The Aware Show

How do we begin to understand the division and the chaos that surrounds us? Lisa continues the conversation today with the founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism Andrew Harvey. Andrew is a religious scholar, mystical teacher, and author of more than 40 books, and discusses how to birth the new in times of extreme turbulence.   He explains how the response to chaos is to become more luminous yourself. Find deeper and deeper energy and compassion within yourself and respond from calm and spaciousness. A lighter perspective can deconstruct the narrative. You must change your consciousness. You can only do that when you recognize you are Divine. Your emotions are sacred. These are the gifts of the Sacred Feminine. This is the Law of the Universe. The feminine teaches us how to open to love, while the masculine helps us to structure that love. This gives us power.    Andrew shares how he's been working on his book for several decades and intensely for the past several years. His research, which included very credible sources, helped him to open up connections. He shared a story of finally being able to write the Preface of the book and the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. After he wrote it, he went to breakfast. Upon his return, he found his condo engulfed in flames. He lost absolutely everything including his most beloved feline. It was the hardest suffering he had ever experienced. This was less than one year ago. It completely transformed his life. Andrew talks about how he felt like he had died but then was resurrected. He felt calm after this experience. It opened the door to new possibilities. We are currently living in a severe dark night, but this is what Andrew believes is part of what will give birth to a divine new humanity. We can all become warriors of the new. We now have the chance to change and transform, by working with our self first. This is pure alchemy. We can now recognize the truth and be a source of inspiration. This is Part 2 of the interview. Info: www.andrewharvey.net

In honor of March being Women's History Month, we ask the question -- What does it mean to be a Warrior Goddess? To our guest today, author and teacher HeatherAsh Amara, that means reclaiming both our power and our compassion as women. We must have both of these qualities. It's a renewal of our commitment, passion, and creativity.   Even though women today juggle many roles and often put the needs of others ahead of their own, oftentimes they feel like they're not enough. Women can feel like they are not able to speak up and have their voices heard. Although things may have changed on the outside, on the inside we may still feel self-doubt where we don't honor ourselves deeply. We often put ourselves last, especially when we recognize how women tend to be caretakers. HeatherAsh advises us to take time for self-care. It's so important. She suggests setting up "date nights" with ourselves, whether this means going out to a museum, or taking a long bath at home. HeatherAsh talks about the idea of receiving and recommends that we ask for support, so that we are not placing the entire burden on ourselves. HeatherAsh also offers tips as to how to raise a Warrior Goddess daughter. We must be the role models. HeatherAsh also discusses her book, "Warrior Goddess Training." She'll show you how to release the layers of expectations to finally see yourself for the authentic, perceptive, perfect woman you already are! Info: warriorgoddess.com  

How do we navigate this period of oppression and division? How do we live in modern times with all the chaos that surrounds us? Religious scholar, mystical teacher, and author of more than 40 books, Andrew Harvery, joins us today to talk about how to birth the new in times of extreme turbulence. Andrew is also the founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism. We are all experiencing the destruction of the old firsthand, but where do we turn? Andrew offers wisdom by discussing his latest book, "The Magdalene Revolution: The Rise of the Sacred Feminine and the Birth of Radical Equality."  Andrew shares a firsthand experience he had many decades ago involving a vision of Mary Magdalene at her cave in the south of France. He felt an enormous peace in this place, yet he was outraged at how the church had demonized her. Upon leaving her cave, he turned back and saw her in golden light. Andrew believes Mary Magdalene is an essential part of Jesus's story. He understands that she is the sacred partner of Jesus. She was the first to see Jesus after Resurrection yet the Bible, written by men, painted her as a lunatic. Andrew explains how the Sophianic Gospel shows that Mary Magdalene and Jesus recognized the divinity in one another. She helped him come deeper into his body so they could bring in a love force to birth a new humanity. Mary Magdalene's evolution was very complex. In the Gnostic Gospels, it is believed that she was the sacred partner to Jesus. She also had great skill in healing and liberating people. As they grew united in the mission, she became more empowered and more illumined. She taught the Feminine Mysteries to groups of women as she expanded. The Sophianic Gospel talks specifically about Mary Magdalene's sacred spirituality.  Once you bring together the messages of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, you see a life force of love is being birthed. This represents enormous joy and power. It's a whole new level of radiant empowerment.    Andrew believes that Jesus, Mother Mary, and Mary Magdalene are all incarnations of the Divine, fully empowered and sacred. Andrew has done extensive research, and he shows how there are fragments in the Bible that tell the story. He presents a grounded version of how they actually lived. This story is a completion and a missing piece. It is ripe for this time as a vast hunger is rising in humanity. This is an expression of love and connection of all of creation. This is the gift of the Divine Feminine. Spirit and Matter are being healed through this resurgence. This is Part 1 of the interview. Info: www.andrewharvey.net

What's it like when you are the only African American dancer in a world of all white dancers? Lisa continues our very special interview with Jennifer Jones, the first African American Rockette. Jennifer talks about growing up seeing Broadway shows with her parents. She told her high school guidance counselor that she wanted to go to college and major in dance. Her counselor told her that she wasn't ready for college yet, although at a very early age, she always dreamed of being on stage. She was so passionate and started at a local community college before moving to New York City, auditioning, and getting hired to be a Rockette. She talks about how spectacular Radio City Music Hall is. It literally took her breath away! She shares the excitement of the famous Christmas Spectacular show and how she poured her heart into each show. She was performing up to six shows a day. Jennifer discusses resilience, and what she had to break through to make her dreams come true. She noted that this year is the 100-year anniversary of the Rockettes and a big event will be planned to celebrate. She also talks about her challenges, and how important it is to believe in yourself. She discusses the importance of being resilient. When she turned 50, she went to her doctor to request a colonoscopy. The doctor told her she was young and had nothing to worry about as she was healthy and had no family members with colorectal cancer. Jennifer listened to her powerful intuition and got a colonoscopy anyway. The doctors determined that she had colorectal cancer, and she was told she had five years to live. She felt embarrassed by this diagnosis as she was always the "healthy one" in her family. She was physically fit and a vegetarian. She met with a specialist and had four rounds of chemotherapy. To the amazement of her doctors, the tests showed dramatic improvement. She explains how she decided to meditate more, let go of toxic relationships, drink green juices, and so much more. She knew she needed to change the way she ate and the way she thought. In 2019, she was deemed cancer-free! Jennifer talks about testing early for colorectal cancer, and especially in the African American community. If there's a history, in your family, it's important to test even earlier. She shares how her symptoms started as pressure in her abdomen, so she began changing her diet and meeting with doctors. She talks about organizations who can offer early detection and additional support including Colorectal Cancer Alliance: https://colorectalcancer.org and Colon Cancer Foundation: https://coloncancerfoundation.org. Jennifer's groundbreaking memoir is titled "Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette." This is Part 2 of the interview. Info: rockettejenn.com.

Today's very special interview features Jennifer Jones, the first African American Rockette. Jennifer shares her story of growing up seeing Broadway shows with her parents. From a very early age, she dreamed of being on stage. She was so passionate and knew in every cell of her body that that would be her home. Jennifer talks about resilience, and what she had to break through to make her dreams come true. She talks about the dance history of the 1920s and how the Rockettes were formed in 1925. The founder thought that Americans would love to see women of the same size and race perform the exact same moves on a dance line. During this time period, Black dancers had their own troupes, as Blacks and whites did not perform together. Jennifer was hired as a Rockette in 1987. She was the very first Black woman to join the dance line. She saw an ad in the newspaper and her friend encouraged her to audition. She wasn't familiar with the Rockettes, as she'd never seen them. She saw only white women auditioning and realized she was the only Black person. She was so nervous and intimated, she decided to leave. A voice inside of her said, "Stay!" She decided to do so. She auditioned, got measured for height and weight, and the stage manager invited her to come back. Even though she went to the call back, she still didn't realize who the Rockettes were. She didn't know their history. She was hired and they immediately sent her for media training. She met with the choreographer who said she was "misquoted" by the press and that's what Jennifer needed to say during interviews. Many people, from managers to choreographers to fellow dancers, were not happy that she was on the line. Jennifer talks about being assaulted and repeatedly insulted. It took extreme perseverance on her part to follow her dreams of being on stage. She talks about how so many women auditioned and how they were not allowed to be a Rockette simply because of their skin color. Through her perseverance, her dream came true! Her groundbreaking memoir is titled "Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette."  She discusses specific mentors who helped to encourage her along the way. She received fan mail, as well as difficult hate mail. Some people didn't feel she should be there, but her parents, family, and mentors helped her along the way. She was a Rockette for 15 years, then another dream came true – she danced on Broadway! She discusses how staunch and strict the "Rockettes" brand is at Radio City. She didn't feel she could speak her truth without repercussions. They are still very strict with the brand. They do allow for slightly varying heights and weights. The draw for so many is that it's an incredible precision troupe. It has evolved over the years. They are trying to include more nationalities. The main focus is still precision and elegance. Jennifer hopes that she helped to inspire the Black women on the line today so they can experience the joy of the sisterhood of being a Rockette, dancing at Radio City Music Hall.  This is Part 1 of the interview. Info: rockettejenn.com.

How can we make our lives better through technology? And can ideas like quantum physics and AI possibly be likened to spirituality? Our guest today, Professor Riz Virk, began his career as a software engineer, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist after graduating with a computer science degree from MIT. Yet, after work and on the weekends, he devoted his time to spiritual inquiry. He studied shamanic dreaming, energy healing, consciousness, various religions, and other forms of spirituality. During his career, he also developed video games. He began exploring quantum physics, which surmises that nothing is actually real. Then Riz considered the great spiritual texts which talk about maya or a world of illusion. He thought about the idea that our reality is really like a video game. Riz talks about different levels of reality and how it works in the world of video games. Who is controlling the reality? It's very similar to having a spiritual experience. He also discusses the role of AI and how it impacts us. Currently a professor at Arizona State University, Riz is the author of numerous books including his most recent "The Simulation Hypothesis." Info: www.zenentrepreneur.com and www.bayviewlabs.com. Riz Virk will be speaking at the upcoming Conscious Life Expo held at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles FEB 20-23. Experience visionaries, change makers, and planetary influencers exploring advancements in science, UFO disclosures, spirituality, metaphysics, and healthy lifestyles. The Expo presents provocative panel discussions, interactive workshops, free lectures, special events, live concerts, and a healthy food court. Featuring more than 200 speakers and 350 vendors, attendees can experience the latest innovative modalities in physics, science, health, and longevity. Celebrate a new paradigm for evolved consciousness! Info: consciouslifeexpo.com Lisa Garr will be hosting a Workshop with Soul Reader Sondra Sneed, "Messages from Source," on Sunday, FEB 22 at 6 pm Pacific at the Conscious Life Expo. This inspiring session will offer guidance, predictions, and direct communication from Divine Source to support you during these rapidly shifting times. Discover insights to help you navigate change with greater trust, clarity, and purpose. Info and tickets:  theawareshow.com/CLE2026 and consciouslifeexpo.com

 Would you like to learn more about what's possible as we expand our consciousness? Would you like to learn about the Akashic Records and how it relates to our Past Lives? Psychic medium Elizabeth April is able to quiet her mind to the point she can remote view and teaches others this ability. She recently wrote a book about the crisis of anxiety that so many are experiencing. She believes solar flares increase our energetic frequency, so this can create a lot of anxiety. She talks about panic and the symptoms, but also the solution. If we don't go to source of the anxiety, we may not be able to fully overcome it. If we can remote view the situation, we may be able to more fully heal. It's about making the choice to live in a higher frequency. Elizabeth talks about "The New Earth" and living in 5-D. We will still experience challenges and triggers and oftentimes we experience them negatively. In a higher frequency, we still have real-world challenges, but we can look at them from a place of appreciation instead. She believes that anxiety is like a "notification," and we can learn to turn the alarm bell off. She also talks about her latest book, "Your Anxiety is Giving Me Anxiety." Info: Elizabethapril.com Elizabeth April will be speaking at the Conscious Life Expo about "Accessing your Highest Timeline."  She will talk about reaching higher levels of consciousness and how to access them, as well as hosting a panel discussion. The Conscious Life Expo will be held at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles FEB 20-23. Experience visionaries, change makers, and planetary influencers exploring advancements in science, UFO disclosures, spirituality, metaphysics, and healthy lifestyles. The Expo presents provocative panel discussions, interactive workshops, free lectures, special events, live concerts, and a healthy food court. Featuring more than 200 speakers and 350 vendors, attendees can experience the latest innovative modalities in physics, science, health, and longevity. Celebrate a new paradigm for evolved consciousness! Lisa Garr will be hosting a Workshop with Soul Reader Sondra Sneed, "Messages from Source," on Sunday, FEB 22 at 6 pm Pacific. This inspiring session will offer guidance, predictions, and direct communication from Divine Source to support you during these rapidly shifting times. Discover insights to help you navigate change with greater trust, clarity, and purpose. Info and tickets:  theawareshow.com/CLE2026 and consciouslifeexpo.com

Are you searching for purpose and meaning? Would you like to receive answers to questions directly from Source energy? Lisa continues the conversation today with author and soul reader Sondra Sneed. Sondra talks how she is able to communicate directly with God / Source for answers. In this part of the interview, she channels messages from God who is talking about consciousness and why we are here. She describes it as being similar to the movie "The Matrix." She talks about distractions and the threat of Artificial Intelligence. Social Media is programmed to act as a distraction and can cause reprogramming, so we get away from our natural truths as human beings. Source energy is asking us to stop scrolling several times a week, so we do not become addicted. We can be so much more creative if we take time to step away. Source also talks about Universal Consciousness and how it is unlimited. If we tap into Source, humans can gain limitless creativity and potential. This can lead us to a new period of Enlightenment. Humans will recreate a new era of their own invention. Sondra is the author of "What to Do When You're Dead," and creator of "The Accelerated Self" program. She discusses the lessons and levels of her programs and how to also have direct communication with Source. Info: sondrasneed.com. Lisa Garr and Sondra Sneed will be at the upcoming Conscious Life Expo, held at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles over the weekend of FEB 20-23, 2026. Lisa and Sondra's Workshop "Messages from Source" will be on Sunday, FEB 22 at 6 pm Pacific. This inspiring session will offer guidance, predictions, and direct communication from Divine Source to support you during these rapidly shifting times. Discover insights to help you navigate change with greater trust, clarity, and purpose. Info and tickets:  theawareshow.com/CLE2026

Would you like to find the answers to deep questions such as "Why am I here?" and "What is my purpose?" What would you do if you heard Source answer directly? Our guest today, author and soul reader Sondra Sneed talks about losing a man she loved at the same time she lost a job she loved. She felt thrown into isolation, so she began to journal as a way to comfort herself. She started receiving direct messages from a consciousness she came to know as God. The Universe sometimes takes away everything so people can hear messages. Sondra shares about how she was a student first, as she was originally an atheist. For 10 years, she was secretly working on trying to communicate and hear answers. This was during the time she was working on her first book, while she was maintaining a high-level professional career in business in New York City. After losing her job and partner, she spent one year in solitude, deeply searching for answers.  She explained how it's similar to creating a mirror of conversation. It is an aspect of you that returns to Source to get the message. Lisa asked Sondra to expand upon the relationship of Story and Purpose. Sondra channeled a message from God, who explains how we can write our own stories and become the author and authority of our lives. God's story expands through our creations. Sondra is the author of "What to Do When You're Dead," and creator of "The Accelerated Self" program. She discusses the lessons and levels of her programs and how to also have direct communication with Source. Info: sondrasneed.com. Lisa Garr and Sondra Sneed will be at the upcoming Conscious Life Expo, held at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles over the weekend of FEB 20-23, 2026. Lisa and Sondra's Workshop "Messages from Source" will be on Sunday, FEB 22 at 6 pm Pacific. This inspiring session will offer guidance, predictions, and direct communication from Divine Source to support you during these rapidly shifting times. Discover insights to help you navigate change with greater trust, clarity, and purpose. Info and tickets: Consciouslifeexpo.com

 What's the secret to a happy, long-lasting relationship? Marital and family psychologist Dr. Michael Tobin believes it's mutual respect for one another. He's been with his life partner, soulmate, and wife, Deborah, for 47 years, and in practice as a psychologist for more than 45 years.   Dr. Tobin's book, "Riding the Edge, A Love Song to Deborah," chronicles a six-month transformative journey in 1980 when Deborah, an Arab American, and Michael, an American Jew, bicycled across Europe, Lebanon, and Israel where they confronted the challenges of love, war, and identity. Today he discusses ways to work through trying times, even when life-transforming situations such as illness or marital infidelity occur. He is also a life-long writer, and has written extensively on marriage and family relationships, aging, health, fitness, and travel. Info: drmichaeltobin.com. 

Why do people play video games? How can we make our lives better through technology? And can ideas like quantum physics and AI possibly be likened to spirituality? Our guest today, Professor Riz Virk, began his career as a software engineer, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist after graduating with a computer science degree from MIT. Yet, after work and on the weekends, he devoted his time to spiritual inquiry. He studied shamanic dreaming, energy healing, consciousness, various religions, and other forms of spirituality. During his career, he also developed video games. After he successfully sold his last video game company, he decided to bring all of his interests together. He explored virtual reality and after playing a table tennis game, he realized his body fooled him into thinking that it was a real game with a real opponent. That's when he began to ask how long it would take to build something like the Matrix, a metaverse, something so immersive that you would completely forget about the outside world. He began exploring quantum physics, which surmises that nothing is actually real. Then Riz considered the great spiritual texts which talk about maya or a world of illusion. He thought about the idea that our reality is really like a video game. Riz talks about different levels of reality and how it works in the world of video games. Who is controlling the reality? It's very similar to having a spiritual experience. He also discusses the role of AI and how it impacts us. Currently a professor at Arizona State University, Riz is the author of numerous books including his most recent "The Simulation Hypothesis." Info: www.zenentrepreneur.com and www.bayviewlabs.com. Riz Virk will be speaking at the upcoming Conscious Life Expo held at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles FEB 20-23. Experience visionaries, change makers, and planetary influencers exploring advancements in science, UFO disclosures, spirituality, metaphysics, and healthy lifestyles. The Expo presents provocative panel discussions, interactive workshops, free lectures, special events, live concerts, and a healthy food court. Featuring more than 200 speakers and 350 vendors, attendees can experience the latest innovative modalities in physics, science, health, and longevity. Celebrate a new paradigm for evolved consciousness! Info: consciouslifeexpo.com

How can we find hope in such trying times? In Part 2 of this interview with scholar, philosopher, and researcher Jean Houston, Ph.D., she shares her first meeting with American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead, one of her early and most impactful mentors. Margaret considered Jean her "adopted daughter" and encouraged her to keep searching, keep understanding, keep putting pieces together to make some sense of it all. Mead was one of the early founders of Earth Day and taught Jean to keep reaching for solutions. Thorough this experience, Jean learned to produce extensive writing about the "new story of humanity" – she wrote books every month about history, culture, and possibilities. Jean talks today about how we can progress through community and cooperation and use our creativity to the fullest, by recognizing the good in one another. We can activate our innate genes as beings seeking constant growth and evolve to become higher humans as we visualize the possibilities and create the world we want. This is entelechy – it pushes us toward what humanity could be. Through her mentors and studies, Jean learned to observe and hone her particular awareness in a unique way of seeing people and raising them to their greatness. She worked for the UN and with many cultures throughout the world as well as working with Presidents including President Bill Clinton and President Jimmy Carter. Today we are asked to consider, "What does a world that works look like?"  New science, quantum physics, and relational science teach that there is unity and oneness. We can experience the evolution of the human race, activate the genes of the higher human, and witness the possible human. Jean paints an image of what our possible world could look like, by seeing the possibility in other people. Jean believes we are in a renaissance period now and although we've experienced the pandemic, wars, shootings, and scenes of outrage, we've also seen the linking of hearts, which is indeed the gestation period of a New Humanity. People want peace worldwide. We can do this by accessing the very depths of the human spirit which is available to all of us by seeing the very best in one another. This is the second of a two-part discussion. Info: https://www.jeanhouston.com/

The daily news is filled with stories of division, wars, mass shootings, rights getting overturned, political chaos, and so much continuous devastation. What can we do collectively to ease the pain? Our guest today, scholar, philosopher, and researcher Jean Houston, Ph.D., delves into the idea of finding possibility, even during these times of great grief. We have been conditioned to respond to the terrible, but it does not have to be this way. As an icon in the Human Potential movement, Jean shares ideas about how the Renaissance, with its advancements in music, art, poetry, and cosmology,  came after great plagues and times of war, much like the world's situation today. Could we be in a new Renaissance period now? We are once again in a similar time of radical growth, and we have the power within us to see new possibilities and reach mythical potential in our human evolution.   Jean shares stories of her travels and talks about her friendship with scholar Joseph Campbell and how they would have "beautiful fights" which were friendly arguments and deep discussions about mythology and the fate of humanity. Campbell wrote extensively about the "Hero's Journey," while Jean considered the "Heroine's Journey." Part of the problem is that 50% of the human race is not being recognized for women's immense creativity and power. Women's ways are missing. With an emphasis on compassion, cooperation, community, and process rather than product and competition, humane creativity must be celebrated by acknowledging the achievements of women.  She also talks about her fateful meeting of evolutionary philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin who became one of her mentors when she was much younger. At an early age, they would have profound discussions of time, history, and transformation, as she gained an alternate education of possibilities through their talks. Info: https://www.jeanhouston.com/

 Is it possible to live a life of humility and resilience, both in good times or bad? How do we respond when crisis hits?  January is the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic wildfires which severely impacted multiple neighborhoods and thousands of people in Los Angeles. Lisa continues the conversation with our guest Rabbi Steve Leder who talks about Darwin's theory and how the most adaptable people are the ones who survive. After pain and suffering, it's amazing what people can "normalize." Rabbi Leder talks deeply about how difficult it is when children leave to go away to college, or when someone loses a business. Yet, a year later, life somehow becomes normal again. It may feel like a betrayal to your past, but we must keep moving forward.  Rabbi Leder talks about redefining yourself and evolving. Meaning never goes out of style. He suggests that we stay in our lane and do good work. He further talks about good storytelling and myth. Myths are ways to describe truths about the human experience. He explains that about half of what we believe now are incorrect facts. History will prove this. The ancients had time to think about what they knew. We have access to so much information, but we still struggle to understand. Ancient people knew so much more about living through loss and disaster as they experienced it much more frequently than we have, whether it be infant mortality, wars, famine, disease, etc. Rabbi Leder explains how there are no "modern problems," as we can look back to these people, see their resilience, and then move forward. We can look at ancient wisdom for our modern situations. Rabbi Leder is the author of several books including "More Beautiful Than Before: How Suffering Transforms Us," "The Beauty of What Remains: How Our Greatest Fear Becomes Our Greatest Gift," and his most recent "For You When I Am Gone." He is the Senior Rabbi Emeritus of Wilshire Boulevard Temple, a prestigious synagogue in Los Angeles with three campuses and 3,000 families. Info: www.steveleder.com

January marks a year since the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Thousands of people have been affected, and many are still displaced. How do we respond? How can we live a life of both humility and resilience, whether in good times or bad? Today we welcome Rabbi Steve Leder who talks about the fires and how to cultivate tools to use when tragedy strikes. He talks about tending to our inner lives and how important it is to be of service to others. We receive comfort, even in the midst of our suffering, when we reach out to help others. We may all experience stress and trauma at various times in our lives. Success can ruin people the same way disaster can. Rabbi Leder reminds us to always live in the present and know, "This too shall pass," whether it's in good times or bad. We can move forward, and he teaches us to not regret the past. We cannot change it. When we worry about the future, we are not changing it, and that can cause anxiety. Catastrophic thinking does us no good. We do not know what is going to happen. It causes us to feel constant stress. If we can be more in the moment, even for smaller periods of time, it can help us feel much more resilient. It makes a huge difference to be mindful. This also requires a level of faith and spirituality. Rabbi Leder explains about the meaning of prayer. Most people ask for something when they pray. Yet, it is not always about appealing to God. He explains that this is about trying to change ourselves from within. It's not looking outside to a deity; it's about looking inside and realizing we do know how to navigate our circumstances. If you've overcome obstacles in the past, you can overcome them again. How do you do this? How do you find a way? We have the answers within. Rabbi Leder suggests, "When you must, you can." We go through various emotions – faith, anger, grief, and ultimately resilience. Don't let the fire go out in you. Don't let your spark fade. When we stay in the present, we can move forward.  Rabbi Leder is the author of several books including "More Beautiful Than Before: How Suffering Transforms Us," "The Beauty of What Remains: How Our Greatest Fear Becomes Our Greatest Gift," and his most recent "For You When I Am Gone." He is the Senior Rabbi Emeritus of Wilshire Boulevard Temple, a prestigious synagogue in Los Angeles with three campuses and 3,000 families. Info: www.steveleder.com

It's the beginning of the year. Would you like to lose a few stubborn pounds that you may have picked up over the holidays? Have you tried to eat less and work out more? We know how to lose weight, but we still don't do what we know. Why not? Well, according to our guest today, expert life coach Martha Beck, it's because we don't understand the brain-body dynamics of weight loss. Today Martha teaches us that we have to get lean from the brain outward.   In her book "The Four-Day Win" she tells us how to reverse the brain-body programming that makes us overweight, so we can create a new, leaner, and healthier body…for good. Psychology Today, USA Today, and NPR have all referred to Martha Beck as "one of the best-known life coaches in America." She is a monthly columnist for "O," the Oprah Magazine, has been a contributing editor for Real Simple, Redbook, and Mademoiselle, and has written for many other national magazines. She appears frequently as an expert on "life design," on programs such as Good Morning America.  She is the author of "Expecting Adam," "Steering by Starlight," "Finding Your Way in a Wild New World," and more. Info: https://marthabeck.com/

Would you like to be more in control of your energy? Do you want to experience a deeper state of "flow"? Lisa continues the conversation today with guest Christy Whitman, two-time New York Times bestselling author and transformational leader for the past 25 years. Christy teaches how to manifest and create your dream life, through the deliberate application of the Universal Laws. Her latest book is "The Flow Factor: How To Master Your Energy and Enter A State of Flow." She discusses the idea of "flow" and how to utilize daily practices to maintain that state. She talks about conscious and unconscious patterns and how we attract things into our lives. If we shine our light brighter, we can increase our "flow." Christy explains how when we go into judgement, we automatically go into negativity and lack. If you get into a negative place through criticism, you can get out by feeling compassion and light. Even giving ourselves a hug for 90 seconds can help to regulate our nervous system. We can tell ourselves that we are safe and that things will improve. We can choose how we feel. We can choose the words we tell ourselves. This can affect our limbic system. If we go into negativity, it can become a whirlwind, but Christy shares an exercise to offer relief and release. Christy invites us to explore the Universal Laws, including the Law of Attraction. She also discusses the healing "Council of Light" which she learned to channel several years ago. She works with Light and Energy to help others to increase their frequency. She talks about the choices we make and the importance of processing our emotions, so we do not stay in a place of worry, fear, or frustration. She reminds us again to bring in self-compassion as a way to shift our state and get back into flow. We will then be in a better position to bring in a solution. We need to come into a space of neutrality. From there we can get into abundance and flow. She also talks about the Law of Sufficiency and how it relates to the Law of Attraction and Abundance, as well as the importance of the words we speak.  This is Part 2 of the interview. Info: www.watchyourwords.com and www.ChristyWhitman.com

This month marks the one-year anniversary of the devastating wildfires that engulfed several communities in Los Angeles. Today's guest, Ellie Rose Pasternak,  shares her harrowing account of escaping the Pacific Palisades fire on January 7, 2025. Ellie grew up in the Palisades and previous fires in the area had never reached her family's house. When the fire began that morning, she and her Mom, Glorrie, who was also home at the time, were not overly concerned because the fire still seemed quite a distance away. At this time, there were no firefighters or engines in the neighborhood, so it seemed as if they were safe. Ellie then describes how she suddenly saw another fire on the other side of her house. She and her mom were keeping in touch with neighbors, and no one could understand what was happening. Ellie went outside, and as she was walking toward what she thought was an orange pylon in the road, she realized it was another fire. She ran as fast as she could to her house and alerted her Mom that they needed to leave immediately. It was now an emergency situation. By this time, their house had lost electricity, and they quickly gathered their animals including 4 dogs, 1 cat, 2 geckos, and 2 turtles. They rapidly gathered medications and a few articles of clothing and threw it all in the back of her car. Ellie describes how overwhelming it was and how things quickly changed in a matter of minutes. At this point, they thought they would be home the next day. In the past, the fire had never reached their home. Afterward, family friends were able to get into the neighborhood only to find that the Pasternaks' entire house was lost. Ellie's father, Dr. Henry Pasternak, is a very well-respected veterinarian who has practiced integrative medicine, using both holistic and Western therapies, for several decades in West Los Angeles. During the time of this taping, the family was sleeping at the veterinary office. The clinic was still open and operating during regular hours and housing many animals in need. Although they are in shock, Ellie explained that they are trying to find some sense of normalcy and are so grateful that they were able to escape with their animals with them. This is just one of thousands of stories of people and animals affected by the devastating fires in Los Angeles in January. If you are interested in making a donation either to the Pasternak family, or to the animals they are helping, pls call the Pasternak Veterinary Center at 310-268-2275. They are also accepting donations via Venmo @EllieRoseUke. To drop off donations in person, visit the clinic at 2038 South Sepulveda Blvd; West Los Angeles, CA 90025 or email info@pasternakvetcenter.com. For further information about Dr. Henry Pasternak and the veterinary clinic, visit www.pasternakvetcenter.com.

Would you like to be more in a state of flow? If you've been knocked out of flow, how do you get back into it? Our guest today is Christy Whitman, two-time New York Times bestselling author and transformational leader for the past 25 years teaching how to manifest and create having it all in life, through deliberate application of the Universal Laws. Her latest book is "The Flow Factor: How To Master Your Energy and Enter A State of Flow." She discusses the idea of "flow" and how to utilize daily practices of universal law. When you are in lack or limitation, this can easily take us out of flow. Sometimes there are bumps in the roads, from everything as small as stubbing your toe, to having a flat tire, to someone making a rude comment to us, which can affect our feelings and throw us off. Christy talks about "bushwacking moments" that can take us out, yet, when you are intentionally in this conscious state, flow is more powerful than the contrasting experiences. People typically think of flow as a state where time doesn't exist. It can be painting, running, taking a yoga class, or doing any creative activity where you feel in the zone. These are moments that show up in our lives from time to time, but what creates this flow? Christy defines it as connection with the infinite. We have access to this unlimited, universal energy at any time. This is pure, positive energy. We are all the conduit of energetic flow. When we are successful, laughing, giddy, flow feels good.  When you have a pessimistic attitude or feel a little negative, you have fallen out of flow. And when this happens you attract more of the same. We can so easily fall off track, just because of a thought. Christy explains how it can be thoughts of lack, disapproval, or discouragement. We can think we are not good enough or not worthy of receiving. Frustration is also one of the biggest thoughts that can cause us to be out of flow. Christy shares how joy and success all exist right now. She talks about steppingstones that help us get back on our path. It's small steps. If someone is in despair, they need a bridge to start to feel better. How do you get from there into abundance and flow? Peace, harmony, and compassion for yourself can start. It calms the limbic system. When you go into the state of neutrality, it's easier to soothe ourselves. When we experience contrast, our natural fight, flight, freeze, or fawn reaction begins to accelerate. Our energy can get caught. We need to release the energy by coming into a space of neutrality. From there we can get into abundance and flow. Unconscious thoughts create our reality and as we check in with our emotions, we can learn to make changes. Christy teaches us ways to quickly get out of a negative state and into a flow of joy and abundance. It starts with being compassionate to yourself first. This is Part 1 of the interview. Info: www.ChristyWhitman.com

Today's show continues the conversation with the author of the mega-bestselling book, "The Four Agreements" don Miguel Ruiz, and his son, don Jose Ruiz. Together they talk deeply about truth, individuality, and belief systems. They ask us to enjoy life for the limited time we are here. Try to enjoy every moment, while also acknowledging that there is suffering and hardship. They talk about the power we have and how we can change "the story" through our awareness. They explain how the ancestors say we are living in a dream. It is up to us to decide, and to have courage and discipline to change the dream through our habits and by getting to the root of our truth. Don Miguel Ruiz was born into a family of healers and raised in rural Mexico by a curandera (healer) mother and nagual (shaman) grandfather. The family anticipated don Miguel would embrace their centuries old legacy of healing and teaching and as a nagual, carry forward the esoteric Toltec knowledge. Instead, distracted by modern life, Miguel chose to attend medical school and become a surgeon. A near death experience in 1970 changed his life and he began an intensive practice of self-inquiry.  He continues to devote himself to the mastery of his ancient ancestral wisdom.  His book "The Four Agreements"  has been a mega-bestselling book for years. Don Jose, his son, grew up in a long lineage of Toltec Teachers. His father, the Nagual don Miguel Ruiz, and his grandmother, Sarita, passed on their Toltec Teachings to don Jose, who carries on the family tradition of teaching Toltec wisdom. In 2010, don Jose Ruiz released his first book titled "The Fifth Agreement" in partnership with his father, don Miguel Ruiz.  Following this publication, don Jose began traveling around the US, Mexico, and South America.  Don Jose inspires people in many different ways including through his book signings, lectures, seminars, and hosting intensive journeys to Teotihuacan and other sacred sites around the world. This is Part 2 of the interview. Info: miguelruiz.com and theuniverseofnow.com.