Conversations with Kara-Leah – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to the second episode of season 3 of Conversations with Kara-Leah, recorded in my new home - Squamish Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Canada. 

My guest today is Bhairav Thomas English.

Bhairav is a dedicated teacher, practitioner, and empowered guru of Tantra and Kundalini Yoga with over 25 years of experience. His journey began after a near-fatal car accident, which led him to travel the world and be initiated into various traditions and lineages. He spent four years living in India, studying under his first yoga teacher until he met his Guru, Maharaji Guruji of the Bhairavananda lineage. Bhairav is the author of The Power of Tantric Meditation and the visionary behind Anuttara Ashram. As a co-creator and facilitator within the Anuttara School, Bhairav continues to share his deep wisdom, guiding others on their path to self-realization through authentic spiritual practices.

Bhairav & I talk about all the things including:

✨ the near-death experience that changed everything for him

✨ what happened when he met his first yoga teacher in the foothills of Rishikesh

✨ how yoga healed him from an old car accident, including finally becoming medication-free

✨ what becoming a renunciate meant to him

✨ the impact of immersing in yoga practice for 6+ hours a day

✨ why he resisted teaching when his teacher asked him to

✨ how he met his tantric Guru and what happened when he first met him

✨ how the car accident blocked ajna chakra and what his Tantric master told him about it

✨ what it was like to go through a guru initiation

✨ the meaning of Tantra

✨ his understanding of karma

✨ astrology, Bill Gates, billionaire and being wealthy as a karmic tendency

✨ the intersection of destiny, free will, and karma

✨ Grace and Kundalinī

✨ what causes Kundalinī to awaken

✨ why a Guru is necessary once Kundalinī is awakened

✨ what happens when Kundalinī gets blocked at certain chakras

✨ the difference between awakening to the energy field, and Kundalinī awakening

 

Find Bhairav here:

https://www.anuttara.org/ https://www.instagram.com/anuttara_ashram/ 

 

Show Credits

Audio • Luke Bowman

Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic

Photo • Pete Longworth

Graphic Design • Tara Spice

 

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Welcome to the first episode of season 3 of Conversations with Kara-Leah, recorded in my new home - Squamish Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Canada. (Listen to the correct pronunciation here.)

My first guest this seasion is Warren Hooley.

Warren Hooley is from Penticton, British Columbia and was born of Okanagan/Syilx, English and Ukrainian heritage. He is passionate about nonviolent communication, decolonization and healthy masculinity and has facilitated over 2500 workshops in the past 13 years. Today Warren is based in Vancouver, BC and his overall vision is to help create communities where everyone can thrive and find genuine happiness. In his workshops, Warren loves to weave engaging activities with fascinating diagrams. He has a talent for creating spaces where people can learn skills that measurably impact their lives for years to come. 

Warren & I talk about all the things including:

• healthy masculinity and why Warren prefers the term restricted masculinity to toxic masculinity
• relational neurobiology, nervous system regulation, shame and humility
• how tools like NVC (non-violent communication) can be used to manipulate
• the gift of fawning
• the Missing Factor in the Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn Model
• the ineffectiveness of cancel culture
• confidence as a coping mechanism
• the tragedy of men trapped in shame - and how to climb out
• the continuum of emotional expression, processing and containment
• what it means if you can't handle an action-adventure movie
• staying safe as a male facilitator
• decolonization, the wall of shame, the river of grief and the ocean of possibility
• the danger of prioritizing productivity as a value
• and finally, Warren's vision for the more beautiful world. 

Find Warren here:

• https://www.warrenhooley.com/home
• https://www.instagram.com/mrwarrenhooley/
• https://www.facebook.com/Warrenseannhooley

Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

I was curious to talk to Rebecca about her experiences of operating in both the mainstream and alternative worlds, and how these worlds can merge in productive ways. Rebecca experienced a spiritual awakening in her early twenties that resulted in a dramatic shift in her worldview and required some significant changes in her relationships with her friends and family. Rebecca now works in schools as a Dance Therapist and Expressive Arts Facilitator and that’s also been an opportunity to engage with people and systems operating from very different worldviews. We also talk about Water Ceremony, a practice that was gifted to Rebecca by Melissa Billington, our guest from episode 13!   About Rebecca   Rebecca Bee is a Dance Therapist and Expressive Arts Facilitator living on Waiheke Island. Supporting Wahine and Tamariki to work through their emotional reality and access soul gifts. She also works 1 on 1 client sessions. Find out more at https://www.sa-koya.com   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Melissa Billington is a talented yoga teacher, creatrix, inspiratrice, and also a dear friend of mine.

Born in Virginia, Melissa is the 13th lineal descendant of Pocahontas and she shares how she has worked to transmute her family’s ancestral trauma into healing. We also explore why and how Melissa has chosen to take her yoga off the mat and more widely into the world, particularly through water walks, praying for the water, and stand-up comedy.

Oh, and make sure you stick around until the end for a bonus performance from Melissa!

About Melissa + links

For a more detailed bio go here: https://melissaelvirabillington.substack.com/p/who-am-i

PocaHauntUs - Shapeshifting History into HerStory: https://youtu.be/sYHN1r976XE

First song gifted to Melissa in 2014, released by Ojibwe elders in 2018 with encouragement for all women to sing to the waters: https://youtu.be/KC2FHciQ0sU

Learn more about the Indigenous-led prayerwalks for water: http://www.nibiwalk.org

A blip of Melissa's ecologically-focused stand-up material: https://youtu.be/1VF1e-f21M8

Melissa's Instagram (that chronicles the walkabout, including the Missouri River Water Walk): https://www.instagram.com/melissaelvirabillington/

Melissa's Blog "a : muse musing is (more than) amusing": https://melissaelvirabillington.substack.com

Melissa's MYOGA Freedom modules: https://www.youtube.com/@myogafreedom 

Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

21 years ‘clean’ from drug & alcohol addiction and work in the sex industry, Ninakaye is a powerhouse of a woman who works in the New Zealand music industry and is also involved in sexual violence treatment and harm prevention.

In this episode, Ninakaye and I share some of our personal experiences of exploring sexuality and dating as older women, particularly Ninakaye’s experiences with Tinder and the problematic behavior of many men on these apps. We talked about the negative ways in which porn can influence sexual expression and also delved into what led Ninakaye into her current work with male sex offenders.

We also talked about Ninakaye's experience as a Māori woman in the New Zealand yoga community, its lack of inclusivity and why she chose to study Kemetic Yoga, an ancient Egyptian well-being and transformation practice.

Find Ninakaye here:

Website: https://www.tikidub.com/page/about

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninakaye_taanetinorau/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliveWithNinakaye/

  Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Sophia is a former social worker who moderates the Culty Conversations NZ Facebook group and I was eager to talk with her about the nature of cults and high-demand groups in New Zealand, particularly in the spiritual community.

Sophia shares her perspective on power, charismatic leaders and group dynamics, and what leaders and teachers in the spiritual community (like myself) need to be aware of to make sure they’re not unconsciously abusing power. We also specifically discuss these things in the context of ISTA, Highden Temple, and Eden Festival.

About Sophia:

Sophia de Fossard has worked as a social worker in the community, and is interested in the intersectionality between societal structures and the personal experience, particularly in the area of power and control. She has worked as an academic researcher and advocate for honoring The Treaty of Waitangi (partnership between Māori and the Crown) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Currently she is working on a research project in community based addiction treatment. In her personal life she is a long time practitioner of yoga and meditation and teaches yoga with a trauma informed, trauma sensitive and inclusive approach.

 

Find Sophia here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeandmetta

LinkedIn: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/sophia-de-fossard-79b092188

  Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

In 2022 one of Lauren’s Instagram posts for her coaching business was ridiculed by a satirical Instagram account that remixed and reshared her post, and other content from her business, over the course of several days.

What I love about Lauren’s story is that even as she was dealing with the pain and trauma of this experience she also saw it as an opportunity for initiation and growth. Lauren shares the intense emotional response she had to the bullying, the steps she took to process her emotions and support herself during this time, and the self-reflection and self-inquiry that it prompted.

We talk about the importance of being kind in online spaces, advice to young women and teenagers who are the victims of online bullying, and how and why Lauren still chooses to show up as unapologetically herself.

About Lauren:

Lauren Hill is a Spirit-Led Business & Leadership Coach, Speaker, Fempowerment Mentor and Founder of Camp Wondergirl.

From working in Corporate Advertising in America climbing the ladder to ‘success’, to solo-traveling New Zealand in a painted hippy van, to living & working at spiritual Yoga Retreats, to birthing her female empowerment coaching business - she has experienced the depth of true freedom, fulfilment and fun.

It’s her mission now to empower, activate and inspire women to unleash their unapologetic expression, monetize their magic and live their most epic life.

Find Lauren here:

Website: https://iamlaurenhill.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelaurenhillshow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamlaurenhilll/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenhill29

  Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

CW: This episode contains a discussion on resolving childhood sexual experiences.    Darren Bruce is a connection coach who discovered the power of emotional vulnerability and relational skills after a career in the military and fitness industry. Despite operating at an incredibly high level of physical skill and intensity in his military role, Darren realized he was unable to sit down and have an honest conversation with the people that he cared about.   Darren talks about how it took self-sabotaging his own business to make him realize how important relational skills are, particularly the willingness to have hard conversations and to face our fears of loss and rejection.   Darren also shares his experience of being sexually abused as a child, how that affected his life, and how he has worked with it as an adult. And we talked about the importance of male role models and why a lack of initiation into manhood can cause men to be "dickheads".

 

Find Darren here:

Website: https://www.darrenbruce.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarrenJohnBruce/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrenjbruce/

  More from Kara-Leah   Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube Playlist Web: https://karaleah.com/ The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Ellie Wilde is a Trauma Trained Transformational Guide, who, through her life’s struggles and 20+ years of training and service has become an activist and revolutionary for Conscious and Embodied Relating.

In this conversation, we dive into her journey with ISTA (International School of Temple Arts), some of the issues with this organization, and why she ultimately chose to step away. We also talked about the power of slowing down, particularly during menopause, and how crucial it is to listen to the wisdom of our bodies at every stage of our life

In recent years Ellie's 1:1 private practice has shifted away from sexuality coaching and she now offers Alchemical Alignment - Trauma Resolution and Embodiment of Spirit. Her events and workshops are currently on hiatus whilst she recalibrates to an entirely new way of holding groups post ISTA. 

Find Ellie here:

Website: https://www.yinsexuality.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellie.wilde.8

  More from Kara-Leah   Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube Playlist Web: https://karaleah.com/ The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

David Harshada Wagner is a master meditation instructor, author, artist, dad, and wisdom teacher with more than 25 years of teaching experience.

He's classically trained in the wisdom traditions of Yoga, Bhakti, Vedanta, and Tantra, his teachings come from his decades of working with people helping them learn to live more fulfilling, soul-centred, purpose-driven lives. He's known as a 'teacher of teachers' due to the depth of his experience.

The Sanskrit name Harshada was given to him by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda in 1996, meaning "the bringer of joy, laughter, and delight". He lived and worked in Gurumayi's ashram for ten years, and intimately understands the nature of traditional lineages, ashrams and communities.

He is the author of the men's book Backbone (Penguin 2015), and On the Field of Dharma (about the Bhagavad Gita), and is currently working on a modern translation of and commentary on the 10-century Tantric text known as the Shiva Sutra.

He is the proud father of two and lives with his family in Ojai, California when he is not travelling to offer retreats and seminars.

We spoke about his time at the Ashram, the nature of his teaching journey, why he eventually left the ashram, and how he's navigated allegations of sexual abuse within his lineages. 

Find him here:

Website: https://www.davidhwagner.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harshadawagner/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCzp0B6MCrKd3pi4k3b9rKlA

 

More from Kara-Leah   Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube Playlist Web: https://karaleah.com/ The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice