity for learning/unlearning, and having even more conviction in your work.  We also talk about feminism and the importance of celebrating women instead of clawing each other for a seat at the table in our patriarchal society. Instead, can we be inspired by other women and not envious? Can we choose to lift each other up and not want to take each other down? How do we change the system that’s keeping us small—in a fear-based world—and start operating from a place of abundance rather than lack?  Some of the juicy nuggets you’ll experience in this episode:  - Overcoming struggles during your most vulnerable moments  - The dangers of ‘extremism’ and leaning too much into alternative stances - Having gratitude for even your worst feelings and what it means to feel truly alive - Learning how to choose every single day what you focus on and put your energy into - The importance of creating diversity in the workplace and your community, and learning the true depths of diversity - How to be brave in the face of cancel culture, share your truth, and attract the right people to your work - Observing yourself in your toughest moments, finding the beauty in the breakdown, and extracting lessons from your sucky human moments - Letting go of reacting to low-vibrational shit, letting your work speak for itself, and doing things out of integrity - Moving into the matriarchy, awakening the divine feminine, and how to be a seductress in your life - The importance of meeting people where they are  - Miki’s healing regimens & nourishing practices that you can use when going through a tough time If you liked this episode… - Check out Miki’s website here https://mikiagrawal.com/ and on Instagram at @mikiagrawal - Buy Miki’s books on Amazon: Do Cool Sh*t and Disrupt-Her  - Listen to Being Brave in Building Your LifePass with Payal Kadakia.  - Check out How to Build Unconventional Wealth & Abundance with Codie Sanchez. - Find out how to know if you are ready to pursue your purpose & change your life, as Miki did. Thanks for listening, fam. I hope you loved this episode. And if you did, please leave a 5-star review so you can help others find The Brave Table! Thanks for being here, loves! See you again soon.

Hi again, loves, and welcome back for part two of my conversation with @thatsexchick, Alexa Bowditch. We're going to dive even deeper into our discussion on sex — and what we really should know about it related to our pleasure, health, and relationships — not just the basics we learned in school.  I'm sure many of you mamas out there will agree when I say — it's scary thinking about what our children will find out about sex before we get to them. We all want our children to know how to properly and sensually engage in sex when the time comes, and as Alexa points out, this starts with us.  It starts with taking radical responsibility for our sexuality, unlearning what we think we know, and staying humble as we open ourselves up to new experiences. As parents and adults, we need to understand how we relate to pleasure and sexual fulfillment so that we can have grounded conversations with our kids — and our partners.  Alexa talks about treating sex like you would anything else related to your well-being - you go to the gym for your physical health, you meditate for your mental health, and you need that same level of maintenance for your sexual health. Tune in to hear her insights on how to do this and a level of sex education that you definitely didn’t get in school.  What’s something you’ve learned through your sexual experiences that you wish you knew sooner? If you could go back in time, what is something you wish your parents had told you about sex, or what would have been helpful to learn in school? Knowing what you know now, how can you take ownership of your sexual education and desires to ensure that you (and if it applies, your children) can have a healthier relationship with sex?  ICYMI: Listen to part one of my conversation with Alexa here. Some of the juicy nuggets you’ll get out of this episode: - What is a “Want Will Won’t” list and how to create one and use it with your partner - grab your free copy here. - Taking ownership of your sexual desires instead of being a victim or laying blame on your partner - Practicing BDSM with communication, consent, and care - Being fully consensual in your sexual relationships, letting things be reversible, and how allowing the things you don’t actually want can cause harm - Infusing childlike innocence and play into your sexuality  - Reevaluating your approach to sex when things start to get mundane  - The anatomy of the vagina, a lesson on the clitoris, and what the vagina needs for a better quality orgasm  - How to orgasm without penetration through your unique sexual blueprint - Leveraging toys for deeper, more compassionate sex More resources on sex, relationships, and embodying your full self: - Follow Alexa on Instagram. - Grab her “Want Will Won’t” questions and other free resources here. - Listen to Alexa’s That Sex Chick Podcast. - Tune in to a conversation with my husband, Ajit, on difficult transitions and how we keep the spark alive in our relationship. - If you’re like Alexa, and people always come to you for advice on that thing you’re passionate about or an expert on, find out how you can leverage that to completely change the course of your life (like she did!). I’m so grateful to have you here, loves. If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend and leave a 5-star review so that more people can find the show and join us! Catch you next time for another juicy conversation at The Brave Table. 

Welcome back, Brave Table squad - I hope you’re ready because today’s episode is an EXTRA spicy one. We’re going to talk about the one topic many of us avoid or feel uncomfortable with - sex - with @thatsexchick, Alexa Bowditch.  Before Alexa became a sex coach and business mentor, she grew up in the deep south of Louisiana in a Catholic household, trying to follow all the “rules” in order to live out the so-called American Dream - like getting married young, having kids, and a house with a white picket fence.  But this wouldn’t be her story. Seeing her grandparents bicker and her mom marry 5 times normalized co-dependent relationships, leaving her to stay with her high school sweetheart well past their expiration date. After investing everything she had in making the relationship work, she experienced anxiety for the first time when it all fell apart and a loss of her sense of self.  What followed was a 6-year adventure working on cruise ships that took her all over the world, and what she describes as "the relationship that taught her everything", cracking her open to experiences with kink, BDSM, and consensual non-monogamy - as well as a completely new exploration of her identity.  As you listen to Alexa’s story and hear her share how she braved a new paradigm of sex in her life, I invite you to keep an open mind and investigate your own feelings around sex. Maybe you’re in a relationship and have been yearning to tell your partner your deepest sexual fantasies and desires - but aren’t sure how to approach it. Or, you’re navigating your personal relationship with sex and thinking about what you need from your future person.  Whether you're currently sexually active or not - how can you stop listening to the noise of what we’re told sex is supposed to mean and just follow what feels good for you?  Some of the juicy nuggets you’ll get out of this episode: - How to cope with losing your identity and who you are when a long-term relationship ends - What does BDSM mean, and understanding both its physical and mental components - Viewing sexual development as a part of your personal development - How to be a high-powered woman who still wants to submit and surrender - How to discuss your sexual desires with your partner and leave judgment at the door - Viewing kink and BDSM as nurturing and healing when done with love and care  - Breaking down the idea of ‘taboo’ for traditional couples  - How to rekindle your sexual spark with your partner and tips for bringing it up in conversation - Showing up as the full expression of you in the bedroom so that you can be your best self in all the other roles you play in life (as a mother, a leader, head of your household, etc) More resources on sex, relationships, and embodying your full self: - Follow Alexa on Instagram. - Grab her “Want Will Won’t” questions and other free resources here. - Listen to Alexa’s That Sex Chick Podcast  - Tune in to a conversation with my husband, Ajit, on difficult transitions and how we keep the spark alive in our relationship. - Check out this conversation with Alyson Charles who also touches on what to do when you lose yourself in a relationship and the healing that can follow.    - If you’re like Alexa, and people always come to you for advice on that thing you’re passionate about or an expert on, find out how you can leverage that to completely change the course of your life (like she did!). Thank you for being here, loves. I hope this conversation inspired you. If you loved it, I would be so grateful if you could leave me a 5-star review - this helps other people find the show so they too can learn how to be braver in life, just like you are.  See you next time!

Hey Brave Table fam, I have a question for you: have you ever asked yourself if you’re truly pursuing your life purpose? This episode is for anyone who might be going through a life crisis right now or a pivotal shift. Maybe you’ve ended a relationship, just left your job, experienced a loss — whatever it is, you’re going through an initiation or awakening of some kind, and you know you need to make a change.  There are a few different ways you can approach it. You could ignore it and hope things get better or put a temporary band-aid solution on it, but eventually, the fall will be SO big that you’ll be forced to look at it. So, why not start now? First, I want to give you permission to feel uncomfortable with it all. Change is scary! But it’s what we need to ignite us into the next stage of our evolution. Use this as your opportunity to explore, try new things, and say YES to new potential and ways of being.  You have a life purpose. Period. Everyone does. And sometimes you might just need a little guidance in figuring out what it is. So I want to tell you about (DCI) Dharma Coaching Institute.  This is the first-of-its-kind dual certification to be a soul purpose & spiritual life coach. If you’re the giver in relationships, this could be the key to unlocking your secret gift. Or even if you’re not sure about becoming a coach, but you’re just looking to discover parts of yourself that are dormant, this is the course that could change your life.  We get into critical life skills like how to have difficult conversations, how to create habits that are going to fuel you, how to develop a wealth & abundance mindset, how to heal the patterns of your upbringing and so many more juicy lessons.  We’ve had hundreds of students pass through already and our next Spring cohort starts in April and doors have opened to DCI Dharma Coaching Institute. So check it out at https://dharmacoachinginstitute.com/ and find your Dharma Archetype by taking the quiz! https://www.dharmaarchetypequiz.com/. And I’m hosting a very special Q & A session to answer all of your questions on becoming a spiritual life coach on Sunday, March 27th so mark your calendars! I wish I had this training when I was going through my own awakening and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to share it with you! Some of the juicy nuggets you’ll get out of this episode - What it means to discover your dharma and how to take the first step in creating a life that you truly love - How to be okay with your discomfort and use it as your cue to seek something bigger - How to stop living in guilt, fear, and shame and worrying about what people think of you - Calling in an exciting new chapter and the next phase of your evolution - Learning how to create boundaries and identifying what you won’t settle for any longer - Leveraging your innate gifts to help others heal For more on pursuing your dharma, listen to my episode with Sahara Rose. Thank you for being here, loves! I hope you loved this episode, and if you did, I would be SO grateful if you could leave a review. This will help other brave souls like you find the show. I appreciate you all so much!