What if the reality you think you’re living in is just an illusion?

In movies like The Matrix and The Truman Show, the characters slowly realize their world isn’t what it seems. But what if the same were true for us?

In this episode, Jay leads the gang in a deep dive into the illusion of reality. He explores the idea that Consciousness created this universe of form to experience itself. And in order to make those experiences rich, immersive, and meaningful, it wrapped them in a brilliantly convincing illusion.

Jay breaks down what he believes are the four most significant aspects of this dreamlike existence, sharing insights from past and future lives along the way. Meanwhile, Steve wrestles with the mind-bending nature of time, and David attempts a hostile takeover with his beloved ocean metaphor.

Join them for a thought-provoking – p and surprisingly humorous – conversation about the nature of existence.

Maria Pe was a successful attorney and mother of two when an unthinkable tragedy struck her life. In an effort to survive and somehow make sense of all the pain, Maria began to explore spirituality. Eventually, she learned how to take shamanic journeys into higher, non-physical realms where she was greeted by ascended masters and loved ones who explained to her the great purpose behind her life.

In this powerful and uplifting episode, Maria shares with Jay, David and Steve her hard-won discoveries about perseverance, forgiveness and the underlying benevolence of the universe that never wavers, even during the most challenging times. 

 Maria Pe was a successful attorney and mother of two when an unthinkable tragedy changed her life forever. In her search for healing and meaning, she turned to spirituality and eventually discovered the power of shamanic journeys. Through these journeys into higher, non-physical realms, she encountered ascended masters and loved ones who revealed the deeper purpose behind her life.

 In this powerful and uplifting episode, Maria joins Jay, David, and Steve to share the profound wisdom she’s gained—about perseverance, forgiveness, and the unwavering benevolence of the universe.

https://seanandkyleimaginefund.com

In this episode, Jay, David and Steve disagree about why the universe exists? 

Steve says it’s all science, and everything stems from the Big Bang. Jay says that’s just part of the answer, and that there is a spiritual equivalent to the Big Bang. And David doesn’t like to think about these things because they make him cry.

Why do you think we are all here? Join us for this mind-expanding conversation and see who you think makes the most sense.

In this episode, Jay, David and Steve welcome their first guest, the incomparable Nora Herold. 

Nora has been a professional psychic/medium for 30 years. She works predominately with The Pleiadians, The Faeries, & Yeshua as a direct voice channel while incorporating her intuition, psychic abilities, and knowledge of astrology. She is also a Reiki Master, a writer, a political activist, a feminist, and a comedian.

Among many things, Nora and her guides discuss how humanity is in the process of “leveling up” to a higher dimensional reality, how Faeries are dying to help us with all our creative endeavors, and why David is afraid to “let the magic in”.

Join us for a mind-blowing conversation with Nora and her non-physical friends.

https://www.noraherold.com/
https://noraherold.substack.com/

Do our lives have a greater purpose? Are the challenges that we face completely random? Can Steve resist the urge to turn his microphone into a percussion instrument?

These are some of the questions our gang dig into, and it turns out their opinions vary greatly.

 Steve argues that life is like Seinfeld—a series of events with no real meaning. 

David would like to believe in something great, but he wrestles with fears about his children’s well-being – leading to a discussion on the karmic roots of our anxieties. 

And Jay? He suggests that life does have deep purpose. That we’re on a journey spanning lifetimes, gradually shedding our fears and misunderstandings as we move toward enlightenment.

So, do our lives – including Steve’s – have meaning? Tune in and decide for yourself!

Full video version on YouTube @spirituallychallenged.

In their second episode, Jay asks David and Steve, “What is the core question of spirituality?” And both of them get it wrong – at least according to Jay who asserts that the core question of spirituality is “Who am I?”

Jay presents the concept that there is really only one “I am” which we all share. And he illustrates this idea by relating a formative spiritual experience he had in his twenties – an experience his co-hosts would like to dismiss as “the placebo effect.”

During the episode, the hosts also celebrate their new listener – Steve’s mother. And David tries repeatedly to find parallels between spirituality and the 1958 horror/sci-fi film “The Blob”.  

In their first episode, Jay quizzes David and Steve about their relationship (or lack thereof) with spirit guides – non-physical beings who help steer us through our lives. 

Jay talks specifically about his own 20-year connection with a spiritually entity known as “Guidance” who he communicated with through a medium. And he relates how his conversations with Guidance helped him move out of his lifelong struggle with depression and anxiety. 

Steve asks if he can go by the name “Oprah” whenever he’s on the podcast. 

Christopher Henrikson founded – and for many years – ran Street Poets Inc., a Los Angeles-based non-profit that has brought light and hope into the lives of thousands of at-risk youth. Along the way, Chris’ professional and personal journey has been full of the most surprising and profound mystical experiences.

Jay and David sit down with Chris as he describes his encounters with demon serpents, dead poets, bear energies, and transformed lives in this fascinating conversation. 

Today, Chris mentors and facilitates retreats while maintaining a healing and consulting practice for individuals and organizations seeking to create change in themselves and the world around them. His poetry book From the Burning Shore will be available via Itasca books and Amazon May 1, 2025. 

For more information: christopherhenrikson.com

In the season finale of Spiritually Challenged, the guys are joined by end-of-life doula Dianne Gray. Dianne has endured profound personal loss in her life. But rather than breaking her, these experiences have opened her to a deeper truth: that death is not the end. 

Inspired by this knowing, Dianne has dedicated her life to guiding others through moments of deep grief and transformation. Diane’s stories are powerful and uplifting. They remind us that our souls are eternal, and love is a force that transcends even death. 

In the second half of this two-part episode, former gang member Jason Quezada opens up about a dark entity he believes inhabited him—an energy he surrendered to during acts of violence and crime.

Street Poets founder Chris Henrikson joins to discuss how he helped Jason separate from that force—and how similar dark energies often haunt gang culture as a whole.

It’s a mind-bending conversation about the inner battles that shape us—and the hope that becomes possible when we finally let the light in.

This is one you won’t want to miss.

Something big just happened on Spiritually Challenged…

David — our forever skeptical co-host — may have just had a spiritual awakening. (Yes, really.)

But what triggered it? Is it the real deal? What’s going on in his head right now? And most importantly… can it last?

Or will his inner skeptic come roaring back?

Tune in for this raw, unplanned, and very real conversation. You don’t want to miss this one.

This week on Spiritually Challenged, the guys sit down with Thane and Ellen Ostroth—seasoned shamanic healers known for stepping in when all else fails. These two don’t just light sage and say a prayer—they journey to other planes, confront non-human entities, and send pesky interdimensional hitchhikers (yes, we mean Demons!) packing.

Steve would really prefer not to know if he’s hosting any surprise guests. But David wants to know. And he’s about to find out that somebody, somewhere was holding quite a grudge against him!

Thane & Ellen Ostroth – stonewisdom.net

This week on the podcast, Street Poets founder Chris Henrikson returns—this time with one of his most compelling former students: Jason Quezada.

Jason’s story is anything but ordinary. From a disciplined Catholic school upbringing to a conviction that landed him behind bars, from being overtaken by dark energies to undergoing a profound spiritual awakening—his life has been a journey through extremes.

In Part One of this two-part conversation, join Jay and David for a raw, revealing exploration of redemption, transformation, and the mysterious forces that shape a life.

Kaivon August is a rising star in the world of EDM, lighting up stages at concerts and festivals packed with thousands of fans. But behind the pulsing beats and dazzling lights lies a much deeper story. Since childhood, Kaivon has battled intense anxiety, OCD, and the slippery slope of self-medication.

This week, Jay and David dive into the highs and lows of Kaivon’s journey—not just as an artist and musician, but as a spiritual seeker navigating the pressures of performance, perfectionism, and healing.

Sally Taylor is an accomplished and fiercely original musician, painter, and conceptual artist. As the daughter of musical legends James Taylor and Carly Simon, Sally has had to work harder than most to carve out her own identity. And sometimes that struggle took her through some pretty dark places. 

Listen in as Sally talks about growing up in the shadow of two artistic giants, her personal journey through addiction, and the one great lover who has been there with her since the beginning and has helped guide her back into harmony. This is a story of resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative power of creativity.

This week, the Spiritually Challenged guys are joined by celebrity astrologers Tali and Ophira Edut—better known as The AstroTwins. As the official astrologers for Elle magazine, matchmakers on Amazon Prime’s Cosmic Love, and authors of several bestselling books, these cosmic powerhouses bring a stellar mix of insight and star-powered wisdom.

Tune in to hear what the stars reveal about the futures of Donald Trump, Taylor Swift, and the United States itself.
 
Will the cosmos be kind, or are seismic shifts ahead? Find out in this galactic deep dive.

This week on Spiritually Challenged, we’re joined by the incredible KristaLyn Sophia — medium, astrologer, and folk magic practitioner. Not only does KristaLyn communicate with the other side, but they’ve also been there themself. 

We dive deep into what KristaLyn’s experienced, how it shaped their spiritual path, and what messages they’re bringing back from the beyond. 

 This one’s a wild ride – complete with a musical interlude. Don’t miss it!

Growing up, Amy Owen seemed to have it all — intelligent, close friends, and a thriving modeling career. But beneath the polished surface, she battled a profound despair that nearly ended her life.

This week, Jay and David sit down with the extraordinary Amy Owen to explore how a powerful spiritual awakening became the turning point in her story. Emerging from the pain of her early years, Amy has dedicated her life to helping others — including her work as a birth doula, where she fiercely advocates for expectant mothers often overlooked by the healthcare system.

Don’t miss this powerful episode.

Screenwriter Carlos Kotkin joins the Spiritually Challenged gang to ask: are there really any coincidences in life?

A soul-crushing job checking DVDs for errors. A blind date with an actual blind woman. Are experiences like these just random? Or are they part of something bigger—stepping stones on a predetermined path. Something like…fate. 

Tune in and decide for yourself!

Do you have the same quirky mannerisms as your great grandmother? Do you have food allergies? Or maybe you are uncomfortable in crowds? There could be “soul-level” reasons for all of these things. 

This week the Spiritually Challenged guys are joined by renowned past-life and life-between-life regressionist Dr. Linda Backman to discuss the nature of who we really are, why we are the way we are, and where we are all heading. Linda is an international expert in understanding how reincarnation plays a pivotal role in our personal growth and relationships. 

Tune in and try to suss out if you are  an Earthbased Soul, an Interplanetary Soul, or even an Angelic Realm Soul! You won't want to miss this transformative conversation!

 Linda's website is: https://ravenheartcenter.com/