I'm Awake! Now What?

This week I sit down with Martin Riley, an ex-Jehovah Witness turned activist who has created an online support system called Jexit, that helps raise awareness about the harmful practices of the Jehovah Witness Church and provides a safe place for former and current members who are seeking separation and healing from this religion.  Riley shares his life story of leaving the church, being shunned by his religious community, family members and friends and how for a short while his exit from the church left him homeless. He found support and light through work colleagues and long distance family members, and ultimately found liberty and freedom outside of his religious experience. He shares all the growth and healing he has done in the past two years since leaving and his commitment to helping others who are undergoing harmful effects of their Jehovah Witness experience.  To learn more about Riley follow him on Instagram @jexit_2020 and subscribe to his YouTube Channel.  Please note this conversation is not sui

Clinical Psychologist Dr. Rachel Greenberg joins me on the podcast to talk about her groundbreaking approach to healing that integrates both the spiritual and psychological. Dr. Greenberg defines trauma for us and how we might not know if we have experience a traumatic event, and what to do about that once it's come into our awareness. She invites the audience to gain a better understanding of the complexity of the human experience, our subconscious, and how rejection and integration play a part in all of it. She ends with words of encouragement and empowerment, which are hallmarks of her work to the healing individual and spiritual aspirant. To learn more about Dr. Greenberg or work with her--head over to her website and follow her on Instagram @heydrrachel Podcast Sponsor: Saged is a spiritual app and resource center for Earth-based teachings and practices.  Stay aligned, connected and supported on your spiritual journey, with Saged. Download Saged for free from your Andriod and iPhoneApp stores. Follow Sa

This week I am joined by world-renowned Author, Nagual, Artist, Teacher, and Healer don Miguel Ruiz, Jr. don Miguel comes to the show to share the intricate history of his lineage and the origin story  his family's matriarch Madre Sarita -- who paved the way for the Toltec traditions to be disseminated outside of the family and Mexican Culture. don Miguel talks about the beautiful equanimity his family found in both practicing both traditional Toltec healing and western medicine to address the individual holistically. don Miguel touches on his book, "The Mastery of Self" reminding the audience to give themselves the permission to heal, stay impeccable with your intent and enjoy your life.  To learn more about don Miguel, click the links in this episode and follow him on Instagram @donmiguelruizjr Podcast Sponsor: Saged is a spiritual app and resource center for Earth-based teachings and practices.  Stay aligned, connected and supported on your spiritual journey, with Saged. Download Saged for free from your

Andrew Newman, humanitarian, author, poet, and entrepreneurial creative comes to the podcast to discuss the inception of his collection of conscious children stories. He shares how his intention is to give children (and parents) the language and skills they need to navigate their life experiences, the big questions, and our emotions. Each book conveys a core lesson, breathing meditation, and an entry point to help the reader connect more deeply to themselves and the world around them. Creating additional support at the end of the day, to start the next day aligned and balanced. To learn more about Andrew and purchase his books head over to Conscious Bedtime Stories and follow him on Instagram @consciousbedtimestories. Listen to his compelling Tedx Talk here.  Podcast Sponsors: Saged is a spiritual app and resource center for Earth-based teachings and practices.  Stay aligned, connected and supported on your spiritual journey, with Saged. Download Saged for free from your Andriod and iPhoneApp stores. Follow

David Hayward comes to the podcast to discuss his life journey from minister to full time author, artist, and shepherd of black sheep and free spirits. David walks us through how a book he read called into question the infallibility of the Bible, and this changed the trajectory of his life. He shares his deconstruction story and how questioning became the answer and finding a way to channel his experience through art, community, and connection. David ends with providing guidance and hope for those on the path of questioning and awakening. To learn more about David and partake in his art and community head over to his website and follow him on Instagram @nakedpastor    Podcast Sponsors: Saged is a spiritual app and resource center for Earth-based teachings and practices.  Stay aligned, connected and supported on your spiritual journey, with Saged. Download Saged for free from your Andriod and iPhoneApp stores. Follow Saged on Instagram @sagedapp Andrea Firpo: Join Andrea in Sedona, Arizona from April 15th thr

This week I sit down with author, social justice warrior, healer, and environmental activist Hallie Iglehart Austen. Hallie walks us through her fascinating life story that weaves through Afghanistan and Tibet sparking a lifelong journey in feminism, divine feminine and the search for the goddesses in the expanse of our human history. She Authored "The Heart of the Goddess" which compiles all our mythical goddesses into one book, with accompanying art and meditations so the reader can embody the essence of each individual goddess. Hallie and I discuss the historical polarity of masculine and feminine energies, healing our energetic relationships with both and the understanding that we are currently birthing the next iteration of the divine feminine. Hallie co-founded Seaflow: Protect Our Living Oceans and founded AllOneOcean. Hallie is a passionate champion for oceanic environmental conservation and education.  She leads workshops, rituals and conferences at the University of California, United Nations Intern

This week I am joined by Joan Diver author, spiritual healer and former first lady of Reed College. We discuss the many iterations of her life journey and the beautiful people, stories, and experiences that have woven a unique tapestry of spiritual understand and wisdom in her life. Joan explains how she leaned into the pain of a health issue, and how asking an open-ended question of: “Why is this happening…” left and opening for self-discovery, alchemy, and finding her healing gifts. She leaves the audience with a story of her travels from Egypt and a meditative blessing and prayer for all to receive. To pick up Joan's books "When Spirit Calls: A Healing Odyssey" Podcast Sponsors: Saged is a spiritual app and resource center for Earth-based teachings and practices.  Stay aligned, connected and supported on your spiritual journey, with Saged. Download Saged for free from your Andriod and iPhoneApp stores. Follow Saged on Instagram @sagedapp Andrea Firpo: Join Andrea in Sedona, Arizona from April 15th throug

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 Sponsor: Saged is a spiritual app and resource center for Earth-based teachings and practices.  Stay aligned, connected and supported on your spiritual journey, with Saged. Download Saged for free from your Andriod and iPhoneApp stores. Follow Saged on Instagram @sagedapp Podcast Production: Written, directed and edited by Krista Xiomara Produced by LightCasting P

This week I am joined by Rabbi, Author and Psychotherapist, Tirzah Firestone who comes to the podcast to discuss her book "Wounds to Wisdom: Healing Intergenerational Jewish Trauma." She shares her insights from her years of research on transforming trauma and building resilience beyond our traumatic experiences whether lived or generational. We also discuss her significant work with Women and Kabbalah.   Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, PhD is is an author, Jungian psychotherapist, and founding Rabbi of Congregation Nevei Kodesh in Boulder, Colorado. Raised in an Orthodox home in St. Louis, Missouri, Tirzah’s spiritual curiosity called her to search beyond the confines of her family’s strict Jewish upbringing. Tirzah left home to embark upon a life-changing spiritual odyssey, chronicled in "With Roots In Heaven: One Woman’s Passionate Journey into the Heart of Her Faith" Her cutting edge research on the impact and healing of collective trauma draws on the fields of neuroscience, psychology, Jewish literature and myth

This week I am joined by Britt Deanda and Tara Schulenberg who come to the podcast to discuss their winding life journey's, alchemizing their individual suffering by transforming their experiences into tools and wisdom for the collective. The also discuss their vision in creating Elevate The Globe and their new book Good Morning Intentions: Sacred Rituals to Raise Your Vibration, Find Your Bliss, and Stay Energized All Day.    Britt & Tara are the Founders of Elevate the Globe, a worldwide community of spiritual seekers who are dedicated to raising consciousness on the planet. Based in Los Angeles, these best friends deliver a cutting-edge wellness lifestyle rooted in spirituality and mental health that allows people to align with their own truth and discover their best way of living. They are also the creators of Rise Up: A Course In High Vibrational Living and 528 Abundance Academy, a membership community that offers monthly spiritual lifestyle practices based on astrology & the moon cycles to harmo

This week I am joined by Dr. Judith Orloff, Best-Selling Author of "Thriving as an Empath: A Daily Guide to Empower Sensitive People."  Dr. Orloff comes to the show to discuss her extensive work to normalize being an empath.  She speaks candidly about her own experience as an empath and shares insights about how empaths can embody their gifts. She graciously shares her top 5 tools for navigating life as an empath. Follow Dr. Orloff on Instagram @judith.orloff.md     Dr. Orloff has two upcoming workshops: "How to Heal the Toxic Attraction Between Empaths and Narcissists" and "Intuitive Healing for Empaths" to sign up for these courses and to work with Dr. Orloff please head over to her website www.drjudithorloff.com     Dr. Orloff is accomplishing for psychiatry what physicians like Dean Ornish and Mehmet Oz have done for mainstream medicine — she has proven that the links between physical, emotional, and spiritual health can’t be ignored.  Dr. Orloff’s book "The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for S

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  This podcast was written, directed and produced by me, your host Krista Xiomara in alignment with LightCasting Networks. Music curated and created by Mr. Pixie. You can find I'm Awake! Now What? Podcast on all social media channels by searching for IANW Podcast.  

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: Post-Production and editing by Krista Xiomara Audio

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 Sponsor: Saged is a spiritual app and resource center for Earth-based teachings and practices.  Stay aligned, connected and supported on your spiritual journey, with Saged. Download Saged f

In honor of our recent news and partnership, I'm re-releasing Leena Lemos' episode for my listening audience who haven't heard this episode in the podcast library. Enlightenedhood started as an educational platform and digital magazine centered around the spiritual experience of motherhood. Two years later it has grown to become House of Enlightenedhood, a spiritual media company focused on supporting the entire collective in their spiritual experiences. To find out more about House of Enlightenedhood head over to our website and follow us on Instagram @enlightenedhood Season 6 resumes new episodes starting January 17, 2021!!! Podcast Production: Post-Production and editing by Krista Xiomara Audio engineering by Tom Hanson at knvpstudios.com  Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast

Hi Sweet Souls. This week is a solo show with me, your host Krista Xiomara. The podcast is on a two week holiday break and will return January 17th.  Big Announcement: I have merged with House of Enlightenedhood and we have created a spiritual multimedia company. I share everything about this newly minted business venture with my dear friend Leena Lemos at the top of this week's episode. As a part of our merger we have started a podcast network called LightCasting, exclusively for spiritual podcasters, so to find out about this and much more head over to our website www.houseofenlightenedhood.com.  This week I am reading you the first three chapters of my book The Alchemy of Kindness that will be out this Spring 2021. The book is about overcoming internal separation and negative dialogue through the alchemic practices of compassion and loving-kindness. 

Opening Trailer: The Awakening Coming January 2021.  Subscribe today on all podcast platforms and never miss an episode. This is a LightCasting Podcast Network Production @lightcastingpodcastnetwork  Visit their website for more information about how to become part of our network of spiritual podcasts.  This week's episode is a montage of gratitude from all the guests who have graced the I'm Awake! Now What? Podcast air waves in 2020! Thank you to each and every guest for coming to the show, for lighting the path of awakening, healing and homecoming for our listeners. Thank you to the listening audience for helping me make this show a success and a treasure for seekers on the path--I could not do this without you.    Podcast Production: Post-Production and editing by Krista Xiomara Audio engineering by Tom Hanson at knvpstudios.com  Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ianwpodcast          

This week I’m joined by intuitive, artist, author and visionary Vicky Paul. Vicky opens up about her early childhood experiences that revealed a deep knowingness. Challenged on what she knew internally by the adults and people around her--self doubt and denial crept in.  Vicky reminds the audience that we can spend a lifetime reconnecting with the truth of who we are, and that’s okay. We also discuss how her artistry and spirituality merge and the way she channels while creating art. To find out more about Vicky or work with her, head over to website and follow her on Instagram @vickyjpaul Podcast Sponsor: Saged is a spiritual app and resource center for Earth-based teachings and practices.  Stay aligned, connected and supported on your spiritual journey, with Saged. Download Saged for free from your Andriod and iPhoneApp stores. Follow Saged on Instagram @sagedapp Podcast Production: Post-Production and editing by Krista Xiomara Audio engineering by Tom Hanson at knvpstudios.com  Original Music by Mr. Pi

This week I sit down with social entrepreneur, public speaker and President of Three Jewels NYC, Hector Marcel. Hector discusses his life journey and the experiences that led him to Buddhism. He shares core Buddhist philosophies and teachings on: doing no harm, eliminating polarizing thoughts and participating in active compassion. Three Jewels NYC is a non-profit organization currently fundraising to continue to support our global community in achieving enlightenment. Head over to their website to work with Three Jewels or to donate to help them carry on their mission of continuing to offer free courses. To learn more about Hector, follow him on Instagram @justhex and check out his inspiring TEDx Talk here.  Podcast Sponsor: Saged is a spiritual app and resource center for Earth-based teachings and practices.  Stay aligned, connected and supported on your spiritual journey, with Saged. Download Saged for free from your Andriod and iPhoneApp stores. Follow Saged on Instagram @sagedapp Podcast Production: P

This week I sit down with world-renowned Vedic teacher from India, Acharya Shunya. She was recognized at the early age of nine as the future spiritual leader of a 2,000-year-old Vedic lineage in north India, which she was fortunate to be born into as the granddaughter of the lineages patriarch.  In our interview we discuss her many books, her wisdom school and her teachings on enlightened vulnerability. She also talks about Alchemy & Ayurveda. To find out more about Acharya Shunya head over to website and follow her on Instagram @acharyashunya   Podcast Sponsor: Saged is a spiritual app and resource center for Earth-based teachings and practices.  Stay aligned, connected and supported on your spiritual journey, with Saged. Download Saged for free from your Andriod and iPhoneApp stores. Follow Saged on Instagram @sagedapp Podcast Production: Post-Production and editing by Krista Xiomara Audio engineering by Tom Hanson at knvpstudios.com  Original Music by Mr. Pixie Follow this podcast on Instagram @ia