The Unplug Podcast: Activated Living for Truth Seekers and Critical Thinkers in a Collapsing World

What if everything you think you know is a load of crap? What if everything you know that you know is an even bigger load of crap? What if everything you don’t know is freedom? What if everything that you don’t know that you don’t know is total liberation? What if the secret to an amazing life is being comfortable with the only certainty in life – uncertainty? The reality of life is that the more we think we know, the more we actually don’t know. Think about it. What’s always going to be bigger? What we know or what we don’t know? When we relax into the unknown and allow life to move us moment by moment, what we actually need to know has the opportunity to present itself and what we think we need to know just won’t matter. In this week’s Unplug Podcast, I speak with author, screenwriter, blogger, speaker, mom and all around really funny human being, Betsy Chasse, one of the co-creators of the massively popular 2004 film “What the Bleep Do We Know” – a film that challenges everything that you think you know…and so much more. Betsy was introduced to me by my dear friend, Dr. Andra Brosh (podcast interview #11) who had an intuitive hunch that Betsy may be a really good fit for the Unplug journey of status-quo defiance. As it turns out, Andra was right (as always) and this week’s interview is an energized mix of hilarious reality, no b.s. wisdom, and raw authenticity. According to Betsy, “If we aren’t laughing, we aren’t growing and learning.” I couldn’t agree more. Betsy shares her refreshing perspective on life and her deeply grounded view of spirituality in today’s fast-paced world. She also shares her journey from What the Bleep, through an unexpected divorce and on to her recently released book Tipping Sacred Cows. Today we talk about: • How life brings us defining moments within every nine year life cycle. • The transformational art of storytelling. • You are in charge of the “yes’s” and “no’s” in your life. • The truth about the law of attraction. • Happiness is not a destination, it’s a state of mind. • The simplicity of enlightenment. • Being a conscious asshole (yep, you read that right!). • The many forms of meditation – like hanging out in your garden. • The importance of listening to your body. • Making choices that serve your heart rather than choices than please others. • The total liberation of “I don’t know”. As Dr. Joe Dispenza tells it: “Betsy Chasse is the real thing. She is one of those people who embodies spirituality without ever trying. Her natural approach to understanding the nature of reality is witty, clear, practical and truly advanced. I appreciate her way of synthesizing complex concepts into bottom line lessons within everyone’s reach.” There’s alot of profound wisdom to be found among the laughter in this week’s interview so enjoy learning about the freedom that comes from not knowing – through the lens of Betsy Chasse. Tipping Sacred Cows Book Trailer THIS WEEK’S INSPIRED QUESTION: What if, the next time you find yourself attaching the need to know an answer to something that, if you’re really honest with yourself, just doesn’t matter…what if you just let go of that need to know? SHOW NOTES: • Betsy Chasse’s website. • Tipping Sacred Cows book on Amazon.

What does it mean for you to live a “spiritual” life? Personally, I feel that there are many common misconceptions about the reality of spirituality. It’s such a beautiful word with a meaning so tainted by the likes of religious dogma as well as the recent upsurge in the new age movement – which comprises the likes of the law of attraction, manifestation, forced positive thinking (even when you feel like crap), pendulums, psychics, channeling, and various other inauthentic methods which really amount to nothing more than confusing hokus pokus to prevent you from living from the truth of who you are. Living a spiritual life, at least from my perspective is really simple. For me, it means exploring the truth of who I am by questioning any cultural beliefs or childhood pain that may be holding me back from being my absolute best. It also means diving head first into the shadowy parts of my being in order to release any blocks so that I can reveal the more authentic person that’s patiently waiting right below the surface. It means honoring the essence of who I truly am – that same essence that connects every single one of us – the love, compassion, joy, courage, empathy, and deep drive towards purpose, meaning and service in life. And it also means accepting that I have both light and dark within me, however I also have the gift of free will to choose which one I feed. Remembering that my spirit – my essence – is the true me, that’s when I feel the most connected to myself, to my purpose, to my intuitive guidance, to my body, and to the choices that I make that are congruent with the compassion at my core. It’s also when I feel the most connected to others. All others. It’s when a beautiful sunset moves me to tears, or hugging a pig, chicken (if they stay still long enough) or cow makes my heart feel like it will explode with love. It’s when I feel like I could swim, ride or hike forever. It’s when I laugh my guts out when my partner and I break into fits of crazy dance moves as we boogie our way around the living room. It’s when the present moment feels exactly as its meant to – as the only moment that matters. We all know the feeling of being present, deeply connected, and that beautiful feeling when time stands still. This is when we’re connected to our spirits. This, at least for me, is a spiritual existence. It’s really simple. It’s not about some judgmental god sitting on a cloud condemning people to hell for their sins. It’s also not some dude channeling some unknown entity with a questionable level of consciousness that supposedly knows all. Here’s the reality – we’re the only one with the wisdom that knows all – at least as far as our own lives are concerned. And when we remember this – and when we totally trust in this – this is when life becomes really simple and really rich. The key to maintaining this deep connection to your true self is a daily practice. And just so you understand what I’m talking about, I’ll share with you my daily practice as an example. It’s really quite simple. For me, a nightly candlelight meditation followed by a mental gratitude prayer listing everything about the day that I’m deeply thankful for is what stills my mind and sends me into a peaceful sleep every evening. Meditation has also helped me immensely with my mental focus and productivity. I also move my body daily – in a good hard sweaty way that really gets my prana flowing. And lastly, I spend solid time in nature with my canine companions every single day. These are all non-negotiables in my life. Along with eating from love (aka vegan), this is my daily spiritual practice. So you see, a spiritual existence is quite simple. It’s really all about the exploration and honoring of your true self. And when we honor our true selves, we show up in the world ready for action with love ...

Spring has unveiled her full glory here on the pacific northwest coast. The hummingbirds are buzzing around the freshly filled feeder. Cherry blossoms, daffodils and assorted other spring flowers have exploded with the magnificent colors of fresh new life. The sky is clear blue with the sun blazing rays of warm bliss on my receptive body as I spend longer hours outside enjoying the magnificence of this part of the world. I love spring. It’s my favorite time of year. Even though I live in coastal British Columbia where mild winters are the norm, the longer days are still very much welcome. On the topic of sunshine and new life, this week’s podcast guest is kind of like speaking with a ray of sunshine. Kimberly Carroll, aka, the Divine Redhead, is a Toronto-based body/mind/spirit coach, life architect, television personality, and passionate world citizen. She’s also a dedicated activist and, as she states on her website, she’s a fierce supporter of soul awakenings, the planet, social justice, creativity, human potential, and love. Her heart is deeply connected to the protection of animals. She’s also a passionate member of the Mercy for Animals Canada team where a recent undercover investigation into pig factory farming was covered by national news and inspired many Canadians to extend their circle of compassion towards farmed animals. Today’s interview is power-packed. Kimberly and I are soul sisters – the two of us working in our own unique ways to unite personal development and spirituality with activism in order for people to live the best lives possible – lives rich with meaning for themselves and for the planet. Today we dig into topics such as: • Soulful activism: love, connection, and empowerment. • Working through the shadow self to feed the love. • Experiencing a personal revolution and taking that transformative energy into the world to create a lovalution. • The beauty of experiencing the world through a unified lens. • The powerful union of spirituality and activism to heal ourselves and the world. • When you wade into the pain, the pain releases you. • If we can’t fully experience the pain in life, we can’t fully experience the joy in life. • The importance of cathartic work to release what doesn’t serve you. • Experience first hand a guided “toxic fling”. Kimberly is a beautiful soul with a little bit of raunch, a whole lotta joy, and an indescribable amount of love. Enjoy today’s inspiring interview with Kimberly Carroll. Sage in Stilettos THIS WEEK’S INSPIRED QUESTION: How do you deal with the darkness in your life so that you can live a life of inspired purpose? SHOW NOTES: • Kimberly Carroll’s website. • Life Reboot Online Tele-program. • Divine Redhead website • Mercy for Animals Canada website. • Kimberly on Twitter. • Kimberly on Facebook. Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message: 1. Support the show! Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference! 2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes: Here’s a simple 5-step process

“No matter what our attempts to inform, it is our ability to inspire that will turn the tides.” —Jan Phillips What does living a joyful life mean to you? For me, a joyful life means simplicity, purpose, love, faith, creative expression, and connection. It means living a conscious existence while always seeking the light. A challenging task at times, but a worthy one nonetheless. It means knowing, in my heart, that the Universe is on my side and that everything that comes my way is exactly what is needed by my soul – despite any egoic hissy fits. You see, we didn’t incarnate to have a miserable life experience. Quite the opposite. We were born to expand our sense of self so that we transcend the duality of the current paradigm in order to remember the unconditional love and joy at our core. The life challenges that sometimes knock us down were never meant to destroy us. They’re actually meant to make us better people as we move through layers of cultural conditioning that keep us small and separate. Believe it or not, there’s alot of joy to be found on the other side of a “crap sandwich”. As Michael Beckwith states, “A bad day for the ego is a good day for the soul”. Today’s Unplug podcast guest is a woman who exemplifies joy. Jan Phillips is a multi-passionate woman with a beautiful heart of gold. She’s a visionary thought leader, award-winning author, dynamic speaker and the co-founder and executive director of the Living Kindness Foundation. She’s also a former nun, an inspired activist, and an action-oriented woman who once devoted an entire year traveling the world on a one-person peace pilgrimage. Jan is a deeply spiritual woman who graciously accepts the ways of the Universe – knowing, in her heart, that the light never stops shining despite the superficial reality of any present experience. It’s because of this deep inner knowing that she’s able to connect to joy with ease and grace. As she states on her website: Jan Phillips is an author, creator and workshop facilitator who ignites original thinking and inspires action. Her retreats and presentations are multi-media, multi-sensory events that connect the heart and brain. She uses images, music, poetry and storytelling to evoke deep, non-dualistic creative thinking and expression. In today’s interview we chat about: • How it’s inspiration not information that moves us forward in life. • How it’s “against the rules” to do things in life that aren’t fun. • We speak about her inspiring quote – “No matter how brilliant our attempts to inform, it is our ability to inspire that will turn the tides.” • The arts and story keep the heart involved and it’s the combination of these two that inspires us. How information just depresses us which keeps us locked in duality. • The creativity myths that keep people infantilized. • How faith is the spirituality that you create, and how creativity is your faith in running shoes. • The power of self-inquiry. • How hope is a container that holds the future until it becomes today. Jan is a true status-quo crusher with a massive heart full of joy. There are so many incredible nuggets of wisdom in this interview, so please enjoy this very inspiring interview with Jan Phillips. Evolutionary Leadership Think of Yourself THIS WEEK’S INSPIRED QUESTION: What does living a joyful life mean to you? SHOW NOTES: • Jan Phillips website. • Living Kindness Foundation website • Jan on Facebook • Jan

Intuition is a topic that is dear to my heart. It’s something I’ve always honored. The few occasions where I’ve slipped are moments of regret that are not easy to forget. Over the past few years intuition has become the trusted compass I use to navigate my way through life at all times. When the intellect is tamed, magic happens – especially when intuitive guidance makes no logical sense whatsoever. Living by feel has not only significantly simplified my life, it’s enhanced it in indescribable ways. I can completely understand why indigenous cultures who’ve not been swallowed whole by western civilization have such rich and happy lives. When we live by intuition rather than intellect, we no longer feel the need to search outside of ourselves for answers, which means a deeper connection to passion, purpose and authentic expression. What is intuition? Well, simply put, its that sixth sense or gut feeling of knowing that you know without knowing how you know. It’s speaks through the body, not through the mind. It expresses itself through a physiological response that can often precede a wave of inspiration that arrives as a simple thought or insight. We feel goosebumps or chills with truth, recognition, and love. Danger will feel like anxiety in your body (not your mind). And negativity will give you the feeling of a heavy heart or knots in your stomach. There is no brain chatter attached to intuitive feelings. The mind is quiet – at least for a moment before the intellect kicks in to negate these feelings. What’s important to note about intuition is that beneath all intuitive feelings is a sense of ease. An ease that signifies truth. Because of the intellectually dominant ego-identified culture that we live in, most people in western society have learned to question intuitive guidance, negate it, or ignore it altogether. And this is why so many people live externally referenced lives of confused dissatisfaction. The truth of our lives comes from within. It’s quite tragic that this has been taught out of us in order to serve a culture of separation. Not only do we disconnect from ourselves when we negate our innate intuitive wisdom, we disconnect from everyone and everything. And this is why the world is in its present state. When we live from intuitive wisdom, life is simple, rich, fulfilling, and meaningful. There’s no other option except to live authentically because there’s no longer any need to look externally for answers. And how beautiful is that? Back in episode number 19, I had a wonderful interview with Jo-Anne Guimond about the radical power of gratitude. A few days after the interview, she sent me an email asking if I was looking for interviewee suggestions. I’m always thrilled to hear of others who are living simple lives of authentic purpose so of course I said yes. And the result is today’s awesome interview. I’m sure there will be many listeners out there who will be able to relate to today’s podcast guest. Dominque Hurley is an artist in every sense of the word. On her website, she very clearly states that her life purpose is to explore and express her love of beauty and the beauty of love. And she does this through painting, photography, writing, teaching, traveling, and simple living. This is a woman who truly honors the fact that she’s a multi-passionate being. She’s also someone who is very open about her introverted nature as well as how she’s learned to navigate the world as a sensitive, quiet individual with grace. In today’s interview we chat about: • How leading your life intuitively creates magic. • Training yourself to reconnect to your intuitive guidance. • How the Universe has always got your back. • The only way to feel unconditionally loved is when people love us for who we are. And this can only happen if we show the world who we are.

As I pondered the title for this week’s blog post, the old Beatles song “All You Need is Love” looped in my mind. An obvious message from the Universe that was not to be ignored. And guess what? This week’s Unplug podcast is all about love. Go figure. I’m not speaking of fickle romantic love. Instead, I’m referencing the big Kahuna – spiritual love. Love for all beings despite our perceived differences. Race, gender, species, age, class, geographical location, belief systems – makes no difference with big Kahuna love. Big Kahuna love is the love that unites. The love that we incarnated with before family systems, beliefs structures, and cultural conformity separated us. The beauty of big Kahuna love is that it never leaves us. Despite the creation of mental barriers to shield our puny little egos, it can never be eliminated. It’s the eternal umbilical cord that gives us life, brings us joy, connection, compassion, empathy, and meaning. It’s the essence of who we are. Without big Kahuna love, we’re empty, soulless shells. Today we speak at great length about big Kahuna love with someone who lives and breathes it every moment of every day. Kathy Stevens is by far, one of the most loving and joyful people I have ever met. She’s the author of Animal Camp: Reflections on a Decade of Love, Hope, and Veganism at Catskill Animal Sanctuary and Where the Blind Horse Sings: Love and Healing at an Animal Sanctuary. She’s also the founder and director of the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties, New York. Above all else, she exemplifies big Kahuna love in her actions, her words, and in her ginormous heart. I first learned about Kathy and her massive heart at last year’s Toronto Vegetarian Fair where I heard her speak on a panel with the likes of Jenny Brown and Gene Baur. Although I didn’t get to formally meet her during this trip, I was blown away by her passion, her compassion, and her fearless expression of pure love for…well…everyone. She touched my heart and I knew that she would be an important part of this project. Before she left Toronto, she remained behind for a few extra days to participate in a few Toronto animal Save vigils. In case you haven’t heard of the Toronto Save effort, this is an amazing grassroots group of dedicated activists who hold weekly vigils outside of Toronto chicken, pig and cow slaughterhouses to bear witness and expose truth. If you haven’t yet heard my interview with Toronto Pig, Cow and Chicken save founder Anita Kranjc, you can check it out at this link. The Save groups are using a different approach to advocacy which is based on the foundation of love rather than the traditional shame-based activism. And its working. Kathy’s effect on the group as well as on the slaughter workers was profound. There’s a beautiful article written about the entire experience in Laika magazine which you can check out at this link. This article captures the pure essence of the beautiful soul known as Kathy Stevens. Today’s interview is honest and uplifting. How can it not be when the theme is love? We speak about such topics as: • How we must be and do the change we wish to see in the world. • How to feel the essence within all living beings. • How every being has the desire to move away from suffering and towards joy. • The superficial differences of our personalities that veil the sameness of our essence. • The ability to see what unites rather than what divides within everyone. • How we’re far more effective in the world when we come from joy. • The importance of fully processing the truth of all emotions in order to lead a happy life. I just want to say that with each interview,

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” —Meister Eckhart There’s a quote by the ancient roman philosopher Cicero that states, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” Cicero was born in 106 BC which means that the simple wisdom of this powerful virtue has been around for a very, very long time. It’s amazing how the simple acknowledgement of gratitude can completely re-frame an experience. It also takes you out of your head, snaps you right into the present moment and drops you into the expansive warmth of your heart space. It can also change your mood in an instant. As author Melody Beattie says, “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” When you feel gratitude, your ego quickly sidesteps and allows greater love, compassion, and understanding. Genuine gratitude is also one of the most powerful ways to invite more goodness into your life. It’s as if you’re saying to the Universe, “please bring me more of this.” With gratitude, you can feel bliss for absolutely no reason. Simply being alive and being able to gaze at the stars and appreciate the miracle of life will bring you happiness. Appreciating your life in this way dissolves any thought of lack or limitation and reminds you of the positive things that surround you. And it’s then that you’ll realize that everything you experience is a gift. Gratitude is so simple in its magnificence. It humbles. It empowers. It transforms. When you’re in gratitude, your energy naturally becomes peaceful, content and loving. The amazing thing about gratitude is that you can’t experience fear, scarcity, or doubt when you’re in it. Simply by being thankful for what is, you instantly provide relief for yourself from any internal discomfort or suffering – physical or mental. Gratitude is one of the most powerful energies on the planet. Think of the many things in your life that you appreciate. When you take stock of everything in your life and express gratitude – and really mean it – you open the door for even greater abundance to flow into your life. By giving thanks for all that you have and committing to living your life in deep appreciation, abundance is certain to flow to you. What is true abundance? Most people think of material abundance – money and stuff. But that’s not true abundance. How many people do you know with money and stuff who are miserable and unfulfilled? We know true abundance when we feel joy, happiness, vitality, and a sense of purpose in our daily lives. Abundance is the feeling that comes from being connected to something greater that our selves. We can feel it while out in nature, when we’re with good friends, hanging out in the pure presence of kids and animals, and even when we’re pampering our self with guilt-free relaxation. When you open your heart and mind to the riches all around you every moment of every day, you will see the reality of abundance that is always with you regardless of your current life situation. And for that, you can truly be grateful. On today’s Unplug podcast, we speak all about gratitude (among other great topics) with the wonderful Jo-Anne Guimond. Jo-Anne is the creator of the Gratitude Project which she describes as “a social engagement experiment triggered by my personal desire to celebrate the many blessings in my life in concert with others. It was sparked by the simple question: “Wouldn’t it be cool to find out what others are grateful for?!” And that’s exactly what she did. For Jo-Anne, 2013 was the year of adventure, extending the boundaries of her comfort zone, and gratitude. Today we discuss such topics as: • How do you dare to be grateful?

Have you ever asked yourself, “Who am I?” Most people never bother, submitting instead the nagging voice of the abomination known as the inner critic. Or perhaps they fear answers that may never arrive. The mind, capable of incredible creativity, can also be the greatest obstacle to true authentic expression. When powered by the ubiquity of the heart however, the mind is a faithful servant acting on passion and purpose with incredible ease. On the other hand, the mind – without heart – is an unfeeling entity capable of tremendous destruction – to the self and to the world. The cold logic of the dominant intellect oppresses the true self through fear, reason, excuses, opinions, blame, reactivity, judgement, projection, cynicism, separation, and denial. Most people prefer the certainty of misery over the self-created illusory misery of uncertainty. And what is uncertainty? It’s simply the place in life of not knowing. A place greatly feared by those with a deep attachment to the mind. However, next to death, uncertainty is the only true certainty in life. How ironic. How many people inhabit the globe living half-lives of “comfort” fearing the illusory uncertainty surrounding true authentic expression? In a world where conformity, judgement, fear, and indifference have oppressed the masses, it’s no wonder that few act on the calling in their hearts. Unless we’re willing to step into uncertainty, there is no possibility. We must be willing to step into uncertainty for new possibilities to happen in life. It’s just that simple. For some people, a powerful question may be all that is required to transform their lives. For others, it may be a movie, a book, or words of wisdom spoken in a podcast. And for still others, a rock-bottom plunge, a life-threatening health scare, the death of a loved one, or surviving a dramatic accident may be the wake up call required to demolish the cultural trance. Today’s podcast guest is a man who transformed himself from overweight addict to best-selling author, inspiring motivational speaker, and one of the 25 fittest men in the world. Rich Roll is, in his own words, a man of extremes. A former entertainment attorney turned accomplished vegan ultra-endurance athlete and full-time wellness and plant-based nutrition advocate, Rich was also considered by Men’s Fitness magazine in 2009 as one of the 25 fittest guys in the world. It wasn’t always this way though. Rich transformed his life after what he calls “his staircase epiphany”. Although he competed as a butterfly swimmer at Stanford University in the late 80’s, his career was cut short by struggles with drugs and alcohol that led him down the dangerous path of self-destruction where he alienated friends, colleagues and family. He also found himself in jails, institutions and ultimately in rehab at age 31. It didn’t end there though. Despite his new-found post-rehab sobriety, he soon found himself 50 pounds overweight – the furthest thing from fit. Everything came to head on the eve of his 40th birthday. He found himself defeated by a short flight of stairs that left him buckled over in pain, foreshadowing a heart attack looming in his near future. It was time for a major life change. As he states on his website: The day immediately following his staircase epiphany, Rich overhauled his diet, became a dedicated vegan, put on his running shoes and jumped back into the pool. It wasn’t long before ambition took hold and his quest to participate in Ultraman slowly began. Two years later, 50 pounds lighter, and fueled by nothing but plants, he surprised the triathlon & ultra communities by not only becoming the first vegan to complete the 320-mile über-endurance event, but by finishing in the top 10 males (3rd fastest American) with the 2nd fastest swim split — all despite having never previously completed even a half-ironman distance triathlo...

There’s a great old 70’s song by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band called “Blinded By the Light”. When I think of today’s podcast guests, that song starts playing in my mind (I know, I know, I’m dating myself). In a world where so many people just ho-hum their way through life, it’s the people who fearlessly lead with their hearts that inspire the masses to shake off the collective hypnosis of status-quo conformity to instead, wake up to their authentic magnificence. Gillian Mandich and Ange Peters are two amazing beacons in a world that could never have enough light. These two absolutely inspire me with their go-for-it, joyful, and fearless attitude towards life. They also give me alot of hope for our younger generation. Gillian and Ange are the dynamic duo behind the popular Holistic Health Diary podcast where their mission is to inspire listeners to “live for the greener good by eating more green, living more green, and spending their green responsibly”. Gillian is actually one of the people who inspired me to pursue this podcast. For that, I will be eternally grateful. These two women have a beautiful friendship that has the depth of two true soul-sisters and being in their presence makes me vibrate with excitement and hope for a more passionate world. In today’s interview we dig deep into some really great topics such as: • Living a life that really matters while not taking anything for granted. • Being a student of your body and connecting to what vibrant health really feels like. • Mixing mindfulness with wellness. • Living fearlessly through purpose. • How leading with your heart over-rides all fear. • Making every day count. • What is meditation? (Hint: it’s far less complicated than you may think). • How a spiritual practice is as simple as being grounded in connection and service. • The power of purpose to drive your life. Gill and Ange are both young, physically beautiful (in a very healthy and natural way), and, above all else, they just ooze a passion for life that is positively palpable. They have amazing future’s ahead and I feel truly honored to have such fantastic fire-starters in my life. Enjoy this inspiring and fun-loving interview. SHOW NOTES: • Great blog post about EarthShip homes. • Holistic Health Diary podcast on iTunes. • Holistic Health Diary website and link to retreat. • The Holistic Health Diary on Rogers TV. • The Holistic Health Diary on Facebook. • Holistic Health Diary on Twitter. • Ange Peters’ Hol-Fit website. • Ange Peters’ online wellness programs. • Michael Stone Toronto TEDx talk about horizontal spirituality. Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message: 1. Support the show! Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference! 2.

“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up.” —Picasso What do you get when you mix yoga with creativity and play? In today’s interview, you’re about to find out. Catherine Lesage is the the founder of Littlefeet Yoga in Ottawa, Canada where she’s created a movement…of movement! She’s a passionate woman who’s making a difference in the lives of children – and adults – by providing them with opportunities to explore their world through play, creativity and movement which helps them become more physically, emotionally, and intellectually intelligent in a way that defies the box of status-quo. We all tend to take life far too seriously – including today’s kids – and this seriousness is making for a collective population of rather dull people. But Catherine is changing all of that through her philosophy to play, create, and cooperate. Catherine and I first met when I we were both teaching at the same yoga centre in Ottawa and I was immediately struck with her passion, her ease with laughter, her love of nature, and her French-Canadian joie-de-vivre. I felt an immediate connection to this spirit-driven woman and I knew that she was someone who needed to be a part of this podcast. In today’s interview, Catherine shares: • The necessity of creative movement for the soul. • Noticing when the “icky” feeling is trying to speak to you. • The importance of connecting to body wisdom. • How play is the seed of creativity. • The transformative power of nature. • The art of being a child again. • The lost art of touch. • Fearless creativity. We also speak about how she overcame the physical challenges that affected her early in life, as well her journey from the stifling world of mainstream employment to the liberation of yoga. And then we delve into the evolution of the creation of her unique model of holistic and creative yogic movement for children of all ages. This is an interview that will leave you feeling joyful, connected, and ready to have some good-time fun to remind you of the child still living in your core. CBC Interview with Catherine Lesage SHOW NOTES: • Littlefeet Yoga website. • Littlefeet Yoga on Youtube Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message: 1. Support the show! Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference! 2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes: Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show. You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards. 3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE! As always, thank you for listening and thank you for helping to co-create a better world!

Shortly after Labor day each summer, the Toronto Vegetarian Association hosts the biggest food festival in North America at the beautiful Toronto Harbourfront. It’s truly a festival in every sense of the word. It’s upbeat, lively, and so much fun. There’s absolutely delicious food, talented musicians, inspiring speakers, exciting vendors, and for three glorious days, it invites thousands of people to explore a more compassionate way of life. For me, it’s a necessary staple to fill my spiritual cup with inspiration and hope for a kinder world. This past year was no exception for fun and inspirational speakers. And one of those amazing speakers happens to be today’s guest. Jenny Brown is the co-founder of the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary in New York state and she is also the author of the truly inspiring book, The Lucky Ones: My Passionate Fight for Farm Animals. My partner and I made a point of waking up very early on the morning that she was scheduled to speak and drove the 5 hours from Ottawa to Toronto where, after tackling traffic, construction, and parking issues, we arrived with only moments to spare. As we were getting comfortable in our seats, Jenny took the stage. She sauntered out, stopped, paused and pulled up her right pant leg to show us her partial prosthetic leg. She then proceeded to tell us that two years after she started the sanctuary, the story of her leg (discussed in this interview) hit the New York Times which led to media calls from all over the world as well as calls from 4 literary agents begging for her to write a book. Her response: “I had no idea that showing leg would get me this much attention for the sanctuary.” She continued by saying “If I could chop off another body part for the animals, I would.” This is Jenny Brown. Fiery. Passionate. Sassy. Incredibly funny. And one of the most intensely heart-driven people I’ve met who is dedicated to transforming the way we relate to and love the forgotten ones. This is a woman who has absolutely nailed her life purpose. In today’s interview we chat about: • Jenny’s awakening to full-blown, all-inclusive compassion. • The frightening reality of cultural conditioning regarding our treatment of animals. • How Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary is not only healing animals with broken spirits, it is also healing humanity. • The corruption of the food system and how humanity has lost its way. • The importance of knowing and telling the truth. • Getting to know the truth about the egg industry. • The reality of the unsustainable situation of separation on our planet today. • The importance of humane education to teach critical thinking and truth. Jenny is an activist in the purest sense of the word. She’s someone who has experienced the darkness first hand, and rather than wallow in despair, has turned it into rocket fuel for massive change in the world for animals and humanity. This is an inspiring and heart-opening interview with someone who has no fear of speaking the truths that must be told. Open your mind, open your heart and allow Truth to enter. Because it is the truth that will set us all free. The Lucky Ones book trailer SHOW NOTES: • Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary website. • Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary Bed and Breakfast info. • The Lucky Ones: My Passionate Fight for Farm Animals book on Amazon. • Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary on Facebook. • Woodstock...

How does the thought of running a marathon every day for 366 days sound to you? Because that is exactly what today’s guests did every single day of 2013 – with a bonus marathon on Jan. 1 of this year. Originally from New Zealand, Janette Murray-Wakelin and her husband Alan Murray, are the internationally acclaimed dynamic duo who inspired millions of people around the globe by running a marathon a day, every day for 366 days straight. Their epic journey took them around the entire perimeter of Australia to inspire and motivate conscious lifestyle choices, to promote kindness and compassion for all living beings and to raise environmental awareness for a sustainable future. They named this adventure Running Raw Around Australia. Why running raw? As long-time raw vegans promoting consciousness, compassion, and wellness, it simply made sense. In 2001, Janette was diagnosed with a highly aggressive carcinoma breast cancer where doctors gave her six months to live. But they didn’t know who they were dealing with. Janette is a paradigm-buster extraordinaire. Not only did she not buy into the fear mongering and life destroying solutions promoted by the allopathic medical system, she also didn’t buy into their diagnosis. Janette basically turned her back on the modern medicine and, using her words, decided that “the power of intention is far greater than that of fear,” and with that, she had every intention of staying around for a long time. I had the honor of befriending Janette and Alan back in 2004 when we were all living in the small northern Vancouver Island community of Courtenay, BC. When I hear of their decision to take on this compassionate adventure last year, I was thrilled and knew that it would be big. This couple is truly unstoppable because they are both so deeply connected to the power in their hearts. Today we chat about such topics as: • the importance of taking responsibility for your own health through lifestyle choices. • what you put into your body is what you get out of it. You can’t get something live out of something dead. • the power and simplicity of body wisdom. • the limitlessness of what we are all capable of with our lifestyle choices. • you are worth it! • the shift in conscious thinking and the unstoppable movement of hope. • the importance of purpose in life. From the Running Raw Around Australia website, Janette and Alan state: “WE ASKED OURSELVES – How can we share the information and experiences we have gained through conscious living during the past decade, so that others may make their own informed lifestyle choices that will make a difference to their health, the health of their family and future generations, the health of their community, the health and well being of the animals, and ultimately, the health of our precious Earth where we live? What can we do to inspire and motivate conscious lifestyle choices, to promote kindness and compassion for all living beings and to raise awareness for a sustainable future? THE ANSWER – We can lead by example, walk (or in this case) run the talk. By running a marathon distance together per day, every day for a year around Australia, we hope to inspire others to believe in themselves, to follow their dreams, and to achieve their goals through making more conscious lifestyle choices. We can be living proof of what can be achieved by making conscious life choices. While we are Running around Australia during the year 2013, we will have the opportunity to show that by eating raw living plant-based foods, we are healthier, more physically fit and have unlimited energy at beyond 60 years of age than in our earlier years, including when we ran the length of New Zealand 13 years previously. Inspiration is what motivates people to ‘Never Stop Pushing’ for what they believe in and for what they want to achieve.

Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter were two regular guys with regular lives in a regular Canadian suburb. In the blink of an eye however, all of that changed with one simple choice. A choice that they never could have predicted would so radically transform their lives – as well as the lives of tens of thousands of others along the way. When they said “yes” to adopting Facebook internet sensation, Esther the Wonder Pig, everything they’d been taught to believe about animals and “food” in today’s culture was demolished. In one symbolic moment, they went from status-quo indifference to paradigm-busting passion. This is the transformative power of choice. Esther was “supposed” to be a “micro pig”. But her dad’s, as they say, were “duped” (ah, the creative ways of the Universe) and instead, they adopted a farm pig – an animal more commonly commoditized for industrial “food” production – a.k.a. bacon. Since their transformative awakening, Esther has taught her dads compassion, love, patience, passion, and purpose. The two men have also fully surrendered their hearts and minds to a more conscious and mindful way of life. And, through the eyes of Esther, they’re now opening the hearts and minds of tens of thousands of her followers. So often we humans fear change. Ironically though, all we are is change. That’s just the way the universe works – whether we embrace it or not. Steve and Derek have proven that when we surrender to the power of the heart, massive transformation can happen in a flash – especially when powered by a pig. Today we chat about: • The moment of awakening. • How the truth really does set us free. • The growing compassionate revolution. • How Esther has taught her dads to be better people. • Accidental activism. • And how we don’t need to see the whole staircase to take one step forward. These two beautiful men have created a completely unexpected compassionate revolution with absolutely no end in sight. They’ve shown how hungry the masses are for inspiring stories of personal transformation. It’s these stories that give us permission to delve within to reveal the truth in our own hearts. Through the innocent eyes of a culturally forgotten animal, the enormous potential for radical change is not only happening, it’s growing at breakneck speed. In a recent Facebook post, Steve and Derek wrote: “We noticed a few of you seem to think Esther is the luckiest pig in the world and that might be true but……we owe more to her then she’ll ever owe us. She changed our lives and opened our eyes. We are the lucky ones. Her story is a special one but lets remember that she’s just like the rest of these amazing animals that stay hidden and silent. She’s just like them, and they’re just like her – if we’d only give them a chance.” When I recorded this interview last week, Esther’s Facebook page had almost reached 35,000 “Likes”. As of this blog post – only a week later, her page has already soared past the 53,000 “Likes” mark. Who knows where it will be by next week. All I know is that this is an especially concrete example of a collective awakening – an awakening that is truly expediting the shift from separation consciousness into unity consciousness. The media has been flocking in droves. City TV, the Toronto Star, Italian television stations, Huffington Post, PETA, Mercy for Animals, Sam Simon, Good Morning America, blogs, podcasts, radio, print, web, television…this story is everywhere. People are starving for truth. They’re starving for love. And they’re starving for compassion. This brings me to this powerful statement: You are never more powerful than when you are aligned with your truth.

Many people humdrum their way through life doing the same-old, same old day after day after day – engulfed by the spiritual amnesia that prevents them from remembering that they are unique creators gifted with a life that is meant to be lived with authentic expression, passion and purpose. These are the sleepwalking masses trapped in what we know as status-quo – yuck. But every now and then (and more and more these days), I meet someone who gets it. Somebody who really gets life. Someone who takes charge and owns it. Someone who refuses to succumb to the “poor me”, “my life sucks” mentality that has poisoned the minds of so many. Someone who lives with intention, passion, presence, authenticity, and purpose. And someone who knows that every life and love-affirming choice they make has a ripple effect on the world. Today’s guest is one of these people. He’s a guy who cares. A guy who truly gives a damn. He’s a guy with a heart so big I’m surprised he can keep it contained within his chest. Today, I’m really excited to release a totally inspiring interview from one of the most passionate and kindest men I know. Mike Herzog is the founder of Good Guys Tri, an Ottawa-based collective of like-minded athletes who are, as he states, “simply trying to do good in the world”. I can tell you this though, they don’t try. They do. Period. Mike calls himself “just another regular guy”. He’s a dad, a husband, an employee, and a son. He’s also an Ironman triathlete, an endurance runner and a man who was born to make a difference. He believes that leaders are ordinary people making extra-ordinary efforts in the world. I couldn’t agree more. Good Guys Tri was born out of frustration. Frustration that some of the charities that Mike had faithfully supported for many years were some of the worst culprits for irresponsible spending. Good Guys Tri was created to ensure that 100% of any funds or donations raised went straight to the actual causes. Since its creation in 2011, Good Guys Tri has achieved exponential growth through numerous successful campaigns which include supporting the homeless, the hungry, the furry and 4-legged, as well as supporting local and global youth organizations such as impossible2possible. Mike Herzog is proof positive that you can make your dream for a better world come true. All you need is a heart full of passion, the desire to make it happen and the courage to act on it. In today’s Unplug interview, we discuss: • How status-quo perpetuates the autopilot of mediocrity. • How personal growth begins with passion. • The pricelessness of a full spiritual cup. • The importance of living an inspired life. • The power of service (hint: there’s no such thing as a small contribution). • The importance of surrounding yourself with people who inspire in order to stay on purpose. • How expressing emotion leads you to authenticity. • And how an intentional life is the key to happiness. Enjoy another week of amazing inspiration with one of the kindest men I know, Mike Herzog. SHOW NOTES: • Good Guys Tri website: http://www.goodguystri.ca/ • Follow Good Guys Tri on Twitter • Follow Good Guys Tri on Facebook Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message: 1. Support the show! Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference! 2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Dr. Andra Brosh and spending five days with her at a life-altering writing retreat in Carmel, California last February. It was transformative in so many ways. We were a tight knit group of five women filled with enthusiasm, passion and dreams that were ready to be birthed into reality. We shared the same living space. We shared meals together. We shared laughter. We shared tears. We shared our respective journey’s to the very moment that brought each of us together for that magical week. Andra stood out. Her essence shone brightly through the warmth of her smile and the continued wisdom of every spoken word. I immediately knew that she would be someone very special in my life. Little did I know how special she would become. It was during a group brainstorming session that Andra said one thing that changed my life. She heard something special in the story that I was sharing about myself, grabbed on to it, and ran with it. And it forever changed my life. It’s one of the reasons that this podcast is now available to you. Dr. Andra Brosh will always be a very special woman in my life – and I suspect that after listening to this inspiring interview, she’ll be a very special woman in your life as well. Andra’s path to such deep wisdom wasn’t an easy one. As a matter of fact, she’s had to move through some extremely painful life events which included a 20 year marriage that ended in an unexpected and sudden divorce, as well as having to face the life-altering experience of surviving breast cancer – all before the age of 45. Her world was forever changed after moving through these two very significant events. Andra’s chosen vocation as a clinical psychologist is one she’s embraced with deep spiritual wisdom and a passion to truly make a difference in the lives of others. Her extensive training as a clinician has given her the respected title of “Doctor”, however, what makes her truly excel at her calling is the pain and struggle that she’s courageously faced and gracefully moved through in life. As the saying goes, life is the greatest teacher. In today’s interview we discuss many thought-provoking topics including: • How self-judgement and expectations block the connection to your authentic self. • The importance of loving it all and realizing the beauty within imperfection. • How people-pleasing takes you away from your core. • How internal trust is the key to living an authentic life. • The problem with advice and the power of embracing uncertainty. • The dangers of social media that can bring up worthiness issues. • The importance of knowing who you truly are in order to live your best life. SHOW NOTES: • Dr. Andra Brosh website: http://www.drandrabrosh.com/ • Follow Andra on Twitter Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message: 1. Support the show! Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference! 2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes: Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show. You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile, tablet and web apps and, also in over 4 million in-car dashboards. 3. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE SHOW and spread the word FAR AND WIDE! As always,