Please note: This interview contains depictions of violence and sexual abuse. Please listen with care for yourself and others. This week's guest is BakeR Gendron, whose life took her from a small town in rural Indiana to Chicago, California and Phoenix where she served as a political activist supporting LGBTQ rights, leading a life which transcended labels. That journey took an abrupt turn toward the spiritual while tending to her dying partner as she began experiencing flashbacks of previously ...
Dec 07, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 43
An existential crisis can throw the average adult into a state of uncertainty at best and inner turmoil at worst. Kay's next guest, John Schieke, was just six years old when he started to ponder the deepest questions. As a child, he was mentally and emotionally ill-equipped to handle these queries and barely had the vocabulary to describe what he was experiencing to others. The resulting alienation and stress made him vulnerable to the substance abuse that, by the age of 18, very nearly took his...
Nov 23, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 42
In episode 41, Sarah Lindgren talks with Kay about how early trauma influenced so many of the decisions she made throughout her life. Until, that is, she became conscious of how healing can soothe the grooved patterns, opening her up to a life of greater freedom, self-compassion and wisdom. Now, she shares all that with others as a guide, teacher and leader. Sarah is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (200 E-RYT) working to empower students in public classes, workshops, and yoga retreats. Sh...
Nov 09, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 41
Please note: This episode contains descriptions of violence, sexual abuse, alcoholism and drug use. In this episode of the podcast, Columbia native Catalina Osorio describes how her early life forged in her an "eat or be eaten" ethos that nearly destroyed her. She shares her journey out of the despair caused by a life of extreme violence and into the immediacy that grace grants everyone no matter what their circumstances. Her well-earned wisdom is a miracle beyond resiliency. Catalina was born i...
Oct 26, 2021•1 hr 42 min
In this episode of Alive & Kicking, Lisa Stokke talks with Kay about being parented, parenting adults and the unique challenges of mothering in the age of awakening. As founder and Executive Director of Next 7, an organization that advocates for healthy food systems, Lisa has been working to bring awareness to the importance of organic and regenerative agriculture. Previously, inspired by the lack of clean food choices for her four children, she co-founded Food Democracy Now! She works with ...
Oct 12, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Born in Memphis Tennessee to a navy captain father, Valerie Iron's early life was rich with travel, culture and experience. But despite her joy for that life, a journey into the dark night of the soul brought her to the brink of despair. Throughout, her core wound of unrequited love presented itself again and again leaving her feeling utterly alone in the world. Eventually, Valerie gave herself over to healing through art and sound. But it would be a very long time before she would find the love...
Sep 28, 2021•1 hr 15 min
After achieving the financial goals he set for himself by the time he was in his late 20s, Majid Zafer was looking at very early retirement. But the feeling he was chasing through accomplishment was fleeting, leaving him questioning everything he believed about life and success. Thus began his spiritual journey to live a purpose-filled life.
Sep 14, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 37
Despite growing up in the suburbs, Sarah Richelle Starnes describes her formative years as wild, feral and imbued with nature. Her immersive relationship with the natural world expresses itself in myriad ways from her approach to her own education, the wisdom of the body, the power of animals to heal, an all-encompassing curiosity, a compassion for all life and the beat of her own drum. Sarah has been offering yoga, sound journeys, integrative bodywork, energetic balancing and trauma healing for...
Aug 31, 2021•1 hr 10 min
In celebration of the release of her second book Dear Human (available now) , Kay invites Ashley Livingston to ask her the questions she's been asking the Alive & Kicking guests. Kay Eck is the author of Dear Human and Divorce: A Love Story. For more info, please visit kayeck.com Buy Dear Human here: https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Human-Kay-Eck/dp/1736583123/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Dear+Human+Kay+Eck&qid=1628125383&sr=8-1
Aug 17, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 35
Growing up poor but delightfully untethered, Todd Fink's most memorable educational and spiritual experiences happened in nature. It was there, in nature, that the seeds were planted for his unique approach to inquiry and understanding which views every issue and idea through three lenses -- the artistic, the scientific and the mythological. In his work, including the Kind Mind Podcast and a new book, he draws from a deep well of curiosity in order to explore timeless topics concerning the human...
Aug 03, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 34
Growing up on an enlivened farm with her grandparents as guardians, no set religion other than cycles of nature, Taylor Godfrey's life was unconventional from the start. An early connection to her surroundings helped form an acute awareness of life itself. When intuition implored her to process her earlier years of sexual abuse, she had no other choice but to be with her trauma and catalyze her journey into one of healing and honoring the human experience. Taylor is a writer of healing and the s...
Jul 20, 2021•1 hr 21 min
Dack Quigley had an unconventional, some would say near perfect, upbringing. His parents urged him to do whatever he wanted to do, celebrated his every choice and loved him unconditionally. As a result, success came easily to him -- lucrative career, committed relationship, home on the beach in Hawaii and plenty of friends. He had "won the game". But the question that gnawed at him -- Is this all there is? -- propelled him on a search for a higher purpose.
Jul 06, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 32
Sue Gaskell was born on the living room floor as the 10th of 11 children in Derbyshire, UK in 1946, and her life did not necessarily get less dramatic or difficult. She endured tragedies, breakdowns, and plenty of painful endings before realizing that the only one she could not find compassion for was herself. She committed to connecting with her angry, frustrated and abandoned inner child which created the healing that would become the compass for and work of her life.
Jun 22, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 31
Born at four pounds and addicted to cocaine to a teen mother in trouble, Carmen Santiago-Keenon suffered a childhood filled with abandonment, danger and abuse. After being removed from her home, bouncing between foster care and facing potential placement in a group home, she was adopted into a faith-filled family that saw a small spark in need of kindling. Often challenged by ingrained generational trauma, Carmen set about on a quest to heal her past, uproot conditioned thinking and uncover her ...
Jun 08, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 30
Having graduated from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, Max Friedstein believed his career as a professional dancer was about to begin. But a mysterious and debilitating medical condition created a detour that dramatically shifted his lifestream. Without a career, a relationship or a plan, the only way out was in. Learn more about Max at maxfriedstein.com . Find Max and his team at The White Rabbit Reveals online at thewhiterabbitreveals.com ; on YouTube at https://youtube.com/cha...
May 25, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 29
Growing up with immigrant parents in a small, homogenous midwestern town bonded sisters Tasha Gomes and Lisa Scott together in more ways than one. But it wasn't until Lisa left home to experience the wider world of college that they started to grow toward one another as both biological and soul sisters. One is mystical; one is pragmatic but their shared spiritual journey is in divine harmony. As a Nurse Case Manager across multi-therapeutic areas ranging from Oncology to Diabetes Education, Lisa...
May 11, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 28
Though his childhood in Sao Paulo, Brazil was rich in culture, art and community connection, Zon Carvalho felt called to a deeper spiritual experience. After years of chasing redemption from external sources, he found reclamation and his true power in self-love. Zon is a graphic and visual artist, passionate advocate for self-exploration and self-expression and a pioneer of new creative paradigms. Connect with Zon via email at Zon@Zontopia.com, at his website www.zontopia.com, or on social media...
Apr 27, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 27
Despite great loss and grief throughout her life, Amy Merritt chooses to lead with empathy, love, and deep compassion for others. Cultivating goodness out of a garden of challenge is her superpower. As a 500E-RYT yoga instructor, teacher, and mindfulness blogger, Amy specializes in gentle yoga, meditation, and yoga for Cancer Thrivers. She is available for group and private instruction via Zoom. Connect with Amy via email at amyluwho2@att.net, through her blog , or on Instagram @the_yoga_goat ....
Apr 13, 2021•55 min•Ep. 26
High vibrational conscious artist Be Bradley has learned to speak only from what he knows. His honesty and openness regarding the dark aspects of human nature and the truth of the spiritual path have created an online support system for thousands. In this episode, Be shares his story of childhood abuse, adult responsibility, and how he has created a life of art. Please note that this episode contains explicit content regarding childhood sexual trauma, sexuality and drug use, so it may not be for...
Mar 30, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 25
Kirsten Barfoot arrived knowing she had a mission but felt held back, treated as an outsider as she moved as a child from South Africa to New Zealand to Australia. Throughout her life, the lens, or evidence procedure as she calls it, of unworthiness reappeared until she felt she had lost everything. At that moment, Kirsten realized she had everything, and she was everything. This became Kirsten's message and her purpose. Opportunities to connect further with Kirsten and her work can be found at ...
Mar 16, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 24
As a gregarious child whose parents didn't know quite how to raise her, Stephanie Martin had to learn to create the safe space to be herself, for herself. The skill she cultivated early on has served her family, clientele, and community ever since and made it possible for her to leap when she feels the universe pushing at her back. www.myomsweetom.net www.facebook.com/myomsweetom
Mar 02, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 23
Fred Burks' interesting ride on Planet Earth has been fueled by a clear understanding that his mission is to shine a light into the shadows, not to condemn but to heal. His journey has taken him into governmental and diplomatic circles. His spiritual path has taken him deep within. Now, he uses his considerable research skills to document the dark side of human history as well as to highlight its beautiful legacy -- to make peace with it all and find love and optimism in the balance. www.peerser...
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 22
A loving home with attentive parents did not preclude writer Elizabeth Rago from facing crippling anxiety after a series of traumatic events rocked her family. Her ongoing recovery journey has forced her to take a hard look at her herself, develop strategies for living well in a threatening world and create an online platform to lift and support other women in her hometown. Website - mdwcares.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/elizabethrago/ OR https://www.instagram.com/themoderndomesticw...
Feb 02, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 21
It makes sense that the dynamic Lexie Wilson would one day help individuals learn to disentangle themselves from toxic relationships. She first had to free herself from the controlling religion that had driven her familial ethos for multiple generations. That included forgiving her caregivers for not knowing how to help her through the early trauma that led her to years of self-harm. Today, Lexie helps women recover from multi-level marketing schemes (MLMs) and other toxic relationships. Lexie W...
Dec 29, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 20
For Jillian Bieritz - astrologer, stylist and yoga teacher - stepping into love has been a slowly evolving skill. Never feeling fully embodied, she turned to the rave scene and drugs at a young age at first to feel more and then to feel less. Meeting her now-husband marked a turning point that would carry her through the traumatic loss of her second son, Ryder. Her luminous path of embodiment and healing affirms the power of self-love. To learn more about Jillian's offerings, contact her at aqua...
Dec 15, 2020•58 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Recorded live on December 10th, 2020, returning guest Alexa Schill chats with Kay about children -- Who they are, what they need, what gifts they have come to share, what challenges they face, and what role they are playing in the ascension of humanity. Alexa Schill is the author of Harriet the Hippoyogamus a beautiful book that reminds children that "connecting with this moment is what it’s all about." Her follow-up book, Harriet's Rainbow Block Party was released June of 2020. Follow Alexa on ...
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Christine Howard's life-long cultivation of her awareness of the world beyond the physical helped her survive and heal a life of intense abuse and trauma. Through a sudden stint in the military, panic attacks in early adulthood, heartbreaking losses, and conscious uncoupling from her husband of many years, Christine was continuously being called to pay attention to her life. She did and still does with the knowing that she can get through any challenge and come out better for it.
Dec 01, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Caitlin Slade resonates with Theo Von's quote, "I was born with an uncomfortable spirit." As a brilliant home school success story, Caitlin pushed herself relentlessly toward academic achievement including an early graduation from high school and college at 16. But self-doubt and crippling anxiety led her into an ongoing battle with disordered eating. In this episode, Kay and Caitlin talk about her heroic path toward self-compassion and kindness. Caitlin Slade is a masterful visual artist and cy...
Nov 17, 2020•55 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Via Facebook Live on 11/11, Kay asks Aaron to help us understand the lives we are living right now through astrology, ancient yogic philosophy, breath awareness, earth mirrors, inner-insight, presence, and permaculture. Follow Aaron on Facebook at Seeds of Awakening , on Instagram , or connect with his many offerings including Life Path and Soul Reflection astrology readings at www.aaronogden.com....
Nov 13, 2020•1 hr 10 min
Conscious entrepreneur and innovator Kevin Miles joins Kay to talk about how life as an Army brat, preacher's kid, college athlete, and Morehouse College grad informed his non-traditional views of spirituality and his drive to create economic opportunities for the Black community. Kevin Miles, MBA, is a professional entrepreneur with a passion for developing the potential hidden in human beings and in what he calls “blue ocean” markets. He is the founder and CEO of Beach Logic Ventures . Find Ke...
Nov 03, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 16
