I'm Awake! Now What?

​This week I sit down with Author, Coach, and human potential expert Dr. Robyn McKay to discuss her work supporting high achieving women, cultivating spiritual intelligence, and the  mental health effects of a spiritual awakening. Dr. Robyn shares a pivotal life moment that changed her path forever and how a divine calling turned into her life's work. Dr. Robyn also offers guidance for healing your nervous system, so your consciousness can have a clear run way in which to land and fly. To learn more about Dr. Robyn McKay, head over to her website and follow her on Instagram @dr.robynmckay   Watch this interview on the LightCasting YouTube Channel!    Materials or Resources mentioned:   Becoming the Channel Podcast with Dr. Robyn McKay Mindset Rx Podcast with Dr. Robyn McKay "Smart Girls in the 21st Century: Understanding Talented Girls and Women" by Robyn McKay and Barbara Kerr Pulling the Thread Podcast by Elise Loehnen   Did you know? Krista Xiomara has a solo podcast called Notes from the Healing Field: a

This week I sit down with mixed-media artist, wellness consultant and creator of MosaicEye Chetna Mehta. She shares a significant experience that changed the direction of her professional and personal life. She discusses the similarities between spirituality and creativity, noting the first being--getting out of ones own way. She shares the intention of her artwork is to normalize vulnerability and create resonance in the eye of the observer. To find out more about Chetna, head over to her website and follow her on Instagram @mosaiceye and subscribe to her Moon Times Digest here.    Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast 

This week I am joined by Author Dr. Emily Sigalow. Dr. Sigalow wrote American JewBu: Jews, Buddhists and Religious Change. We touch on the influences Buddhism had on the American Jewish community and what was birthed by these two communities blending. We highlight the life of Julius Goldwater who had a significant role in helping Japanese Buddhist who were sent to internment camps in the 1940's in the US. Dr. Sigalow leaves the audience with some words of encouragement for anyone who is interested in creating their own meaning-making system through the hybridity of different religions or ideas. To find out more about Dr. Sigalow head over to her website and pick up her book here.    Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast 

​This week I sit down with Denell Nawrocki, Author of "Informed, Aware, Empowered: A Self-Guided Journey to Clear Paps." Denell is an international speaker and holistic health expert specializing in women’s health & wellness. Denell and I discuss female sovereignty, reclaiming our life force, cervical wellness and self-healing. Denell walks us through her unique and powerful life story and journey through self-healing. She imparts wise advice to all on the path of healing and personal growth. Please note this conversation deals directly with female anatomy and adult topics that might not be suitable for children. To learn more about Denell and order her book, head over to her website and follow her on Instagram @cervicalwellness   Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast 

This week I sit down with David Sandercott. Author, meditation teacher, entrepreneur & former high fashion model. We discuss David's spiritual journey & how he came to find his passion in teaching meditation. David wrote "21 Day Meditation Journey: Connect with Spirit Everyday in a New Way" For more about David head over to www.davidsandercott.com    Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast 

This week I'm excited to sit down with international best selling author David Richards. David wrote "Whiskey and Yoga" a book inspired to help people find their purpose and live intentionally. David and I discuss his military career as a marine, transitioning into civilian life and subsequently becoming a yoga instructor. We muse on the parallels of yoga and the military and what each of those experiences has taught him. David shares beautiful insights from his book about, vulnerability, compassion and connecting with the part of yourself that is striving to define your greater purpose.  To learn more about David Richards head over to his website and follow him on Instagram @davidrichardsauthor     Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast 

This week I sit down with Tai Chi and Meditation Instructor Graeme Waterfield discuss his life journey, his love of Tai Chi, Chi Gung, and finding peace and liberation on the path of the spiritual seeker. He gives a beautiful account of the origins of Tai Chi and the influences of the Tao Te Ching. He reveals a spiritual experience that changed him forever and shares how his practice of Tai Chi and Chi Gung have given him more joy than he ever imagined and the bliss of simplicity. To learn more about Graeme, head over to his website and follow him on Facebook and Instagram at Graeme Waterfield.  Tao Te Ching    Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast 

This week I sit down with Rev. Sarah Bowen to discuss her fascinating life story, her book "Spiritual Rebel: A Positively Addictive Guide to Finding Deeper Perspective and Higher Purpose" and the spiritual journey. She shares her definition of spirituality and what each seeker can do to live into this definition for themselves. Sarah shares guidance for seekers practicing many modalities of religions, philosophies, and spiritual practices leaning on her interfaith work and experience. Sarah also talks about her Animal Chaplaincy ministry helping humans with the transition of their beloved pets, creating bonds with their newly integrated pet family members, and helping roadside animals lost on our roadways. To find out more about Rev. Sarah Bowen, head over to her website and follow her on Instagram @modernreverend   Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast 

This week I sit down with Misti Dian, Misti is the Director of Holistic Leadership at Radiant Health Institute. She is an international speaker, author, Certified Holistic Coach, Intuitive Energy Healer and spiritual activist. Misti and I discuss being born into faith through geography and the implications of this on your long term spiritual journey. Misti educates the audience on her work as a spiritual activist helping others create sustainable spiritual practices that nourish and align each person's core values and belief systems. We also touch on the importance of curiosity along your spiritual journey and how curiosity can become a spiritual practice as well.  To find out more about Misti head over to her website or follow her on Twitter @meetmisti and Instagram @meetmisti   Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast 

This week I am joined by author and speaker Tomás Prower, to discuss his two books whose topics cover LGBTQ spirituality and Death across the global and historically. Tomás wrote both of his books in an anthropological style to carve out space for underrepresented groups who see themselves reflected in our rich human history. We discuss the many ways our queer community members have been visible in history, how they affected our history and how the embraces their own mysticism in spirituality. Looking at this book that deals with death, Tomás invites the reader to get comfortable with the uncomfortable by looking at the rituals of death throughout our civilization and examine the lore of different religions and cultures.  To connect with Tomás, head over to his website and follow him on social media @tomasprower Queer Magic: LGBT+ Spirituality and Culture from Around the World Morbid Magic: Death and Spirituality from Around the World   Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara P

I'm Awake! Now What? Podcast, is closing out Pride Month, with one of our most popular and significant episodes with Dr. Gena Minnix, Founder of The Human Empathy Project (tHEP). (http://www.thehumanempathyproject.com) The Human Empathy Project was created to fulfill a need to have open conversations between members from the #LGBTQ and #Christian communities who are reconciling their beliefs and faith. It started as an intimate dinner with a few community members curious and invested in understanding each other empathetically. Their mission: To create healing, connection, conversation and change between these diverse groups. Dr. Gena Minnix and I discuss the etymology of the word "homosexual" and how its origin and intention could have been mistakely applied in modern Christian culture, and most likely was meant to protect young boys.  Gena walks us through the reconciliation process that happens when one’s religious views come into conflict with their life experience.  She explains how empathy needs to flow

This week I sit down Mike Dooley and Sara Landon to discuss their new book, "The Dream, The Journey, Eternity, and God: Channeled Answers to Life’s Deepest Questions." Their new book, which are channled works by The Council answers our deepest questions about our humanity, self-realization, our purpose, oneness, and remembering who we are so we can reclaim our divine innate power. Sara and Mike discuss the collective accelerated awakening that is happening here and now. We unpack The Council's wisdom on releasing the density of our human experience as means of elevating into a deeper awareness and consciousness. Sara channels The Council for a very special message for the collective.  Check out the video version of the episode, over on LightCasting's YouTube Channel Mike Dooley is a New York Times best-selling author, metaphysical teacher, and creator of the wildly popular “Notes from the Universe” He was one of the featured teachers in the international phenomenon known as "The Secret" and is the founder of

This week I am joined by intuitive luminary, author, alchemist, and artist Christian Bradley West. Christian describes his spiritual journey that began in his early twenties and the teachers who had significant influence on his awakening. He shares the importance of continuous spiritual maintenance where one comes back to the tools they've acquired on their path towards healing, creativity and enlightenment. To find out more about Christian or work with him, head over to his website and follow him on Instagram @thecountryclairvoyant   Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast 

This week I am joined by Rev. Erika Allison who wrote "Gay the Pray Away: Healing your Life, Love, and Relationships from the Harms of LGBT Conversion Therapy." Erika recounts her own experience of conversion therapy and highlighting how during that time her vulnerability was exploited and she began to not trust herself. She shares the pains of being ostracized and later moving into an empowered state to begin healing, find a chosen family, speaking her truth and emerging as her radiant self. To find out more about Rev. Erika Allison and pick up her book head over to her website. Follow her on Instagram @reverikaalison and @gay.the.pray Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast 

This week I sit down with Happiness Coach, Brandi Mechele to discuss her important work helping people cultivate true happiness and reduce stress using her proprietary process called B.A.S.E,. an acronym that stands for Beliefs, Alignment, Self-Awareness, and Emotions. Brandi opens up by telling the listening audience that we have everything we need inside ourselves--we arrive whole here on Earth and her work here is to help you reconnect with who you are. Brandi touches on the nuance of reaching for external solutions and using discernment when you find people that can hold space for you will simultaneously being conscious to not hand over your own personal power. She ends with what it means to take radical responsibility on the path of self-inquiry and integration.  The Joy Blue Print, with Brandi Mechele Brandi Mechele has generously provided I'm Awake! Now What? Podcast listeners, Happy Hacks 101 Freebie, sign up here! Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by Light

Author and Buddhist Teacher, Debora Eden Tull returns to the podcast discuss her book "Relational Mindfulness: A Handbook for Deepening Our Connection with Ourselves, Each Other, and the Planet." Eden begins with sharing how we honor our sensitivity and breaking down the myth of separation that has blurred our deep interconnectedness. I ask Eden about an important part in the book that deals with the concept of "othering" humanity. She shares how we can all work towards identifying this conditioning in ourselves and what steps we can take to think with "we-consciousness" instead of "i-consciousness." Eden also touches conscious consumerism, in all facets of our lives and our new found relationship with technology and mindfulness. She ends with how relational mindfulness is an invitation to recognize the innate power of our receptivity. To find out more about Eden's work, head over to her webiste and follow her on Instagram @mindfullivingrevolution   To buy a copy of Eden's book click here    To hear our first

This week I sit down with Author, Breathwork Facilitator, Reiki Master, Energy Healer, and Coach Maz Dela Cerna. Maz opens up about a tumultuous time in her early life that left her homeless, in addiction, and battling depression and abuse trauma. Maz shares how she used these painful experiences to call back her own power and how she was able to create a different life for herself through manifesting, long term healing, and integration. Maz tells the audience that manifesting is more than acquiring material things, it's about listening to our souls' highest calling and desire is, and trusting that we have internally everything we need to build the kind of life that sets us free. To learn more about Maz head over to her website and follow her on Instagram @lilmissmaz   Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast     

This week I sit down with psychologist, author, transformational teacher and Founder of Mysterial Woman  Suzanne Anderson to discuss her new book ​"​You Make Your Path by Walking​"​ which ​is part memoir and part guidebook​. Suzanne opens up about her journey throug darkness and how she walked across the landscape of loss. She shares that being broken open in this way, made her whole again. I ask Suzanne about a promise she made to herself which was to midwife the divine feminine. She imparts all the ways she intentionally lived into this promise through her work and commitment to the divine feminine. We close by touching on a few of the Meta Capacities--what they are and how we can cultivate each of them in our own path. To find out more about Suzanne, head over to her website and follow her on Instagram @mysterialwoman   To sign up for Suzanne's retreat, click here.   Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podca

This week I sit down with transformational teacher, visionary, and best selling author Kute Blackson to discuss the cirrculum for our souls' evolution--starting by finding wisdom in the ordinary of our days and interactions.  Kute points the listener here to show them, this is where our awakening and expansion begins. Kute shares what it means to be fully liberated as a soul having a human experience. He ends with teaching on forgiveness and implores the listening audience to practice forgiveness as much as possible for devlelopment but also to call back our individual power. To find out more about Kute, head over to his website. To join Kute this summer for his Boundless Bliss Bali Retreat, click here. To check out his Soul Talk podcast tap here to fly over to listen! Follow Kute on social media and Instagram @kuteblackson   Podcast Production: Written, directed, and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast   

This week I sit down with Vanessa Scotto, co host of the Bliss+Grit Podcast. Vanessa holds two masters degrees, one in Chinese Medicine and one in Transpersonal Psychology. She is also certified practitioner of the Realization Process with Judith Blackstone. Vanessa has a private practice where she mentors and coaches individuals from all walks of life.    Vanessa and I discuss her upbringing and current spiritual practices and beliefs. Vanessa walks us through the definition and formulation of generational trauma. She imparts how each one of us can work to heal our own lineages of trauma. We discuss the unique path of awakening and internal growth. Vanessa shares the ways in which we can overextend ourselves in self-improvement and she helps the audience identify how to know when that line has been crossed--so we can return to self-love and self-compassion.     To find out more about Vanessa head over to her website or follow her on Instagram @vanessascotto and make sure to check out her podcast Bliss+Grit