Soul Net

In this episode of Soul Net Sessions, we share some of the ways we celebrated this year's Autumn Equinox with rituals welcoming change, honouring the light within the dark, and bringing warmth into our homes and bodies. We get witchy as we explore life and death, new moons, tarot cards, and the fire within! ✨ Cold plunges contrast therapy • Ayurveda • Feminine energy • Ritual & rebirth ✨As the wheel turns to Fall, seasonal rituals reconnect us to nature, body, and spirit. From cold plunges and candles to sacred boredom, cozy up with us and slow down to find the magic in the mundane.Timestamps:00:00 – 02:00Soul Net Sessions at Henry’s Studio in Vancouver, BC. during Autumn Equinox and the meaning of seasonal transitions.02:00 – 04:00Islena shares her ritual of ocean plunges in Point Roberts as summer wanes. Body memory, climate, and menopause in changing seasons.04:00 – 06:00How cold plunges affect midlife women, Ayurvedic perspectives on vata and pitta doshas, and finding your personal window of tolerance in ritual.06:00 – 08:00Ritual as play and honoring your body’s edge. Using sunrise swims and moments of stillness to reconnect with life force energy.08:00 – 10:00Autumn rituals for warmth and grounding: lighting candles, fire, sun symbolism, and the power of gentle contrast therapy for the nervous system.10:00 – 12:00Dayna shares her inward Equinox rituals: journaling, meditation, rest, and “sacred boredom.” How spirituality evolves from external gatherings to inner quiet.12:00 – 14:00When commercialized wellness doesn’t align — trusting your felt sense. Discovering the magic in the mundane and creating ritual through simple acts.14:00 – 16:00Everyday rituals: fire-lighting, washing dishes, greeting the sun, and connecting to primal elements of Earth, warmth, and ancestry.16:00 – 18:00What feels truly aligned in ritual? Discerning authenticity, resonance, and what actually regulates the body versus what overstimulates.18:00 – 20:00Reflections on connection — from youthful ecstatic experiences, to sacred choices like Islena purchasing her burial plot. Joy, death, and belonging to place.20:00 – 22:00Death rituals and personal agency: choosing how to leave, death doulas, and assisted dying as acts of consciousness and ceremony.22:00 – 24:00Letting go as seasonal practice. Humor and heart in shadow work — Islena's “Dr. Death” moments and embracing life through awareness of mortality.24:00 – 26:00Megan shares her Autumn ritual: tarot with the Empress card, embodying feminine energy, and rebalancing emotional boundaries.26:00 – 28:00Honoring self, releasing energy drains, and choosing relationships and environments that nurture intuition and soul connection.28:00 – 30:00Ritual as personal and evolving. Preview of next episode on gratitude and community.

In our newest Soul Net Session, we delve into making time for joy amid life’s challenges. We discuss how continuous growth and learning can reshape our narratives at any age. Megan shares uplifting stories of joy found in nature and a rainy-day swim, while Dayna recounts returning to a sport she loves after a hiatus, detailing the joy and pain that followed. The sisters recognize the recurring themes of joy and pain, light and dark, as they navigate new experiences and revisit the old. Episode Timeline:00:00 – Welcome, Soul Net community intro03:30 – Podcast growth, learning new skills, new beginnings06:00 – Early autumn reflection, fresh starts, world events09:00 – Coping with uncertainty, finding levity, joy snacks12:00 – Nature nourishment, sit spot club experiences15:00 – Adventures: swimming in rain, embracing mystery18:00 – Rediscovering travel, feminine inspiration21:00 – Quebec City drag brunch, gender reflections24:00 – Beach volleyball, athlete archetype, aging & change27:30 – Sport adaptations: resilience and menopause30:00 – Honoring personal growth, closing life loops33:00 – Memoir writing, integrating trauma and creativity, invitation for next episode, shout-out to cohost Islena36:00 – Joy and pain coexistence, wisdom for balance39:00 – Roots, autumn equinox preview, closing thoughtsJoin us as we explore how to find joy amidst global uncertainty and personal growth. Broadcasting from Henry’s studio, we celebrate new beginnings, the value of community, and the power of “joy snacks”—small, nourishing moments—from nature walks to adventures in beach volleyball and drag brunches. We reflect on honoring the athlete archetype, embracing change in midlife, and integrating pain with creativity and purpose. With resilience, balance, and honoring the inner child, we invite you to seek levity and meaning—especially as autumn approaches and the world feels heavy. -----Available wherever you stream podcasts, or watch on YouTube to see our smiles. If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to follow, like, and share.

Beyond Gender, Into Balance: We all carry both divine feminine and masculine energy—but how do we actually recognize them, heal the wounded parts, and bring them into harmony?In this special video episode, Megan, Dayna, and Islena share stories, cultural insights, and practical tools to help you move between nurture and structure, receptivity and action, softness and strength. You’ll learn how these energies influence relationships, parenting, work, and self-care—and how to balance them in yourself and others.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction & welcome to Soul Net Sessions02:26 – What are divine feminine and masculine energies? (Ayurvedic view: Ida & Pingala, earth/water vs air/fire)04:32 – The dance between structure (masculine) and nurture (feminine) in work and parenting07:27 – Healing the wounded feminine: ancestral patterns, conditioning, and self-definition09:35 – Raising sons to embrace both energies with ease10:43 – Healthy masculine modeling vs. father/mother wounds13:05 – Relationships that allow us to rest in one energy while honoring the other15:11 – Practicing underdeveloped energies and finding supportive spaces16:00 – Navigating emotional expression in professional and personal settings17:28 – Dysregulation patterns: sadness vs. anger, fire vs. water19:30 – Co-regulation in relationships and the role of balance in ease20:29 – Understanding your energy body as a remedy for unease21:17 – Simple practices to invite balance (opposites in Ayurveda)22:38 – How complementary energies work in partnerships24:59 – Why some men resist calling their nurturing side “feminine” and the role of conditioning25:34 – Tips for nurturing your feminine and masculine sides27:14 – Closing reflections: dancing between energies in daily lifeFinal Musings:From Ayurvedic perspectives to midlife awakenings, from wounded feminine healing to embracing healthy masculinity,  join us as we explore the dance between the divine feminine and masculine energies that live within us all—beyond gender, beyond stereotypes, and deeply rooted in our energetic bodies. Together, we unpack personal stories, ancestral influences, cultural conditioning, and practical ways to nurture balance.

The Soul Net sisters share on ways we experience grief and loss in our lifetime. We explore the desire to return to the safety of the womb during times of deep grief, somatic messages in the body, running from our feelings, learning to celebrate endings and so much more. Join us for a heart centered episode as we find our way through hard places and open to laughter and lots of love. Show Notes:How we carry grief, how we learn to name it, and how midlife opens doors to healing and self-compassion.0:00 – 2:20:Welcome & setting the theme: grief as a shared but rarely named experience. The hosts reflect on childhood grief and the absence of language or tools to process loss.2:21 – 3:52:Unresolved childhood grief: the loss of a father, unacknowledged until years later. How avoidance and shame can bury early loss.3:53 – 5:20:Freezing and emotional shutdown as grief responses. Stories of grandparent loss, and how grief later surfaces in adult relationships.5:21 – 7:27:Cultural patterns around “moving on.” The survival strategy of emotional detachment. How midlife reveals old, unprocessed emotions.7:28 – 9:37:Grief in menopause: losing fertility, identity shifts, and reckoning with aging. The practice of death meditation as a grounding tool.9:38 – 11:09:The “curse” of living in times of change. Exploring grief as a lifelong return to the womb’s lost safety. Body language and curling inward as unconscious grief signals.11:10 – 13:13:The human drive to recreate certainty and be “liked.” Grief as a foundational rupture we spend life trying to repair through meaning-making and achievement.13:14 – 15:09:Embodied grief during sleep: how the body holds emotion. Learning to unfurl from protective postures and meet grief with curiosity and compassion.15:10 – 16:25:Hair loss and feminine identity: the gift of confronting appearance-based attachments. Self-love as a product of acceptance, not achievement.16:26 – 17:40:Reframing grief as a series of endings we rarely honor. The power of grief rituals, death meditations, and somatic practices for integration.17:41 – 19:39:Grief and gratitude as healing partners. How honoring past chapters and parts of ourselves softens the emotional edge of loss.19:40 – 21:18:Finding spiritual connection with lost loved ones. The comforting ritual of “keeping the love alive” through nature, memory, and presence.21:19 – 22:00:Closing words: grief, anger, fear—all welcome. Remembering the healing balm of love and the courage to feel."When I reflect on grief, I feel like it's a midlife emotion as we go through menopause; we are no longer the vessel that creates life, we're going to create other things. So there is a loss of that whole era and chapter of our lives as well." ~Dayna Bango

Drawing upon wisdom from spiritual traditions, ancestral reflections, and personal stories, Islena shares with Dayna and Megan how fear, scarcity, and the desire for control, shapes our relationships and communities from the love of power, versus the power of love. We explore the critical importance of vulnerability, repair, and building bridges, both within ourselves and with others, in the power of love.You are invited to consider what it means to be a new kind of warrior: one who leads with compassion, holds space for diversity, and embodies the role of a bridge-builder. Drawing inspiration from nature, parenting, and ancient texts, we offer practical insights for fostering connection and healing in divided times.Time-Stamped Show Notes:0:00 - Opening: The concept of the warrior and building bridges instead of attacking across divides.0:25 - Introduction: A new kind of warrior wisdom around the power of love versus the love of power.2:22 - Reflection: The importance of holding the vibration of love within communities.3:12 - Ancestral Scarcity: Discussion on how fear of loss and scarcity is inherited and shapes our drive for power and control.5:04 - Relationships: How fear of loss leads to control and division, both personally and collectively.6:52 - Repairing Relationships: The necessity of repair and vulnerability in maintaining love.8:14 - Power of Love vs. Love of Power: Exploring how love enables repair and connection, while power seeks control.10:20 - Modern Warrior: The story of a woman in the trades building bridges, not walls, and the significance of authentic leadership.13:00 - Nature’s Bridges: Drawing inspiration from nature to build bridges rather than walls in interpersonal relationships.16:03 - Spiritual Warrior: Merging spiritual depth (Pisces) with action (Aries); lessons from the Bhagavad Gita on fulfilling duty without becoming the conflict.19:34 - Inner and Outer Conflict: Personal growth as a model for collective healing; embracing vulnerability and difficult conversations.22:41 - New Warrior Archetype: The bridge builder and lighthouse parent...leaders who hold space for diverse experiences.25:28 - All My Relations: Honoring ancestors and future generations through connection and attunement.28:14 - Full Circle: The power of maintaining bridges of peace and mutual respect to prevent division and conflict.29:27 - Closing: Encouragement for listeners to become bridge builders and a preview of the next episode on healing through grief and loss.Notable Quotes:“Maybe the lighthouse warrior IS the power of love. Wow, we came full circle.” ~ Islena“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.” ~ Anne Lamott“Here in another universe, I meet my father when he is a child. … He tells me he isn’t allowed to cry, but sometimes the world hurts him, and he doesn’t know what to do with all of that pain. So I give him the shoulder he needs to cry on, and he does. … I wish someone could have done that for him, been a kind, safe place for the child he used to be. Would it have made a difference?” ~ Nikita GillResources:Bhagavad Gita for Beginners (Radha Krishna Temple) – An accessible introduction to the Bhagavad Gita’s teachings. Anne Lamott – author, novelist.Nikita Gill’s Poetry and Books – poet, author of poem about father and the importance of safe spaces for emotions.

In this fun and informative episode Dayna and Megan welcome Kim Vopni AKA the Vagina Coach to the show. Kim shares her journey on how witnessing childbirth ignited a curiosity for helping herself and other women to build strength in their pelvic floor. She emphasizes the importance of Core function and its impacts on creativity, intimacy, and overall well-being. We discuss the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) and its symptoms, including genital changes, urinary issues, and sexual problems that can affect us both physically and emotionally. She share’s details of her Buff Muff Method that marries pelvic floor exercises with resistance training to help improve function and quality of life at all ages of a women’s life including pre and postpartum, peri-menopause and beyond. Learn more about Kim and her offerings at https://www.vaginacoach.com References in this episode include: Estrogen Matters The Great Menopause Myth Show Notes Timestamps:0:00 – Introduction to pelvic health: The vagina as a power source, creativity, and intimacy center. The impact of pelvic floor issues on daily life.2:30 – Meet Kim Vopni, the "Vagina Coach": How she became a pelvic health expert and her personal journey into the field.5:30 – The importance of pelvic floor health: How pregnancy, childbirth, and aging affect pelvic function. The overlooked role of postpartum recovery.9:00 – Common misconceptions: Why Kegels aren’t always the answer, and why pelvic floor issues aren’t just about urine leakage.12:00 – The emotional impact: How shame around pelvic issues limits women’s lives and why open conversations help.15:00 – What is GSM, Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause?: How hormonal changes impact vaginal health, bladder function, and sexual well-being.19:00 – Why pelvic floor issues are often misdiagnosed: The long journey to getting proper care and the limitations of the medical system.22:30 – The role of hormone therapy: How systemic and vaginal estrogen can help alongside pelvic floor training.26:00 – Strength training and the pelvic floor: Why combining resistance training with pelvic floor exercises is crucial.29:30 – The Buff Muff Method: Kim’s step-by-step approach to training and maintaining pelvic floor health.33:00 – Common bladder irritants: Caffeine, alcohol, and other unexpected triggers of urgency and incontinence.36:00 – The importance of regular pelvic floor physio: Why all women should see a pelvic floor therapist, even without symptoms.39:00 – Final thoughts: It’s never too late to start strengthening your pelvic floor. Kim’s message of empowerment and action.How to Help Your Pelvic Floor: Why Kegels alone aren’t enough – Learn at 9:00 why you need a dynamic approach to pelvic floor training. The hidden impact of bladder irritants – Find out at 33:00 how common drinks and foods might be making your symptoms worse. Why every woman should see a pelvic floor physio – Hear at 36:00 why prevention is key, and how to take control of your pelvic health.

Women’s health is finally getting some of the attention it deserves and our Soul Net sisters are in the trenches of it all right along with you. We are excited to kick off season three of the podcast with the launch our new series "The Joy and Pain of Menopause". Over the next few episodes, we will be sharing some of our guidance in the way of mind, body and soul health and welcome special guests that offer up tips and insight for this transitional time of our lives. In this special video episode, we come together and highlight some of our own individual experiences with this journey. As we share our stories, we come to recognize just how unique our experiences can be as women and that sharing opens a door to understanding. Join us as we dive deep into ways to move through this time of life with compassion, laughter and community. References: The Dutch Test

Do you ever wonder why some of the health practices that work for your friends don’t work well for you? Do you often feel crappy even though you’re eating healthy and doing the ‘right’ things? Ayurveda - the original mind body medicine - and its practices integrate the wisdom of ancient healing traditions with the best of modern medicine to help us feel better body, mind and spirit. In this episode, Dayna, Megan, and Islena share their unique mind body types and how some of the simple practices of Ayurveda have impacted and improved their health and well-being. Join the conversation about the power of touch, paying attention to messages from the body, and how to get unstuck, all through the lens of this ancient healing wisdom. Practices referenced in this episode include: Abhyanga - self massage Basti - head oil massage Dry brushing Breathwork - kapalbhati and bhrastrika Six tastes approach to food If you’d like to learn more about your unique mindbody type and take the dosha quiz, email Dayna at bangobody@gmail.com or dm her on socials with ‘Dosha Quiz’.

How do we remain soft and loving when the world around us feels hard?? In this episode we explore the value of being receptive to life's lessons without allowing tough times to harden us. Instead through vulnerability and self-awareness, we uncover the path to resilience and growth. We reflect on personal responsibility and the power of honesty - with ourselves and others - in shaping the kinds of lives we aspire to lead. What softens your heart? What hardens your heart? References in this episode include Brene Brown and Zen Buddhist Roshi Joan Halifax “Strong back and soft front” and Rumi.

We carry a heavy load of responsibilities on our backs with the stress management of family systems, social systems, and our own internal systems. In this episode, Islena talks about feeling the intense pressure to meet work and family responsibilities during a recent bout with Covid. We come together to hold space for her and chat about what it means to unpack stress and to find faith in the universe having your back. 

Dayna, Megan, and Islena kick off season 2 by taking the shame out of menopause. They share their menopausal experiences, symptoms (night sweats, insomnia, anxiety), as well as strategies for educating themselves, their partners and children about the natural female process. Tune in as they shine a light on women's health and invite men into this much-needed conversation. References in this episode include: Liz Plank @feministabulous, author of "For The Love Of Men" Red School @red.school, educators of menstruality cycle awareness and conscious menopause

Dear Listeners, we are excited to celebrate our 1-yr birthday with an in-person video reflection! We received many gifts this year, the biggest one being YOU. Thank you for tuning in and sharing your time with us. We love and appreciate your soulful presence in our Soul Net! Wishing you all a year of forward momentum and ideas born from your heart.

In this special one-year anniversary episode, the Sisters share what it means for them to take turns giving and receiving love in the way of "netting". They share their experiences of moving between being a provider of love (holding space) and being the recipient of love (held in space). This continual dance between the divine masculine and divine feminine is what we call "the art of netting" and the Soul Net Podcast is where we practice. Thank you for joining us in this practice and supporting Soul Net this year! We love you and look forward to soul netting with you in 2024! References in this episode include: The Art of Netting, a poem by Mark Nepo in his book "The Half-Life of Angels" The Endless Vows, a chapter from Mark Nepo's book "Falling Down and Getting Up". Ho’oponopono prayer Way of the Superior Man by David Dieda

In this episode, the Sisters welcome child educator and wellness facilitator, Meredith Dawson. Meredith talks about nature as her teaching partner and the benefits of open spaces and "risky play" for kids of all ages. Her outdoor education programs such as Wild Wonder and Wellbeing Walks invite people into nature to experience connection through relational and navigational skill development. She discusses how current indoor classroom environments restrict movement and creativity, both of which she claims are fundamental for healthy development and nervous system regulation. This conversation is packed full of information and inspiration to go outside, play, and learn! Join us! To connect with Meredith, please visit www.thrivinglifeco.com or find her on social @aspiringthriver. Quotes and references in this episode include: "Risky Play" - Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Ian Pike, University of British Columbia "New avenues for investigation and action are emerging seeking optimal strategies for keeping children as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible." - Mariana Brussoni, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health "There's no Wi-Fi in the forest, but I promise you'll find a better connection." - Unknown

Join the Soul Net sisters in an exploration of gratitude as a transformative practice. While the holidays bring joy, they also usher in moments of deep challenge. Dayna candidly unveils a personal tale of upheaval coinciding with Thanksgiving weekend, marking the end of a significant chapter in her life. In this reflective episode, the sisters delve into the essence of gratitude, offering profound insights on how this practice grounds us in the present. They introduce simple yet powerful techniques like a Noticing Practice and the Three Breath Trip. These methods act as anchors, gently guiding us toward solace in the present moment. Tune in as Soul Net navigates the nuanced landscape of gratitude, demonstrating its potency in not just the good times, but as a steadfast companion during life's most challenging transitions.

In this episode, the Sisters reunite with a good friend from high school, Debbie Collins, to celebrate her journey to true love and getting engaged at 50! Debbie highlights two key factors in her journey to finding love: healing trauma wounds and learning to love herself first. She shares her experiences and commitment to the work of self-love through counselling, bio feedback, meditation, and retreats. We get real about vulnerability and maturity. Of course we ask Deb if the passion and lovemaking is still hot at 50?!!! Tune in to find out! The retreat center mentioned in this episode is Esalen Institute. For more info, please visit www.esalen.org.

Misha Waite is a clinical counsellor who helps youth, adults, couples and families in the areas of mental health, stress, anxiety, and grief. She joins Dayna and Megan in a discussion about love and how to stay loving while being in the messiness of life. Can we feel the lightness of love when we're in the heaviness of pain? Can we be in sadness and joy at the same time? Misha offers her experience and insight into coping with conflicting feelings and making love a priority. Misha Waite is a registered clinical counsellor with Tall Tree Health in Vancouver, British Columbia. Books and quotes referenced in this episode include: Bittersweet by Susan Cain "Happiness is a string of individual moments." - Esther Hicks "A walk in nature walks the soul back home." - Mary Davis Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés Rising Strong by Brené Brown "So I'm all of love that could make it today." - Shel Silverstein

In this episode of Soul Net, the Sisters share some hard truths (and laughs) about body changes, brain fog, and intimate connection during mid-life and peri-menopause. They talk about letting go of expectations to look and be a certain way. In this conversation, the Sisters explore acceptance, cycles of life, open communication, and leaning into edges that arise during times of transition. Some tools that the Sisters practice and discuss in the episode include: meditation, humour, and sharing experiences. For guided meditations, please visit Dayna Bango and Megan Lammam on Insight Timer.

In this episode of Soul Net, the Sisters explore beautiful boredom and its opposite cousin, the hecticness of trying to have it all and do it all because there are energetic costs to the return to life as we knew it before the pandemic. There's big responsibilities in midlife. There's the sandwich generation. There's this changing world, economically, socially, politically, technologically. There are costs to doing too much beyond our ability to stay regulated. We create energetic deficits. It's like writing a check that over draws our energetic account and withdraws too many of our energetic coins, leaving us in an energy debt. Whereas beautiful boredom is a respite from all of that is the pregnant pause. Like an unpainted painting, an uncurved sculpture. It's possibility. It's an invitation to explore our inner world. It's our quiet moments where creativity can blossom. A chance to reconnect with our original self and dream without boundaries. So let's have a listen together friends, enjoy.

In this episode of Soul Net, Megan and Islena interview Dayna! We get to know Dayna and how her passion for movement, nature and teaching led her to a successful career as a personal trainer working with celebrities, athletes of all ages and everyone in between. She shares with us how curiosity led her back to school to study the ancient healing system of Ayurveda - the science of life - and how it has helped her to manage her mental, physical and spiritual health and living with an autoimmune illness. On a personal note, Dayna shares her early experiences in athletics, burn out and how working through some of her traumas has allowed her to reconnect with her love of skiing and help heal her family relationships. She talks about single parenthood, learning to let go and leaving a legacy of health and wellness for the world. Join us for stories of love, joy and laughter as we connect with Dayna.