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Wake Up, Human

Author: Shannon M. Wills

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Wake Up, Human is an exploration of the native powers of the human being. This podcast examines the ways we humans have become disconnected—from our innate wisdom, from each other, and from the natural world—and explores practical strategies for reconnecting to wholeness. Drop in for information and inspiration to help us reawaken and heal ourselves, our relationships, and our planet.

29 Episodes
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In this episode I share a message from my great-grandmother, the last words she spoke to me before she died: "Don't let anyone step on you." I'm reflecting on the precious wisdom of elders, and the power of standing up for ourselves in a world that often tries to hold us down. Modern Western society has largely disconnected us from our elders and their wisdom, by separating generations from one another physically, socially, and spiritually. That is one reason so many of us are divided, misgui...
In this episode my guest and I explore the fascinating skill of bending spoons with the mind—something that all of us humans are capable of!—as a portal to greater self-knowledge, inspiration, and connection with the world around us.
I explore the aftermath of the 2024 US election through a lens of rehumanization, focusing on how we can heal divisions by understanding others' needs—and thinking for ourselves. Some topics I touch upon... The dangers of falling into lockstep with political "teams" without questioning our beliefsThe importance of dialogue and curiosity instead of assumption and judgmentThe red/blue binary that's making us all look like sheepBuilding effective coalitions while maintaining personal values and ...
Manifestation is not just about vision boards and wishful thinking—it's an intentional practice of aligning our energy with our desire, through the power of the mind. In this episode I talk with Irina Portnova about the practical side of manifestation: "We don't attract what we want, we attract who we are." Some of the topics we cover... Everything in our world is energy, including our thoughts, words, and emotionsWe are manifesting all the time, whether we know it or not—often unconsciously ...
Our modern world rushes past death and endings, urging us to "move on" before we've properly acknowledged what's been lost. But what if this cultural tendency keeps us subtly tethered to the past, preventing us from fully opening to what comes next? Inspired by the death of the hawk on a busy urban street (and the woman who stopped to collect her body), this episode examines how cultural barriers like commodification, clock-time orientation, and death aversion block our natural grieving proc...
The seeds of hatred can take root in any human heart—even those most committed to compassion and peace. In this episode, I share my journey through betrayal and rage alongside reflections on the genocide in Palestine, exploring parallels between personal and collective trauma. What happens when appropriate anger—that evolutionary response designed to protect us—has nowhere to go? Like an encounter with a bear in the wilderness, anger can serve us brilliantly in moments of danger. But when th...
The constant pressure to do everything immediately has become so normalized we barely notice it anymore – but this "tyranny of urgency" is destroying our wellbeing, relationships, and connection to life itself. Urgency isn't just about feeling rushed; it's a colonial, capitalist programming that keeps us disconnected from our bodies and each other. When we're constantly in emergency mode, our nervous systems become dysregulated, our critical thinking shuts down, and we lose touch with ...
Have you ever had a moment where everything went sideways – literally? This storytelling episode takes you deep into the Guatemalan countryside where a borrowed red Toyota truck, a burning mountainside, and a muddy crevasse converge to deliver some fun insights about decision making and human connection. The story explores how both intuition and experience serve as powerful guides when we face uncertainty, and how stepping away from our need to be right can sometimes allow the most creative o...
In this episode I explore the prophecy of the Eagle and Condor, which in its different iterations offers a powerful framework for understanding humanity's divisions between "north and south," and a possible path toward reconciliation and healing. This particular teaching of the prophecy originated with Quechua tribes of the Andes and speaks of a 500-year separation between two human paths of the eagle and the condor.It describes the eagle (North) as representing individualism, rationalism, an...
What if the very pain you're running from contains the medicine you need? In this vulnerable and deeply personal episode, I dive into the wisdom behind the poet Rumi's profound insight: "The cure for the pain is in the pain." Pain isn't just something that hurts us—it's a messenger, a signal flare demanding our attention. Yet modern society has conditioned us to numb, avoid, and push through our pain rather than face it directly. This avoidance doesn't make pain disappear; instead, it pushes...
In this episode I reflect on the passing of a dear friend, exploring what it means to live fully while we have the chance, and the ways in which our lives create meaningful ripples in the world, beyond the simple moments we live. When my friend Susan died of cancer just months after retiring, it invited me to confront some shadowy subjects, including the question, why do we postpone joy? Susan was a mentor and friend who helped spark the birth of Wake Up, Human, cheering me on to step into ...
What happens when we compare Barbie's journey out of Barbie Land with Neo's escape from the Matrix? In this exploration I dive into how these starkly different films both challenge us to question the manufactured realities we live within—and consider how me might transcend them. Both characters face a pivotal choice—Barbie between the high heel and the Birkenstock, Neo between the red pill and blue pill—representing the decision between comfortable illusion and uncomfortable truth. Their jou...
Lorin Peters shares his 50-year journey as a physicist, teacher, and lifelong activist for nonviolence and peace, from his transformative experience in the Peace Corps to his work with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Palestine. How a death threat and a prophetic dream in Thailand launched Lorin's commitment to nonviolenceThe connection between Gospel nonviolence and Gandhian nonviolence through "the law of redemptive suffering"Why meditation became essential to Lorin's practice of nonviolence a...
Have you ever looked back at years spent in a soul-sucking corporate job (or other seemingly dead-end pursuit) and thought, "I wasted so much time"? We often convince ourselves we've wasted time in corporate careers or chasing someone else's definition of success, but every choice we make teaches us what we need to know to find our authentic path. Exploring the idea of "wasted time" through the story of a Beijing woman who left her prestigious career Learning that action brings clarity—we can...
What if the wisdom we're seeking has been speaking to us all along, but we've forgotten how to listen? Rose de Dan's journey from disconnection to animal communication began during what she calls her "black and white Kansas" period – a time of feeling lost and questioning life's purpose. Through a profound Reiki experience, she awakened to dormant aspects of herself, transitioning into what she describes as the "technicolor world of Oz" where everything became alive with meaning and connecti...
What if the ancient sites of our ancestors still held living wisdom that could reconnect us with our forgotten heritage? Ireland stands as perhaps the last repository in Europe where this connection remains unbroken, where stone circles and fairy mounds aren't silent relics but continue to speak through mythology preserved across millennia. In this captivating conversation, independent researcher Jack Roberts shares why Ireland's ancient sites matter profoundly to our modern world. Born in E...
What if love isn't just a feeling, but a powerful spiritual path that could heal our divided world? In this soul-stirring conversation, I speak with Matthew Busse, a former molecular biologist turned spiritual teacher who serves as teacher-in-residence at the Abbey of the Redwoods. Matt shares his remarkable journey from scientific success to spiritual seeking after discovering that conventional paths to happiness left him feeling empty and disconnected. Together, we explore the conce...
What does it mean to belong somewhere? As a person of European descent living in the United States, I've often wrestled with this question – how to honor the indigenous peoples of the land I call home while also nurturing my own sense of place and belonging. In this special narrative episode, I step away from my usual format to share a personal written reflection titled "We Are All Indigenous." The story begins at a Taoist meditation center where, instead of the familiar crystal singing bowl...
What does it mean to be a creative person? If you've ever dismissed your own creativity with "I'm not artistic," this conversation might fundamentally change how you see yourself. In this enlightening exploration of human creativity, artist and dreamkeeper Denise Kester reveals how our modern culture has mistakenly categorized some people as "creative" while leaving the rest of us feeling artistically inadequate. Through decades of teaching experience and her own artistic journey, Denise cha...
Have you ever noticed the endless stream of thoughts running through your mind? The unexamined mental chatter that dictates your mood, decisions, and sense of self? What if there was a simple practice that could help you step back from this mental noise and reconnect with your deeper wisdom? In this powerful solo episode, I explore meditation as a remedy for what I call "separation sickness" - the profound disconnection from our essential nature that manifests as anxiety, purposelessness, an...
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