Episodes
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This conversation went to ALL the juicy places - the playful, the painful, the divine, and everything else in between. We talk about Adam's personal journey with trauma and how he found healing. We get into hot-topic issues around gender, sexuality, identity, and Adam's experiences as a gay man in New Zealand. And we talk about making Transformational Festivals into spaces that are TRULY safe and inclusive because as much as we love these Festivals we also recognise how they could be better. Oh, and there's a bonus twerking lesson in there too! You're welcome. Adam Robertson is a Neurosomatic Facilitator, Public Speaker, Coach, and founder of Twerkwerk. Find Adam here: Website • https://www.adamrobertson.co.nz/Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/adamtrobertson/Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/adamtrobertson0Twerkwerk • https://www.twerkwerknz.com/ Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice
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Aaron Hendry is a Youth Worker, rangatahi advocate, writer, and political commentator on social justice issues. In this episode, we focus on youth homelessness in Aotearoa and how Aaron's Christian faith motivates him to work with the most structurally marginalised people in our society. We also get into personal responsibility vs collective responsibility, ideologies of hate and fear, what it really means to 'be the change', and explore how Love can be the guiding force in our lives. Aaron is incredibly articulate and passionate. I can't recommend this episode enough. Find Aaron here: Substack • https://wlas.substack.com/Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/a.j.hendry/Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/aejayhendryTwitter • https://twitter.com/AeJayHendry Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice
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Join us for a playful and enlightening exploration of Lara's extensive experience with plants, planets, and prayer. Lara spent over 5 years in full-time training with traditional shamanic plant medicines in the Peruvian Amazon, and she shares with us some of the depth of knowledge of that tradition and the power of plants as allies. Along the way, we talk about multi-dimensional reality, animism, and what it means to live inter-relationally. We also go deep into the current astrological reality, particularly the upcoming Venus retrograde from July 22 - September 3, 2023. For more guidance and support with your Venus retrograde experience, check out Lara's program Heart Alchemy: https://www.pathoftherose.com/heart-alchemy Find Lara here: Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/mythic_muse/Website • https://www.pathoftherose.com/ Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice
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BLASE is an Auckland-based DJ and Embodied Ecstatic dance facilitator known for his diverse, multi-genre music journeys. I've had the delight of dancing to his incredible DJ sets, so I was fascinated to hear about how he found his way to facilitating ecstatic dance experiences in just a couple of short years, and what makes his sets so damn good. We also vibe on our mutual love of transformational festivals and share some tips and tricks on how to get the most out of these powerful containers. Plus there's some inside information on what really goes on in the fashion industry
Find Blase here:
Soundcloud • https://soundcloud.com/user-690668005Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/stephenblase/Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/stephen.blase/
Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice -
A classic Aussie bloke working as a bricklayer, Tyran's been on an incredible journey. There's sex, drugs, bikie gangs, porn addiction, plenty of drama, and an intense downward spiral. All of which led Tyran into deep self-inquiry, a ton of learning and now the work he does today as a men's health and sex coach. We talk all things conscious sexuality and masculinity, including Tyran's experiences with ISTA, polyamory and porn, the importance of brotherhood, and more. Find Tyran here: Website • https://www.tyranmowbray.com/ Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/tyran.mowbray/ Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/TyranMowbray1 Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice
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I adored this conversation with Laura-Ellen. Join us for real talk on our experiences with entrepreneurship - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the transformative. We go into burnout, money shame, how we're navigating the current economic downturn, and why sometimes it's beneficial to embrace day jobs and take a break from the hustle. With a deep-rooted passion for sexual wellness and mental health, Laura's focus lies in the regeneration of individuals. She firmly believes that as women rejuvenate their bodies, they bring vibrancy not only to themselves but also to their families, friends, communities, and the entire ecosystem. Her purpose is to revolutionize our approach to sex, shifting away from a porn-centric mindset towards a profound and transcendent pleasure that is accessible to all. Find Laura-Ellen here: Website • https://laura-ellen.com/Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/_laura_ellen Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice
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I loved this deep yet playful conversation with Rana Hamida. Rana is an incredible DJ, musician, singer, dancer, artistic director, and a Yin Yoga/Yoga Nidra guide who was born in Syria and was living there as a university student when the civil war began in 2011. Fleeing the conflict, Rana and her family came to New Zealand as refugees. In unpacking this experience we explored how arriving in New Zealand enabled Rana to find freedom from the conditionings of her mind and how she started the embodiment journey of what’s true for her. We talked identity politics and what happens when you don't align with the national identity of your birthplace. And we get into festivals, the joy of dancing as a devotional practice, and what radical honesty looks like. Find Rana here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranafreesoul/ Website: https://www.ranahamida.com/ DJ Rana: https://www.facebook.com/musicalPrana Rana's band: https://www.facebook.com/people/Yet-Undefined/100092474053730/ Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice
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There’s so much juicy content in here folks! Kim and I talked energetic orgasms, astral sex, hedonism, aging as a spiritual practice, yoni mapping AND anal mapping, and the joy of butt plugs for relaxation and pleasure.
Plus we also had a nuanced conversation about Kim’s experiences with ISTA (International School of Temple Arts) and her take on how the organization is responding to recent allegations of abuse and harm.
Kim is a sex and intimacy guide with qualifications in Education Psychology, massage, embodied counseling, somatic sexology, Tantra and sacred sexuality, erotic exploration through Yoga of Sex and Erotic Blueprints, and immersive somatic healing modalities for non-acute exploration of trauma and themes related to limiting core beliefs.
Find Kim here:
Website: https://sacredbeing.co.nz/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kim_saama/ Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice -
I was curious to talk to Rebecca about her experiences of operating in both the mainstream and alternative worlds, and how these worlds can merge in productive ways. Rebecca experienced a spiritual awakening in her early twenties that resulted in a dramatic shift in her worldview and required some significant changes in her relationships with her friends and family. Rebecca now works in schools as a Dance Therapist and Expressive Arts Facilitator and that’s also been an opportunity to engage with people and systems operating from very different worldviews. We also talk about Water Ceremony, a practice that was gifted to Rebecca by Melissa Billington, our guest from episode 13! About Rebecca Rebecca Bee is a Dance Therapist and Expressive Arts Facilitator living on Waiheke Island. Supporting Wahine and Tamariki to work through their emotional reality and access soul gifts. She also works 1 on 1 client sessions. Find out more at https://www.sa-koya.com Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice
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Melissa Billington is a talented yoga teacher, creatrix, inspiratrice, and also a dear friend of mine.
Born in Virginia, Melissa is the 13th lineal descendant of Pocahontas and she shares how she has worked to transmute her family’s ancestral trauma into healing. We also explore why and how Melissa has chosen to take her yoga off the mat and more widely into the world, particularly through water walks, praying for the water, and stand-up comedy.
Oh, and make sure you stick around until the end for a bonus performance from Melissa!
About Melissa + links
For a more detailed bio go here: https://melissaelvirabillington.substack.com/p/who-am-i
PocaHauntUs - Shapeshifting History into HerStory: https://youtu.be/sYHN1r976XE
First song gifted to Melissa in 2014, released by Ojibwe elders in 2018 with encouragement for all women to sing to the waters: https://youtu.be/KC2FHciQ0sU
Learn more about the Indigenous-led prayerwalks for water: http://www.nibiwalk.org
A blip of Melissa's ecologically-focused stand-up material: https://youtu.be/1VF1e-f21M8
Melissa's Instagram (that chronicles the walkabout, including the Missouri River Water Walk): https://www.instagram.com/melissaelvirabillington/
Melissa's Blog "a : muse musing is (more than) amusing": https://melissaelvirabillington.substack.com
Melissa's MYOGA Freedom modules: https://www.youtube.com/@myogafreedom
Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice -
21 years ‘clean’ from drug & alcohol addiction and work in the sex industry, Ninakaye is a powerhouse of a woman who works in the New Zealand music industry and is also involved in sexual violence treatment and harm prevention.
In this episode, Ninakaye and I share some of our personal experiences of exploring sexuality and dating as older women, particularly Ninakaye’s experiences with Tinder and the problematic behavior of many men on these apps. We talked about the negative ways in which porn can influence sexual expression and also delved into what led Ninakaye into her current work with male sex offenders.
We also talked about Ninakaye's experience as a Māori woman in the New Zealand yoga community, its lack of inclusivity and why she chose to study Kemetic Yoga, an ancient Egyptian well-being and transformation practice.
Find Ninakaye here:
Website: https://www.tikidub.com/page/about
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninakaye_taanetinorau/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliveWithNinakaye/
Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice -
Sophia is a former social worker who moderates the Culty Conversations NZ Facebook group and I was eager to talk with her about the nature of cults and high-demand groups in New Zealand, particularly in the spiritual community.
Sophia shares her perspective on power, charismatic leaders and group dynamics, and what leaders and teachers in the spiritual community (like myself) need to be aware of to make sure they’re not unconsciously abusing power. We also specifically discuss these things in the context of ISTA, Highden Temple, and Eden Festival.
About Sophia:
Sophia de Fossard has worked as a social worker in the community, and is interested in the intersectionality between societal structures and the personal experience, particularly in the area of power and control. She has worked as an academic researcher and advocate for honoring The Treaty of Waitangi (partnership between Māori and the Crown) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Currently she is working on a research project in community based addiction treatment. In her personal life she is a long time practitioner of yoga and meditation and teaches yoga with a trauma informed, trauma sensitive and inclusive approach.
Find Sophia here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeandmetta
LinkedIn: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/sophia-de-fossard-79b092188
Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice -
In 2022 one of Lauren’s Instagram posts for her coaching business was ridiculed by a satirical Instagram account that remixed and reshared her post, and other content from her business, over the course of several days.
What I love about Lauren’s story is that even as she was dealing with the pain and trauma of this experience she also saw it as an opportunity for initiation and growth. Lauren shares the intense emotional response she had to the bullying, the steps she took to process her emotions and support herself during this time, and the self-reflection and self-inquiry that it prompted.
We talk about the importance of being kind in online spaces, advice to young women and teenagers who are the victims of online bullying, and how and why Lauren still chooses to show up as unapologetically herself.
About Lauren:
Lauren Hill is a Spirit-Led Business & Leadership Coach, Speaker, Fempowerment Mentor and Founder of Camp Wondergirl.
From working in Corporate Advertising in America climbing the ladder to ‘success’, to solo-traveling New Zealand in a painted hippy van, to living & working at spiritual Yoga Retreats, to birthing her female empowerment coaching business - she has experienced the depth of true freedom, fulfilment and fun.
It’s her mission now to empower, activate and inspire women to unleash their unapologetic expression, monetize their magic and live their most epic life.
Find Lauren here:
Website: https://iamlaurenhill.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelaurenhillshow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamlaurenhilll/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenhill29
Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice -
CW: This episode contains a discussion on resolving childhood sexual experiences. Darren Bruce is a connection coach who discovered the power of emotional vulnerability and relational skills after a career in the military and fitness industry. Despite operating at an incredibly high level of physical skill and intensity in his military role, Darren realized he was unable to sit down and have an honest conversation with the people that he cared about. Darren talks about how it took self-sabotaging his own business to make him realize how important relational skills are, particularly the willingness to have hard conversations and to face our fears of loss and rejection. Darren also shares his experience of being sexually abused as a child, how that affected his life, and how he has worked with it as an adult. And we talked about the importance of male role models and why a lack of initiation into manhood can cause men to be "dickheads".
Find Darren here:
Website: https://www.darrenbruce.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarrenJohnBruce/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrenjbruce/
More from Kara-Leah Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube PlaylistWeb: https://karaleah.com/The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice -
Ellie Wilde is a Trauma Trained Transformational Guide, who, through her life’s struggles and 20+ years of training and service has become an activist and revolutionary for Conscious and Embodied Relating.
In this conversation, we dive into her journey with ISTA (International School of Temple Arts), some of the issues with this organization, and why she ultimately chose to step away. We also talked about the power of slowing down, particularly during menopause, and how crucial it is to listen to the wisdom of our bodies at every stage of our life
In recent years Ellie's 1:1 private practice has shifted away from sexuality coaching and she now offers Alchemical Alignment - Trauma Resolution and Embodiment of Spirit. Her events and workshops are currently on hiatus whilst she recalibrates to an entirely new way of holding groups post ISTA.
Find Ellie here:
Website: https://www.yinsexuality.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellie.wilde.8
More from Kara-Leah Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube PlaylistWeb: https://karaleah.com/The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice -
David Harshada Wagner is a master meditation instructor, author, artist, dad, and wisdom teacher with more than 25 years of teaching experience.
He's classically trained in the wisdom traditions of Yoga, Bhakti, Vedanta, and Tantra, his teachings come from his decades of working with people helping them learn to live more fulfilling, soul-centred, purpose-driven lives. He's known as a 'teacher of teachers' due to the depth of his experience.
The Sanskrit name Harshada was given to him by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda in 1996, meaning "the bringer of joy, laughter, and delight". He lived and worked in Gurumayi's ashram for ten years, and intimately understands the nature of traditional lineages, ashrams and communities.
He is the author of the men's book Backbone (Penguin 2015), and On the Field of Dharma (about the Bhagavad Gita), and is currently working on a modern translation of and commentary on the 10-century Tantric text known as the Shiva Sutra.
He is the proud father of two and lives with his family in Ojai, California when he is not travelling to offer retreats and seminars.
We spoke about his time at the Ashram, the nature of his teaching journey, why he eventually left the ashram, and how he's navigated allegations of sexual abuse within his lineages.
Find him here:
Website: https://www.davidhwagner.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harshadawagner/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCzp0B6MCrKd3pi4k3b9rKlA
More from Kara-Leah Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube PlaylistWeb: https://karaleah.com/The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice -
This episode was originally recorded in November 2022. Dane is a fascinating human to dialogue with because he's a voracious information consumer, assimilator and systemiser. He looks at human behaviour through a systems lens and sees beyond black and white, good and bad, right and wrong. He both adores the New Age swamp, as he calls it, and has no qualms calling out its more questionable behaviour - despite being part of the thing he's riffing about. He's been a telemarketer, excelled at leveraging the algorithms on Facebook for organic scaling and selling, and has a knack for predicting what's coming next, and making sure he's ahead of the wave. We talked about scandals in the New Age swamp, including touching on ISTA and his role there, power dynamics and what it means to be an esoteric entrepreneur. Oh - and if he really is a devil-worshipping Satanist. (He's not.) Dane has published seven books, created multiple successful businesses in the healing & personal development industries & mentored thousands of people. He has spent the last 20-plus years deeply studying comparative religion, yoga, embodiment, psychedelics, sexuality, ritual magic, human behaviour, marketing, tantra, trauma & success principles. He is obsessed with the cross-over of spirituality and business and has just started a new podcast called The EE Podcast - The Esoteric Entrepreneur. Find him here. More from Kara-Leah Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube PlaylistWeb: https://karaleah.com/The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice
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This episode was originally recorded in October 2022 to celebrate Kylie Rook's successful completion of 1000 Days in a row of Ucchāra Practice.
Kylie attended a Direct Realization Training with Kara-Leah in January 2020, where she learned Ucchāra and made the commitment to show up every day to the practice, no matter what.
And she did it!
We discuss what it was like to keep that commitment, and the results she noticed along the way.
Kylie is ridiculously qualified to talk about all aspects of the body/mind - she has a Bachelor of Nursing degree and is a Yoga Medicine Registered Therapeutic Specialist. She has also studied extensively in Chinese Medicine, Myofascial Release, Functional Mobility, and Somatics, and has a keen interest in neuroplasticity.
Get ready to geek out on all things body/mind/yoga related!
For more on Kylie, see here.
More from Kara-Leah Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube PlaylistWeb: https://karaleah.com/The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice -
This episode was originally recorded in July 2022, and details Claire Eli's journey from anxiety to confidence.
Claire has spent the last decade studying the body and mind and draws from many different practices including; yoga, mindfulness, meditation, breathwork, and embodiment practices.
She talks about being paralysed by chronic anxiety, negative self-talk, and body shame and what eventually led to her finding her way out.
And yes, she also shares some insightful anecdotes into the ISTA Training she attended in London a few years ago. More on Claire Eli here.
More from Kara-Leah Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube PlaylistWeb: https://karaleah.com/The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice -
This episode was originally recorded on July 26, 2022, in the wake of Sarsha stepping down from co-facilitating a retreat with Matiu Te Huki because of her ethical concerns.
Our conversation begins just after Sarsha led a beautiful meditation - hence me thanking her! The ending is a little abrupt because we were recording Live on YouTube at the time.
Sarsha has over 30 years of movement and teaching experience and has a gift of bringing people into connection with themselves, each other, and the earth. She has hosted many retreats. workshops and rituals around the world. She creates brave, tender, and inclusive spaces for our hearts' unfolding, healing and embracing of our wildness. More on Sarsha here.
I delighted in this conversation with Sarsha, who brings a wealth of wisdom to the table, and I trust that you'll enjoy it too. As always - do stay right to the end!
More from Kara-Leah Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube PlaylistWeb: https://karaleah.com/The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah Credits Audio • Luke BowmanMusic • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete LongworthGraphic Design • Tara Spice - Show more
