The Brave Table with Dr. Neeta Bhushan

Thanks for tuning into another episode of The Brave Table with today’s guest, Daniela Woerner.  Daniela is the CEO of Addo Aesthetics, where she coaches spa owners and aestheticians on marketing tactics and retail sales strategy. She’s also the host of the Spa Marketing Made Easy podcast, a mama of 2, and a military wife to her husband, Kyle.  In this conversation, Daniela bravely cracks open her heart to share the story of losing her dad suddenly, starting fresh in Hawaii, meeting her first husband, going through a divorce, and how she found love once again. What you’ll get out of this episode…   - How to use grief as a way to reinvent yourself and how to hold space for others who might be grieving differently than you - Being brave in deeply listening to your intuition and surrendering to everything life brings your way - Having the bravery to honor and accept every season of life you enter - Finding the gifts in each person who enters your life, even when their presence is not meant to be forever - Reframing the concept of divorce as an accomplishment and a lesson, rather than a failure - How to take life one moment at a time and stay radically present - Learning how to trust divine timing and that you’ll always be in the right place, at the right time - Knowing yourself, being in tune with your needs, and why it’s crucial to be clear on what you want  - How to know when it’s time to leave a relationship Daniela was a senior in high school when she got a spiritual gut instinct that her father would soon pass away, despite him being only 44 years old. Two days later, she came home from school and heard ambulance sirens in the distance and knew they were heading for her house.  What followed was a time of deep grieving for Daniela and her family, who all processed her father’s passing differently. She was supposed to go away to college in the fall but had to abandon her plans to stay in town for a court case regarding the medical malpractice that resulted in her father’s death.  Her family eventually came back together and decided they needed a fresh start. So, they left the mainland US for a new chapter in Hawaii, where they could focus on healing the pain they experienced from such a sudden loss.  In Hawaii, Daniela met her first husband, Alessio, who provided her with just what she needed in that season: joy, fun, and laughter. After 9 years of marriage, they realized they wanted different things and parted ways with utmost love and admiration for one another.  Daniela decided to leave Maui and felt she was supposed to be in either New York, Boston, or Washington DC (without ever having lived in any of these cities)! Another spiritual download, btw! In a serendipitous meeting, she found her now-husband Kyle, who had also lived in Hawaii and was now based in Boston (again, her intuition nailed it).  Today, Daniela and Kyle have two kids, she has a thriving business, and she knows she is exactly where she's meant to be. Daniela's story is a lesson in how there are no mistakes in life; everything that happens to you is a part of your divine plan. The more you can ebb and flow with the challenges and lessons the universe offers and have unwavering trust, the more things will work out—and often better than you could have ever imagined.  Whatever season you're in right now, remember that it's just that—a season. Every day is a new day, and something new and beautiful is waiting to unfold.  If you liked this episode, make sure you check out…  - Daniela’s website https://www.addoaesthetics.com/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/addoaesthetics/ - More on knowing when it’s time to end a relationship with Amber Valdez https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amber-valdez-how-to-be-brave-in-toxic-relationships/id1608226580?i=1000556399717  - Navigating grief with Kelsey Chittick https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kelsey-chittick-navigating-through-grief-sex-and-comedy/id1608226580?i=1000557901976  - My own story of navigating grief, loss, and healing generational trauma https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healing-generational-trauma-breaking-free-from-asian/id1608226580?i=1000553426419  Thanks for being here, and see you next time at The Brave Table!

Welcome back, Brave Table fam, this time for a different kind of episode! I’m switching seats and pulling up a chair to The Brave Table with the man behind the magic, podcast producer extraordinaire, Chris Van Loan.  Together, we reflect on what we’ve learned from our guests and the conversations we’ve had, what the next evolution of being brave looks like, and how to bring more courage, fearlessness, and bravery into your everyday life.  What you’ll get out of this episode…   - Being brave enough to open yourself up to criticism and being misunderstood - Tips on creating a personal brand that is true to you, even when that means being vulnerable - How to have compassion for your friends and family who don’t support your growth and evolution and expect you to stay the same  - Dealing with being afraid of what other people will think and working through the backlash - My experience as a Brown woman in the personal growth community and opening the door for more diversity in this space - Who you are versus who you are in relation to satisfying other people’s happiness, knowing what you like and don’t like, and what your non-negotiables are - Finding your zone of genius and being the expert of your life  - The future of spirituality and the importance of creating communities - Feeling grief over the things you’ve let go of, and how to integrate any fears and shadows that have been coming up for you  It feels like just yesterday Chris and I had a pipe dream of starting a podcast, and now here we are, 28 episodes in and only just getting started! Chris has such a wise and sweet nature about him, and as the one who has been behind the lens and held a vision for this show for so long, it felt right to put him in front of the camera to shed his light and wisdom on the journey so far, plus hold ME accountable for the very thing I’m bringing others here to do: to be brave.  Yup. I’m here to be present with this show’s namesake, walk my talk, and stretch and expand alongside all of you, realizing that I am still very much on my own journey with bravery and what it really means to meet my edge. Having hard conversations, when I don’t always agree with the ideas or things being shared, but finding within myself ways to honor and respect them and give people a soapbox to stand on to speak their truth, has definitely been my bravest journey to date.  In this episode, I get into what got me to this point. My childhood days of wanting to be like Oprah and interview people, and longing for more representation of Brown women in this space. Being a recovering perfectionist and how to let go of the image you once had of yourself (which, more often than not, is an image that others project upon you).  And—a big shout out to those of you who also grew up in an immigrant home; you especially know how scary it can be to stray off the path your parents laid out for you. For all the Black & Brown sheep of their family, know that I'm here, walking hand-in-hand with you on this journey. Some things to ponder as you listen to this episode—where have you been pushed to your edge lately and had to be braver? If you can’t come up with an answer, are you ready to find something—a conversation, an experience, an idea—that could take you there?  If you liked this episode, here are others for you to check out..  - What it means to be brave https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-it-means-to-be-brave/id1608226580?i=1000551021321  - If you’re struggling with your family on your journey of being brave, check out Healing Generational Trauma & Breaking Free From Asian Immigrant Parentshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healing-generational-trauma-breaking-free-from-asian/id1608226580?i=1000553426419  - Learning how to have tough conversations with people https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ghosting-setting-boundaries-what-does-it-really-say/id1608226580?i=1000558858100 

Hey fam, we’re back today for another fiercely brave conversation—this time with the divine Davana May. Davana is a Radical Birth Keeper, the co-founder of Sacred Sisters Circle, and a fully embodied queen whose purpose is to share her innate wisdom of the sacred feminine and help women reclaim their birth.  What you’ll learn out of this episode…  - Following your intuition, reclaiming your power, and rewilding womanhood - How to learn from your difficult experiences and use them as an opportunity to choose differently next time - Things they don’t tell you about pregnancy and birth in the Western medical system - Reconciling the both/and—the positive and the negative—of the experiences we choose - Surrendering to the unknown and moving through your fears with death to experience bliss in the present moment - What is freebirthing and radical birth keeping, and how do they differ from conventional views on birth - How to fully trust the body to do the things it naturally knows how to do  - Trauma in birth and ways to heal from it A mama of two, Davana has two wildly captivating birth stories that could not be more different from each other. With her first son, Cairo, she went through the conventional medical system—all the tests, ultrasounds, and even put under anesthesia for a C-section. While grateful for the safe arrival of her little boy, Davana couldn’t help but feel like the birth was stolen from her: the sacred and ancestral wisdom of birthing embedded in her soul was lost to the trauma she experienced. When Davana found herself pregnant again in 2020, she decided, this time, she would do everything differently. While she did open herself up to the possibility of going a more conventional route, she landed on no hospital visits, no tests, no ultrasounds, no midwife, and to opt for a free birth instead. Working with her Radical Birth Keeper, Isabella, Davana fully and completely surrendered to her body and the natural process during her prenatal journey. In 2021, Davana went into labor during the craziest storm that Austin had ever seen in 40 years, locking down the city and further adding to her need to let go of control. Despite her fears that surfaced regarding a stillbirth, her own health and wellbeing, and external circumstances like the weather, Davana put her complete trust in her birth and her body. She welcomed her son, Nature, at home—without water, without electricity, without any medical assistance—and in total bliss.  As you listen, I invite you to think about what you currently believe about birthing your greatest fears even if you don’t have children, since as women we are birthing new projects, book babies, businesses- and the fears that arise through the portal of the ‘birth’.  Is reclaiming birth, freebirthing, and surrendering to a natural process something you would be open to, or at least, open-minded about? Or even if you haven’t don’t plan on experiencing birth, where in your life could you let go and trust your intuition and power? Resources for topics discussed in this episode, and more like it…  - Find Davana on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/divinedavana/  -  Learn more about the Freebirth Society https://www.freebirthsociety.com/  - Reclaiming your feminine essence through pleasure with Regena Thomasauer https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/regena-thomasauer-reclaiming-yourself-living-a-life/id1608226580?i=1000557540243  - Another powerful story about freebirthing with Shayoon https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shayoon-trusting-love-healing-and-creating-your-own/id1608226580?i=1000557080386  - My birth story and surrendering to my fears https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grit-grace-in-surrendering-to-life-moments/id1608226580?i=1000551016211  Thanks for being here, and see you next time at The Brave Table!

Hey, Brave Table fam! Today we’re getting into a topic that has come up a lot not only in the communities I’m a part of but given the world we’re living in, is something all of us have likely done or experienced at some point: ghosting.    I’m going to talk about why we do it, why we need to stop doing it, and how ghosting actually has to do with how you create and set boundaries in your life. Let’s get into it.  What you’ll get out of this episode:  - A deep dive into ghosting, how we got here, and how we can do better - What happens when you don’t effectively communicate and steps for practicing how to have difficult conversations. - How ghosting shows you the lessons you need to learn and how they’ll keep coming back to you if you don’t end the karmic cycles - How to create agreements with others and containers for issues you need to discuss - What are emotional regulation practices and a few of my favorites for you to try out - What ghosting says about your greatest fears and how it might show you that you’re people-pleasing and burning yourself out - Ghosting and dating: how ghosting can hold you back from finding your person Do you realize that, only a decade ago, phone calls or face-to-face conversations were our main ways of communicating with each other? Isn’t that wild to think that now, as we’re living in a world where Zoom calls or corresponding via text and email are the norm?  While technology has been great for helping us be more efficient, it’s also led to the phenomenon of ghosting, where we just stop replying to the people we don’t want to deal with. The worst part is—that this has become standard behavior. Whether it's in business or dating or in everyday situations you refuse to face, we’ve normalized treating our fellow humans like something we can delete, just like we do a text or email.  But just because we’ve dipped out doesn’t mean the karmic link is over. When you don’t close the loop on the things you’ve engaged with energetically, you’re bound to keep having to face the same lesson over and over. So, why do we ghost, and how do we stop?  I want to peel back the layers on this. As someone who has both been ghosted and guilty of doing it, too, I’ve learned that it ultimately comes down to setting your boundaries. Yup. When you don’t place boundaries with those around you and clearly state what is a YES and what is a NO, you end up burning yourself out OR inviting situations into your life that you don’t want and don’t know how to properly handle.  This is something I had to experience for myself following my self-marriage in Bali, where I said I would say yes to every date that came my way, only to find myself getting nowhere fast because I wasn’t properly managing my energy.  Ensuring you’re confident and competent in sharing your boundaries is something I prioritize teaching in my coaching and courses. Learning how to get a handle on your boundaries and having those tough conversations that you try to avoid provides a massive opportunity for growth.  Are you ready to step up to the challenge and take one small step today to close the chapter on someone you’ve ghosted? I’ll help guide you on how to be brave and take the first step to get through it.  Things I talk about in this episode and other episodes like it…  - Listen to my episode with Alyson Charles here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alyson-charles-awakening-your-inner-wisdom-as-the/id1608226580?i=1000552682079  - And check Alyson’s book, Animal Power, here https://www.alysoncharles.com/animalpower  - Dating and learning how to establish boundaries with Vasavi Kumar https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vasavi-kumar-how-to-be-more-of-yourself/id1608226580?i=1000555690092  - More on what it means to be brave and have difficult conversations with people https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-it-means-to-be-brave/id1608226580?i=1000551021321  Thank you so much for being here, and see you next time!

Hi Brave Table fam, thanks for tuning into another episode. Today I’m chatting with the queen of dreaming big and encouraging others to do the same, Emily Williams.  Emily is the Founder of I Heart My Life—a media, education, and lifestyle company dedicated to helping women love every aspect of their lives. She is also ​​a Money Mindset Expert, Success Coach, CEO, author, speaker, podcast host, and, as her clients say, a fairy godmother of making dreams come true. What you’ll get out of this episode…  - How to train yourself to be happy and rewire your thoughts - Moving through the highs and lows of life, even after you’ve accomplished your biggest goals - Listening to your heart and reinventing yourself when it’s telling you to take a different path - Why following your vision is more important than following the money - Learning that your intuition is your most powerful tool  - Why you need to create a daily gratitude practice and how to get started - What you can learn about yourself through your dating experiences - How to keep pursuing your passion and build your business, even when you face rejection - Turning your jealousy into clarity surrounding what you want out of life Emily’s journey began when she decided to make a U-turn and tell her mom she wasn’t going to attend the prestigious Northwestern University. So, they turned around and drove back to her hometown in Ohio, where Emily would work a minimum wage job for two years before taking a huge leap.  She didn’t fully understand why, but Emily’s heart was telling her to move to London and write a book (which she did! It hasn’t been published, but it’s all about the world of online dating and how it led her to do her husband, James. Since then she’s published a different book, which you’ll find linked below).  With four suitcases in tow, off she went to start a new life in a city where she didn’t know anyone and didn’t even have enough money to take a cab. While she was excited about her adventure, Emily soon realized that she still didn’t feel fully satisfied in her quest nor that she had found her purpose. She threw herself into her self-development and started working with a coach who shared a simple phrase that would change everything for her: “You don’t have to believe everything your mind is telling you.” This prompted Emily to develop a gratitude practice to reframe her thinking, starting with things as small as her morning coffee. She realized that when she was focused on what she didn’t have and didn’t want to happen in her life, she ended up manifesting more of the same. By flipping the script and gaining mastery over her mindset, she was able to launch a seven-figure coaching business and a media company aimed at lifting women up and helping them to fulfill their desires—just like she was able to.  Emily’s story proves that when you stick with your vision and stay focused on your wins, success will follow. I hope this episode inspires you to start feeling grateful for what you have in your life—even the smallest of things—and using them as a catalyst to launch you into your bigger, juicier ambitions.  If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you check out… - Emily’s website at and find her on Instagram @emilywilliams and @iheartmylife. -Grab a copy of Emily’s book, I Heart My Life. - Check out this episode with Regena Thomasauer, aka Mamagena, the woman inspiring Emily during this season of her life. - More on pursuing your purpose with Sahara Rose.  - Building conventional wealth and more on money mindset with Codie Sanchez. - Being brave in reinventing yourself. Thanks for listening, and I hope you loved this episode. See you next time!

Hello, Brave Table fam, and welcome back. This week I’m riding solo to talk about something so many of you have asked me about: friendships. How to build them, nurture them, and, when it’s time, how to let them go to pursue ones that are aligned with your next evolution.  What you’ll get out of this episode…. - How to a create community aligned with your goals and shared experiences - Why it’s so important to prioritize friendships and sisterhood, even when life gets busy - Evolving your friendships to reflect the season you’re in  - The value of finding friends who you can learn from and transform together - Discovering what lights you up and gets you curious so you can find others who share your passions  - Moving from friendships focused on status & the superficial to something deeper - If you want to go deep and your friends don’t, why you need to upgrade your tribe, and how to do it  - How to do a ‘friend inventory’: determining what you need out of your friendships and what you have to offer - Ways to put yourself out there to meet new people and find your tribe  - Accepting when friendships end and letting go with grace  When you’re a bosswoman or a bossmama, or just focused on your children or career, sometimes friendships take a back seat. And, if you’re the introvert in the room, I can totally see how friendships get pushed to the side so you can cozy up on the couch and read books instead. But they are our LIFE FORCE. They are what keep us going! And the further we get on this journey of life, the harder it can become to meet—and keep—strong friendships with people who are as committed to growth, self-development, and emotional wellbeing as you are.  When I was still running my dentistry practice, many of my friendships were pretty surface-level. They usually revolved around the latest gossip, and mutual victimized complaining (yanno, the kind: “You had that happen to you? Well, I had it way worse!) Yep, and I know I’m not alone. As women, we love to sulk and share how bad our lives are to find shared connections and belong!  It wasn’t until I sold my business and started on my research journey around the globe, meeting friends from different walks of life—from different retreats/events/places—and landing in places like Kuala Lumpur & Bali that I found my friendships 100% radically shifted. Finally, I was meeting humans with the same life missions, depth, and spiritual journeys in an incredible community of expats and change-makers who matched the path I was on.  Through this shared experience, I noticed how much deeper I was able to connect with others than I had been in the past—and how much more quickly, too. But it required putting myself out there, seeking experiences where I knew I would find like-minded and like-hearted individuals, and accepting that it was time to evolve out of some old friendships that were no longer serving me.  And now, as a mama, what I need out of friendships has changed again. So lately, I’ve been doing what I called a friend inventory, and as you listen, I invite you to do the same. What do you need out of a friendship right now? What aspects of your friendships are no longer serving you? How can you create shared experiences with others, and how will you put yourself out there to have those experiences? Our friendships need to grow with us, not hold us back. If you find yourself in a new season with how you relate to your friends, this episode will guide you through how to nurture the relationships you value or recognize that you need to upgrade your tribe. If you loved this episode, make sure you also check out… - More about women supporting other women and finding your people with Miki Agrawal. - Becoming more of yourself so you can attract the right people into your life with Vasavi Kumar. - Pursuing your life purpose and finding your people at the Dharma Coaching Institute. Thank you so much for being here, and see you next time!

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!