Our mental health and our physical health are inextricably connected, and our guest on today’s show has a passion for helping people tap into the power that exists within all of us to heal ourselves. After many, many years of exploration into the field, and through experiencing the incredible effects of natural remedies and a positive mindset first hand, Kelly Noonan Gores created a documentary, aptly titled Heal . Heal topped the charts on iTunes, and even made it onto Netflix (after their anno...
Jun 30, 2021•1 hr 33 min
Today’s guest is one of the most prolific spiritual teachers of our time. His name is Gary Zukav, and he is the author of The Seat of the Soul, The Dancing Wu Li Masters, and most recently, Universal Human. We usually devote the first part of this show to the backstories of our guests but today we will be deviating slightly from that format. This is because Gary is such a masterful spiritual teacher that I decided to use the space of the full interview to hear him speak more about what it means ...
Jun 23, 2021•1 hr 17 min
Today’s guest is not someone who started traditional non-profit or initiated a movement for social good, but they live their life in such a way that they have inspired many of their followers to follow their hearts, to do what they love, and to take leaps of faith; and you know by now that your host, Light Watkins, is all about a good leap of faith! Please join in in welcoming Chris Classic, father, founder, perfumer, artist, creative director, and personal inspiration. In today’s episode, Chris...
Jun 16, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Today's guest on At the End of the Tunnel is a self-described ‘artivist'. Her name is Liza Jessie Peterson, a gifted actress, spoken word poet, playwright, author, and youth advocate. Liza grew up in West Philadelphia, graduated from Georgetown, and worked as a model in Paris before getting introduced to the New York poetry scene, where she became one of the stars of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Following her passion as a poet and an artist led her to accept a side gig; teaching poetry to kids in N...
Jun 09, 2021•1 hr 29 min
Last week, you heard from Dr. Steven Eisenberg, who discovered the healing power of music through his work in oncology. In this week’s episode, we continue that theme with world-renowned recording artist and producer, Brandon Green, who is better known as Maejor. At the height of his career, working with top-tier artists like Mary J. Blige, T-Payne, Drake, and Justin Bieber, Maejor was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. This was a turning point for him. While he imagined that he would event...
Jun 02, 2021•1 hr 20 min
You might think that music and medicine are two totally separate worlds that cannot be brought together. However, today’s guest, Dr. Steven Eisenberg, not only brings his musical gifts to his patients, but he has also healed himself through connecting to his creative energy. Steven specializes in oncology and hematology and works with patients at all stages of their cancer. In today’s episode, we hear Steven’s incredible backstory, his lifelong passion for music, and the role his father played i...
May 26, 2021•1 hr 31 min
This week’s episode is something a little different. Instead of bringing on a guest, Light uses this episode as an opportunity to talk about his own journey through the context of the book that he has coming out on May 25th, 2021, called Knowing Where to Look: 108 Daily Doses of Inspiration . The book is full of personal stories, as well as classical stories, anecdotes, and observations that he has composed over the last five years. It's important to hear about the background of these kinds of p...
May 19, 2021•52 min
This podcast highlights the stories of those who have gone through dark moments in their lives and come out the other side with additional wisdom, courage, and insight they could not have found had they not gone through that darkness. As a result, they often become a light unto others, and today’s guest is no exception. Gabriella Wright is a mother, an actress, an activist, a speaker, and a meditation teacher with a long-standing history of humanitarian engagement. Gabriella hails from London, w...
May 12, 2021•1 hr 35 min
Welcome to another incredible story from At the End of the Tunnel! You might be wondering: what tunnel is Light always referring to? Well, your tunnel is that darkest moment in your life when you think all hope is lost. If you haven’t had your dark tunnel moment yet or you are currently working your way through one, these stories serve as reminders that, while these tunnels signal the end of a part of your life, they also signify the beginning of another. This next phase is often when the real y...
May 05, 2021•1 hr 36 min
Welcome back to At the End of the Tunnel, a podcast that shines a light on the backstories of people who've taken a leap of faith away from convention and toward helping or inspiring people through their story, their work, or, in the case of today’s guest, their art. Saul Williams is a multi-talented rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, poet, writer, and actor. He is known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop, and for his lead roles in films like the 1998 independent film, Slam . Lik...
Apr 28, 2021•1 hr 50 min
Despite its prevalence in our society, pornography is not a topic that is discussed very openly. Without having these difficult conversations, there is no way we can create the cultural shifts needed to move past the issues in the space. As someone who has never shied away from tough conversations, Maria Ahlin is on a mission to get people talking. Maria's viral TEDx Talk, Let's Talk Porn, has garnered over five million views, and she has given hundreds of educational talks over the years. Maria...
Apr 21, 2021•57 min
The more compassionate we are, the more we will want to help others, and often it is our own suffering that helps us understand those experiences outside of ours. Today we speak to Joseph Bradford about how the challenges of his childhood led him to dedicate his life to helping the homeless. Joseph started a non-profit called B.A.R.E. Truth, an organization that provides mentorship, independent living assistance, and wellness services to impoverished individuals and families, helping them attain...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 34 min
Some of you might be wondering why this podcast is called At the End of the Tunnel. Well, it’s because all of Light’s guests have had to go through some period of uncertainty or darkness or had to take a huge leap of faith in order to find their inner light, which ends up leading them to their path and purpose. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Jasmine Mason, a Los Angeles-based contemporary dancer turned author. She has been dancing since she was three years old but, in the last few years, s...
Apr 07, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Many of the stories we share on this podcast feature a winding journey, with unexpected events and results, and none more so than that of today's guest, Jason Wachob. Jason went into early adulthood, as an aspiring basketball player with a serious hedonistic streak. This led to him scraping through university and ending up as a money-focused equities trader on Wall Street, and it was only the world-shaking events of 9/11 that woke him up to the possibility of finding work that was more aligned w...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 12 min
The path to success in the culinary world is almost never an easy one, and reaching the top of the game in New York City as a black chef is undoubtedly even more difficult. Today, we are joined by the amazingly inspiring and energetic Marcus Samuelsson, world-famous chef, the founder of Red Rooster, and author of several great biographical and culinary books, including his latest, The Rise . In our conversation, we chart Marcus' winding and challenging journey, from his earliest memories in Ethi...
Mar 24, 2021•44 min
Tracee Stanley is a noted and lineaged teacher of Yoga Nidra, meditation, and self-inquiry, and one of Light’s dear friends and mentors. Back when he was a yoga teacher, Tracee’s studio, Divine Motion in L.A., was one of the very first studios that Light taught at after his teacher training program. Since then, Tracee has become one of the foremost leaders of Yoga Nidra and mindfulness, teaching all over the United States. Her practices are inspired by the tradition of Himalayan Masters and Sri ...
Mar 17, 2021•1 hr 45 min
Today we speak with Steven Pressfield, a successful author of several books covering self-help and fictional genres. Inspired by ancient history and archetypes, Steven has used his fascinations to inspire readers around the globe. As our guest, we talk to Steven about his childhood, various career paths; good and bad, and what it took to become a full-blown writer. We begin the show by catching a glimpse of Steven’s younger years, as he recalls some of his earliest memories, like walking around ...
Mar 10, 2021•1 hr 20 min
Les and Tamara Payne are the co-authors of The Dead Are Arising , a biography detailing the life of Malcolm X. For almost 30 years the book was being added to and refined until it was eventually published in 2020. In 2018 Tamara inherited the author's reigns when her father sadly passed away. Although heartbroken, Tamara lived by her father’s words and aimed only to publish the book when it was ready. As today’s guest, we speak with Tamara about her experiences researching and writing The Dead A...
Mar 03, 2021•1 hr 29 min
Sharon Salzberg is a New York Times best-selling author and teacher of Buddhist meditation. The foundations of her teachings haven’t come from countless hours of practice and mastery, but rather from a life of suffering. Although difficult, Sharon’s childhood molded her to become one of the most influential meditative teachers in the United States and western world. As today’s guest, Sharon walks us through her journey, touching on her traumatic upbringing, journey into meditation, and life as a...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr 17 min
‘When we're talking about diversity, it's not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.’ This is a quote by Ava DuVernay that rings true in many ways throughout our conversation with today’s guest, Natalie Paterson. Natalie is a spoken word artist, educator, and activist and in today’s show, we talk to her about her relationship with poetry and how she is using it as a tool to build a more transparent, vulnerable, and equitable world. We begin w...
Feb 17, 2021•1 hr 19 min
Keith Mitchell has lived a rich and varied life as a successful linebacker for the New Orleans Saints in the NFL, a construction mogul, and lately, a Yoga and nutritional teacher. In this episode, Keith walks us through it all and talks to us about his darkest times as well as the moments that gave him hope. We kick off the show by hearing more about Keith’s childhood and his unshakable desire to become a professional American football player. He details his turbulent journey to the top and touc...
Feb 10, 2021•1 hr 38 min
If you are at a crossroads in your life, between sticking with the conventional path and taking a leap of faith in the direction of your passion, you're going to get a lot of inspiration from hearing today’s guest tell her story in her own words. Author and comedian, Sarah Cooper’s viral TikTok Trump impersonations have led to a Netflix show called Everything’s Fine , which is a comedic commentary on the state of America during “The Trump Years.” After working in corporate America, Sarah was eag...
Feb 03, 2021•1 hr 28 min
Here is another story behind that of a change-maker who was hungry, creative, and innovative in his younger years. One day realizing that he was living on autopilot as he was nearing his late 30s, early 40s. It all came to a head when he found himself hiding in alleyways in Santa Monica, California, smoking cigarettes while wearing a green gardening glove so that his wife wouldn’t find out. His name is Antonio Neves, writer, prolific speaker, and executive coach. While Antonio’s story isn’t trag...
Jan 27, 2021•1 hr 16 min
When the word “genocide” comes to mind, one might think these heinous acts occurred deep in history. Yet they’ve occurred as recently as 1994, when 800,000 innocent Tutsi Rwandans were attacked by their fellow countrymen. Today, we speak to Consolee Nishimwe about her experience surviving the Rwandan Genocide and how her life as a survivor. We open the show by learning about the history between the Hutu and Tutsi social classes and find out how Belgian colonial powers turned these two groups aga...
Jan 20, 2021•1 hr 20 min
Today’s guest is somebody who inspires a lot of people with his words. His name is Adam Schmalholz, but you may be more familiar with his stage name, IN-Q, which stands for IN-Question. IN-Q is a National Poetry Slam champion, award-winning poet, multi-platinum songwriter, recent first-time author, and one of the most electric spoken word performers on the scene. In this episode, you’ll discover that his backstory is equally as fascinating as his poems. Listening to this conversation, you’ll fin...
Jan 13, 2021•1 hr 33 min
Today we are back with another story behind the story of a change-maker who is an absolute podcast role model. In this episode we welcome Rich Roll, a champion swimmer turned alcoholic, turned lawyer who ended up having a few run-ins with the law himself. Rich’s incredible story about hitting rock-bottom and clawing his way back to sobriety is one that has inspired many along the way. After going through the recovery process, Rich began putting the pieces of his life back together only to realiz...
Jan 06, 2021•1 hr 22 min
One of the biggest obstacles our society faced in 2020 is mental health, with a surge in cases around the world. So for this episode, we’re going back through stories that are specific to navigating mental health. The objective is to give you tools and inspiration for dealing with the darker forces that can haunt all of us at different times and in different ways, whether external or in the case of mental health, internal. The stories in this episode cover the spectrum of mental health, from anx...
Dec 30, 2020•1 hr 5 min
When he hears the word ‘changemaker’, we imagine someone’s who’s predestined to take on some special role in following their inner calling. What Light has found through having dozens of these conversations is that changemakers are often just like us. Today’s guest is Steven Reed, a childhood friend of Light’s and someone who, back in 2019, became the 57th mayor of their hometown of Montgomery, Alabama. What's significant about that is that Mayor Reed was the first Black mayor in a town that was,...
Dec 23, 2020•1 hr 51 min
In the internet age, the idea of reinvention and our lives' seasons have become more prevalent and accepted. Our episode today explores and exemplifies these ideas along with many others, as we talk to artist Matty Mo, also known as The Most Famous Artist. We hear from Matty about his wild journey through business and the art world, as he talks about his days in startups, how he effectively lost everything and then turned his failures into lessons and eventual success. Matty starts by unpacking ...
Dec 16, 2020•1 hr 10 min
This podcast is about a lot of things, like hope and perseverance, but, if there is one thing that all of Light’s guests have in common, it’s that, at some point in their life, they discovered that the light at the end of the metaphorical tunnel was inside of them all along. This week, we hear from someone who had to die in order to find his light. After being shot, he flat-lined and, while he obviously recovered, he was transformed. After making a deal with God, he went on to become a mentor an...
Dec 09, 2020•1 hr 45 min
