Explore every episode of the podcast The Wild Within
Dive into the complete episode list for The Wild Within. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
An Embodied Reflection & Visioning Process for 2026 - Year of the Fire Horse 🔥
29 Dec 2025
00:38:28
Ep 9: As the New Year approaches, many of us are contemplating what intentions we're holding and what we're ready to release from the year past. Personally, I am a BIG fan of reflection and visioning, and would love to share with you about the process I like to use - and some key principles of why it works.
In this episode, I share why most New Year's Resolutions don't work - and what we can do instead to ensure we manifest our desires and start moving towards our biggest visions and new versions of ourselves in an actionable and sustainable way.
In this episode, we'll explore:
Why most New Years resolutions don't work - (hint: most people don't understand what creates real change!)
Why real and lasting shift must be embodied (not just in your mind)
How to get your body and nervous system on board with your intentions
Setting intentions at the level of IDENTITY, not behavior
Reflection on the past year as a process of metabolizing your experiences
A few potent practices I love to use as part of my reflection & integration
How we create from the level of our subconscious mind (and why it's so important to take this perspective when setting intentions)
Key questions to ask as you process the year past and clear space for the new
How to start excavating the belief systems holding you back from your biggest visions and dreams
How to decide who you are becoming in the New Year
Key questions to ask to determine your new operating system and way of being
3 areas to focus on when setting goals and visions for 2026
As part of this community, I'd love to share with you the Embodied Refleciton & Visioning workbook I've created for 2026:
Wishing you a blessed New Year, and all that is to come!!
What I Learned About Horse Spirit Medicine from a Month in Baja Sur, Mexico
23 Dec 2025
00:40:44
Ep 8: Today, I'm sharing with you a bit of a personal story about a month I recently spent living on a rescue ranch in Baja Sur, Mexico immersing with horses, donkeys, the magical Baja desert, and more lessons than I expected to receive.
I went down with no real plan, said yes to the unknown, and found myself slowed way down… tending animals, stewarding land, and remembering parts of myself I didn’t realize had been waiting to come back online.
This is a reflection on horse medicine, donkey wisdom, nervous system regulation, leadership, presence, and the kind of healing that happens out on the land, in stillness, rhythm and relationship - rather than in a therapy room. (also: I personally find most healing and transformation to happen out in life and the world!)
In this episode, I share:
How periods of transition and uncertainty can become powerful portals for growth
The role of land, rhythm, and simplicity in nervous system regulation
My journey spending a month on a ranch, disconnected from the "default world" and returning to a deeper remembrance within
What horses teach us about leadership, presence, and our own energy states
Perspectives on purpose and stewardship in our lives
What working with horses taught me about pressure and release (and where we apply too much pressure in our own lives)
How working with horses mirrors our patterns in relationships and decision-making
Horses as a powerful model for trust, attunement, and relational consent
The gentle, grounding wisdom of donkeys (and why they might be some of the most underrated healers!!)
How returning to ranch life became a form of my own inner child and soul retrieval
Why healing doesn’t have to be heavy - it can be joyful, playful, and alive!
The importance of community, creativity, and finding environments that support who we’re becoming
I share this episode from my heart as part story/reflection, and part love letter to the land, the animals here and their medicine, and the ways life is always available to reshape us when we listen to the inner call forth to the unknown. I hope you find resonance and that this sparks a curiosity or
Deconstructing Your Personality to Discover The Real You
02 Jul 2021
00:33:18
Ep . 25: In this solo episode, we explore the idea of our ego and personality as a "construct" that we have the power to shift in any given moment, and I share some tools for making real changes in your life.
We explore:
What constitutes what we think of as our personality
How radical presence is connected to deep personal shifts
Why our sense of self is an illusion - and how this is actually empowering
Accessing our limitless life force energy within
Moving. from mind-based to body-based being
Discovering our true self in our emotional body
How language can limit our full experience of life (and why it's so important to come into silence and stillness to access our true self)
If you resonate with the topics in this episode and would love to share your thoughts with me, I'd love to hear from you!
You can reach out through my website at www.kristenyates.com, send me an email at kyates8@gmail.com, or send me a message on Facebook!
Integration, Intuition, and (Beating) Imposter Syndrome
01 Jun 2021
00:27:31
Ep. 24: In this solo episode, I dive into "3 I's" that have been on my mind lately: integration, intuition, and (beating) imposter syndrome.
What integration is, and why it's so important to build into our lives after intense phases of personal growth
How integration looks different for everyone
Tapping in to find your best integration method
Working through times of transition (with integration and intuition!)
Connecting to your intuition as a grounding tool during times of chaos
Transparency around my own struggles with imposter syndrome
My #1 key for clearing imposter syndrome
Staying connected to your WHY and personal mission
How Radical Self-Honesty Can Change Your Life
24 Mar 2021
00:37:40
Ep. 23: In this episode, we explore how facing ourselves fully with radical-self honesty can be the key to changing our habits, fulfilling our potential, and creating lasting change in our lives.
We get into:
My story of facing myself fully for (possibly!) the first time in my life
How I perpetuated unconscious habits of escapism until they all came out in the open
The inner knowing we have around whether we are truly living up to our potential
Why grief and release can be an essential part of the self-honesty process
What it means to truly show the F up for your life
How the little lies we tell ourselves chip away at our self-worth and identity
The difference between conscious and unconscious commitment
The key component of lasting habit change
Six questions to reveal your true self and face yourself with radical honesty
Why full awareness is so key for lasting change in our lives
Get in Touch:
If you'd like to get in touch with me, feel free to email me at kyates8@gmail.com
Ep. 22: What does it mean to walk a spiritual path? What does this mean for you? And how can spiritual practices help you move closer to your most authentic self and true nature?
This episode dives into basically my favorite topic ever - the spiritual path.
We explore:
Why spirituality does not look the same for everyone
How to cultivate your own unique spiritual practice and path
Some core essence qualities of the spiritual path
The nature of soul and consciousness
Questing for meaning and purpose
Deconstructing the ego and personality for spiritual growth
Understanding the layers of "self" we acquire as we move through life
The power of reinventing yourself
A few key practices to begin walking a spiritual path
The connection between spirit and embodiment
Surrendering to the mystery of existence
The illusion of "seeking" meaning and purpose
How spirituality assists us in the quest for freedom and truth
Questions for spiritual exploration:
What brings you peace?
What makes you feel most at home?
What brings you into your body?
What brings you JOY?
Personal Update: Navigating "Dark Nights", The Energy of Places, and the Art of the Pivot
08 Dec 2020
00:48:58
Ep. 21: I wanted to share a bit of a personal update, as my past few months have been chock full of challenges, lessons, magic, darkness... and everything in between.
On this solo episode, I dive into my own personal "dark night" (or as I like to say, total emotional unraveling over this past month in Mexico 😆), sitting with massive discomfort and surrendering to growth, my real experience of Tulum (hint: it's not what you see on Instagram) and basically getting my ass humbled AF in the final stretch of 2020 ;)
Some topics I cover include:
The process of grounding after a nomadic lifestyle
Why self-centeredness is not a bad thing
What we *think* we need is often not what we *really* need
What is a "dark night" of the soul, and how to work with and through it
My authentic challenges and experiences moving to Mexico
The polarity of massive challenge and big magic
Why we need to be triggered to shake us out of our comfort zone and grow
Surrendering into darkness to find the light
The energy of vortex places on the planet and how they impact us
Learning to make courageous and graceful pivots towards our true path
Listening to the call of your heart and purpose
Embodying our true purpose: to FEEL the full spectrum of emotions
....and more :)
Let's connect more!
If any of this episode has spoken to you, please feel free to reach out to me on Facebook (facebook.com/kyates8) or through my website, and let me know what resonates with you! 🥰❤️
I will be opening a few spots for private coaching in early 2021, so if you're interested, you can apply through my website:
The Power of Embodiment and Sensuality w/ Nadia Munla
20 Nov 2020
00:58:43
Ep. 20 - Today I'm sitting down with Nadia Munla, women's embodiment and intimacy coach, to discuss all things embodiment, sensuality, surrender, and feminine spirituality. We all know the importance of "slowing down" – but in a society designed to keep us spinning in our heads in "go-go-go" mode, it's a new form of empowerment to return home to our bodies and find our own truth and healing within. This episode is so potent for the times we are in right now – I highly recommend you give it at least one listen, and note down the many practices Nadia recommends for reconnecting to your inner power.
In this episode, we dive into:
Nadia's journey of moving from a life of hustle and grind life into one of embodiment and sensual aliveness
Our society's epidemic of disconnection from our body wisdom
Rewilding and what animals can teach us about living fully
The ways our mind-based culture keeps us disconnected from our body
Using our five senses to experience sensuality
Accessing divinity through going inward into the senses.
The difference between “masculine” and “feminine” forms of spirituality
How to balance “doing” and “feeling”
Finding integration through combining structure and flow
Reaping the gifts of slowing down and simplifying in 2020
How to regulate our nervous systems for better health
Using our breath as the building block and language of the reptilian brain to positively shift our physiological state
Why we don’t need complicated formulas to get through these times - and what we do need instead
Where suffering actually comes from (different from where we think it does!)
Inner child work - how to mother and reparent our inner child
The four feminine archetypes
The power of surrendering into pain, and the difference between surrender and resignation
Fear-based vs. love-based motivation
Her co-creative visioning plan - 4 powerful questions to help you create an embodied vision based in surrender
Ep. 18: In this solo show, I share some of the powerful tools I use with my clients and in my programs to help uncover and activate your True Self – and all of the purpose, power, and potential within you.
In this episode we dive into:
A glimpse into my monthly planning and review process
What core values are and why they are so key on your journey to self-understanding
How to identify your unique set of core values
Connecting with our inner child and the archetypes that live within us
How to craft a daily "Blissipline" practice
The three key elements of a powerful daily ritual
A profoundly simple tool for building self-compassion and mindfulness
One simple tool to activate your voice and unblock your throat chakra (helping to activate truth-speaking!)
A few exercises to strengthen your connection to your intuition
Discovering Your Personality Type Through the MBTI w/ Heidi Priebe
27 Aug 2020
01:06:47
Ep. 17: Today's episode is all about unpacking your personality through the lens of the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI.) Heidi is a personality psychologist, coach, and writer who helps people leverage personality psychology as a tool for self development.
In this episode we dive into:
How Heidi paved her own way in the field of personality psychology (it's not how you might expect!)
What personality psychology is, and how it can help us live a better life
The origin of the MBTI and how it evolved from Jungian psychology to become more accessible today
A breakdown of each of the 4 pairs of letters that make up the personality "code" in the MBTI
What Extroversion and Introversion really mean (different from the mainstream thought about them)
Why Sensors and Intuitives want to make their impact in different ways
How Thinkers and Feelers must follow their passions in different ways
How Judgers and Perceivers have very different relationships to structure
The difference (and similarities) between logic and emotion in personality
How our modern-day work environment has shifted from more Judging to more Perceiving
Understanding the cognitive functions of each of the letters
Some unique qualities and traits of NFP types, and how they engage with and experience the world
The unique existential experience that NFP types tend to have
Different definitions of “success” for the different types
Using knowledge about your type to finding balance and fulfillment in life
Why meaning and purpose are so crucial to NFP types
The gifts and struggles of the NFP types
A few theories on what personality types make the best matches for romantic partnership
Who is Our True Self? Behind the Scenes of My Journey
19 Aug 2020
00:31:59
Ep. 16: In this solo jam session, I'm coming to you from my childhood bedroom (literally!) to dive into some of the questions we can ask to understand more about our True Selves.
We'll get into:
Looking at the subconscious layers that get put on us as we grow through life
Unpacking our belief systems and where they came from
A few of the key transition points that put me on the path to living as my True Self
Several tools to get in line with your guiding compass
What core values and belief systems have to do with your True Self
The death and rebirth cycles that are an inherent part of our life and growth
Key questions to trigger your growth and self-inquiry
Embodiment tools to connect to your purpose and power
Exploring your fullest potential as your True Self
I will be guiding an 8-week journey for a small, soul-centered tribe to uncover the Purpose, Power, and Potential of our True Self. It begins September 1 – if you feel called to join us, mention this podcast for $50 off the journey. ❤
Courageously Questing for Ease in Turbulent Times w/ Krystal Brandt
12 Aug 2020
00:51:47
Ep. 15: Today's episode is all about reframing our notion that "hustle and struggle equals success" – and opening up to allow the ease and abundance that is our birthright. I sit down with Krystal Brandt an Ease Mentor and Intuitive Business Strategist who helps fast-paced go-getters to slow down and cultivate sustainable self-care practices to live a soul-aligned life. She shares her story of leaving the corporate world behind to follow her inner calling (spoiler alert: it wasn't a smooth and shiny ride!) and drops a ton of actionable tools and strategies to reset your relationship with obligation and create a life filled with self-care, nourishment, and yes – lots of ease.
We dive into:
The importance of creating your team of mentors
Her journey from the corporate cubicle to discovering herself
How she moved from people-pleasing to following her soul’s calling
What self-care really is, and how our society makes it so difficult to follow this path
Giving yourself permission to divorce obligation and create your soul priorities
How living counter-culture and listening to her inner truth shifted her entire path
Why allowing social constructs to break down can be pivotal towards your growth
Learning to trust yourself and show up for yourself in bigger ways
The big question she uses to define self-care (and why you should be using it!)
The importance of discovering your core values – and her simple way to find them
Her top tip for using your core values as a tool for self-nourishment
How to turn self-care from an item on your to-do list, to an organic, non-negotiable part of your life
Integrating the masculine and feminine in your daily life
Dancing between the masculine structure and “doing”, and the feminine intuition and “being"
How nature can be our muse for ease
Why ease has everything to do with mindset
The art of allowing ease and abundance
How we can reframe comparison to expand our growth
Ease and self-care tools to navigate these turbulent times
Why grounding is one of the most important tools you can use right now
Shedding Skins in the Year of the Snake: Soul Tools for Release and Completion
02 Dec 2025
00:43:12
Ep 7: I am recording this episode as a soul-stream from the desert of Baja, reflecting on the endings, completions, and releases that I've been experiencing this year and that so many of us are moving through right now. As we step into the stillness of winter and prepare to close out 2025, we'll explore what it is to be in the tender liminal space as old identities and ways of being are shed away, how to navigate the process of release, and six tools to move through times of completion with grace, creating potent space for the next chapter to arise. If you’ve been feeling the old falling away in your life this year, you are definitely not alone - trust that it is paving the way for a personal and collective new beginning!
In this episode we explore:
The collective theme of release and completion as we close out 2025
Why so many of us are shedding old identities, roles, and masks right now
How the Year of the Snake relates to shedding skin and returning to the earth
My personal season of endings, loss, and integration this year
How trying to “build” in a year meant for integration creates struggle and burnout
Moving from our default linear, productivity culture back into nature’s cyclical wisdom
Winter as a powerful portal for stillness, rest, and energetic rest
Six practices for moving through release and completion with more grace
Letting go by just “5%” and taking one stone out of your metaphorical backpack
Inviting more silence, stillness, and polarity between movement and rest
Emotional processing tools like breathwork, shaking, sound, and somatic practices
Finding a healthy balance between solitude and chosen community that supports your becoming
Using writing, creativity, and non-verbal expression as soul work in the liminal space
The power of ritual, ceremony, and nature as teachers of death, composting, and rebirth
Rewilding as a return to innate nature, instinct, and authenticity beneath the programming
A look ahead at the shift from a “9 year” of endings to a “1 year” and the Fire Horse energy of new beginnings
Shamanic Tantra as a Path to Inner Liberation (Our ISTA Experience) w/ Kacper Postawski
04 Aug 2020
00:38:45
Ep. 13: Today's episode is a peek behind the scenes at my experience with ISTA – the International School of Temple Arts – immersing in a weeklong Shamanic Tantra and Sacred Sexuality training. I recorded this with Kacper, a soul brother I met on the ISTA journey, shortly after our training completed.
I love this episode, because it's such an raw view into our experience in this sacred sexuality immersion, and the insights and transformations we received on all things shadow work, healing shame, emotional processing, and creating authentic intimacy with ourselves and others.
We jam on all things:
What ISTA, sacred sexuality and the temple arts are all about
Our intentions coming in, and how they shifted through the process
Going through death and rebirth in the transformation process
How ISTA helped us bring up and heal our shame around sexuality
What shame really is, and why we have to move through it to release it
Why tantra is so much about intimate connection with self
Dealing with massive triggers in an intimate container
What is "the shadow", and how to integrate with it to become more whole
Becoming resilient to the daggers, thorns, and shadows we face in life
Dealing with projections that others put onto us
The power of emotional release
How others can be our mirror for shadows in relationships
Healing shadows from childhood trauma
Uncovering the shadow of "unworthiness" in relationships
Understanding the masculine/feminine dynamics of polarity
What’s behind “White knight” syndrome
Finding the distinction between authentic love and the need for validation
Processing the toxic patterns behind a breakup
Bringing our anxiety up from the unconscious to conscious to transmute and transform
Resources from this episode:
ISTA (International School of Temple Arts) www.ista.life
Emotional Tools for Pandemic Times
14 Jul 2020
00:29:13
Ep. 11: Today's episode is a solo show where I dive into some of the most potent emotional release practices we can all use during these times (AKA - deal with our sh*t as gracefully as possible!) :)
We'll dive into:
What emotional energy really is, and why it's so important to keep it flowing
The difference between labeling our emotions and simply being with the energy of them
The effects that stressful times have on our sympathetic nervous system (and overall well-being)
Moving from the sympathetic (fight or flight) to parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system activation
Embodiment tools and practices for emotional release
Why self-compassion and self-care are so crucial right now
The power of breathwork, movement, mindfulness, and ritual
Emotional Freedom Technique, TRE, and other emotional activation & release tools I love
Quantum Mechanics and Sex on the Moon w/ Thad Roberts
04 Jul 2020
01:11:27
Ep. 10: Curious how quantum mechanics can inform us about how the world really works, and how we can apply quantum principles to expand our own lives? Today's conversation with theoretical physicist and philosopher Thad Roberts is an illuminating look at the nature of reality, and a riveting glimpse into his journey working with NASA, masterminding the infamous moon rock caper, and dedicating his life to exploring the mysteries of modern physics and bringing Einstein's Intuition to life.
In this episode we dive into:
What comprises real "genius" (hint: it's driven by curiosity)
The power of asking bigger questions to create bigger results in your life
Unpacking our two giant human drives, and finding balance between them
How to create space for more "aliveness" in your life
Thad's experience stealing moon rocks and going to prison for 7 years (and how this experience transformed his life)
The massive gifts that arise through long periods of discomfort
Managing the problem of privilege in our society
How to build a greater sense of safety and security in your life
Quantum space theory and what it means about the world and our reality
Thad's journey to dedicating his life to Einstein’s quest and understanding the nature of reality
Free will vs. determinism and how to take back control of our reactive behavior
How quantum mechanics shows us we are more than the sum of our parts
Practical tips for shifting your mind and thinking differently
Why traditional goal-setting is backwards at a quantum level
Diverisfying your experience
How we can come up with new thoughts
The benefit of multi potentiality over specialization
Behind the Scenes of 10 Years as a Nomad: Designing a Life Outside the Matrix
08 Feb 2020
00:47:48
Ep. 8: Today I peel back the layers of what really goes into designing a creative, location-independent life.
I share my story of becoming a nomad 10 years ago, the path I carved to create a sustainable nomadic lifestyle, my spiritual entrepreneur journey, and the lessons/tips you can take away to step boldly on the unique path of your heart!
We'll dive into:
Why I moved abroad, and what I dove into first
The role of intuition in deepening your journey
The mindset shift around time and income that put me on an entrepreneurial path
How a service-focused mindset will catapult your growth
How building a (new kind of) tribe has been key to everything
Why it's so important to create space to explore who you are
15-20 income streams I've used to sustain my lifestyle while growing my business
The challenges of a nomadic lifestyle
...and much more :)
If this episode has sparked your inspiration to explore a nomadic lifestyle and you'd love more support to take the next step – send me an email and we can set up a chat! I've love to support you <3
kyates8@gmail.com
Synchronicity, Intuition, and Surrendering to the Flow of Life
10 Jan 2020
00:36:54
Ep. 6: Have you ever experienced a state of pure flow, where life seems to unfold beyond your mind's perceived possibilities? In this solo episode, I dive into how synchronicity, intuition, and surrender have served as the foundations for my spiritual and nomadic journey – sharing bits and pieces of lessons learned in my last 10 years of traveling, dancing through ideas including:
The difficulties of living in a cerebral-based society (and how to cope)
What actually helps build intuition
Why I moved abroad, and how I kept taking bigger leaps
The importance of embodiment for living intuitively
Why living boldly doesn't mean we need to plan out the end game
Ways the mind can get in the way of life guiding us on our true path
How to play "games" with the universe and develop a relationship with life energy
What synchronicity is, and how we can use it as a guide
How to surrender and release attachment to future outcomes (and why it's important!)
Why life often does not go according to plan (and why this is a great thing!)
Ep. 4: Do you believe that your intelligence, skills, and talents are static and fixed – or do you perceive your abilities in a growth-oriented, dynamic way?
Today's episode is all about the beliefs we hold about ourselves and our minds - and how this not only impacts, but directly creates our experience of life!
In this solo show, I discuss:
The difference between fixed and growth mindset, and qualities of each
How our beliefs about ourselves directly affect our experience
How each mindset type deals with challenges and obstacles
Relationships through the lens of each mindset type
Tools and actions steps to begin embodying a growth mindset
Ep. 3: Resistance! Are you familiar with the concept?
If you're a creative... chances are, you've battled with it once or twice. :)
In this episode, I go off the cuff to talk about how we manage our flow of inspiration and creative energy, what resistance is and how to deal with it, and how to create consistency with our creative process.
Energy Dynamics & Moving from Hustle to Alignment w/ Steph Lisa Kelly
26 Jul 2019
00:49:32
Ep. 2: Energy is the driving force of our reality and our daily life – understanding how to work with energy dynamics and align with the way we best function is crucial to optimizing our potential.
In this episode, you'll learn:
The importance of surrender in manifesting your creative potential
The art of fusing surrender with empowerment
How to step back allow the greater intelligence of life to flow through you
Hustle culture and what REALLY helps you be more effective and impactful in life
Spiral dynamics and where we are currently at as a society
How we are shifting OUT of an achievement-driven society - and what we’re moving into
The most powerful questions to drive your personal evolution
Why trying to be “in control” is futile - and what to do instead
How to shift your perspective when spiraling out of control
Tools for opening your energy and creating space for insight to come in
Scientifically backed ways to flow with the universe and create synchronicities
How to shift your energy by opening to possibility
Steph’s tools to stop “pushing” and start “unfolding”
The most direct ways to manifest the feeling states we desire
How to discover your true nature, so you can start aligning with it
Re-educating ourselves to process emotional states and reconnect to our bodies
Why most of us are disconnected from our true desires - and how to discover them
How to use the breath in deep emotional processing work
Why it’s so important to prioritize self-care
The important distinction between needs and desires
Stillness and Sensuality Online Course www.stillnessandsensuality.com
Wild and Free Workbook www.wildandfreeworkbook.com
Flow Psychology w/ Kyle Pearce
12 Jul 2019
00:48:12
Ep. 1: On this first episode, I talk with Kyle Pearce, meditation and flow psychology teacher and founder of Animist Ecology, a. company spreading eco-mindfulness through experiential learning adventures.
In this episode, we dive into:
Why it's so important to incorporate meaning and challenge into our daily activities
What happens neurologically when we get into flow state
The difference between alpha, beta, and theta brain wave states - and why it matters
The connection between flow state and deep states of meditation
How to use flow psychology to optimize your creativity
The importance of self-motivation for lasting success
Powerful questions to ask yourself to uplevel your creative output
Goal-setting strategies to connect your short and long-term goals and visions
The importance of self-education in rewiring your psychology
Why multitasking is so dangerous, and how to avoid the "distraction epidemic"
How to build "tiny habits" to increase effectiveness in your life
What creativity really is, and how it is a part of everyones' life
What a value-creation mindset is
The difference between spontaneous creativity and living a creative life
How structure and contribution are key to lasting happiness
Why chronic loneliness is as bad for your health as obesity
Why being part of a tribe is vital for your physical health
How to achieve flow state in your work
Why leisure time is more important for your work than you might think
The importance of an "eco sabbath" or spirit quest to recharge
Rewilding and the connection between nature and consciousness
The sentience of nature and our planet, and importance of connection wtih this
How to contribute to shifting into a regenerative culture
Self-Expression is our Medicine: Liberating Yourself Through Creativity w/ Kaleigh Smith
07 Aug 2025
00:59:45
Ep 6: Today, I am joined by my dear friend and sister Kaleigh Smith for a rich conversation on creative liberation, retreats (...journeys!), and the healing power of our authentic expression - especially as women on a journey to reclaim our sovereignty and embodied power.
Kaleigh is an expressive arts therapist in training, and together we will be co-hosting the Vibrant Heârt Creative Liberation & Expressive Arts Retreat for women this coming November 2-8 in beautiful Costa Rica.
Together we explore:
Expression as a soulful, embodied practice, not just an artistic one
The universal human impulse to create - and how expression is actually our medicine
Using expression to give voice to our inner parts - from trauma to leadership
The necessity of slowness and softness in nurturing feminine creative energy
The contrast between cerebral living and somatic, soul-led creation
Different modalities of expression - cognitive, kinesthetic, sensory, symbolic - and how each can unlock deeper self-awareness.
Kaleigh's journey of finding Expressive Arts Therapy as a soulful modality for her service in the world
Kristen’s journey of “rewilding” through plant medicine, psychedelics, and life in Peru
Creativity beyond art: in relationships, rituals, home, and daily choices
The role of environment, nature, and cultural influence on creativity and embodiment
How overstimulation and digital overwhelm in our modern age hinder authentic expression - and what we can do about it
🌴🎨🌊 Costa Rica Creative Women's Retreat - Nov 2-8, 2025 (Apply below!)
If you'd like to get in touch with me directly, you can send me an email at kyates8@gmail.com
A Personal Update + My 5 Greatest Lessons and Teachers From Peru
09 Jul 2025
00:52:39
Ep. 4: Today, I'm returning from the podcast void (!!) with a personal update from Peru, along with some of the top lessons life has been delivering here - and some of my greatest teachers in my five years living in the Sacred Valley.
I am so grateful for those of you along with me here on this podcasting journey, and am excited for the new evolutions in the vision and mission of The Wild Within. I'll be publishing weekly episodes and would love to have you along for the explorations!
A few themes we explore in this episode:
Highlights from my personal journey over the past year
Learning to embrace grief and paradox
Working with sacred plant medicines in a mindful and balanced way
Life and relationships as a mirror for our shadows and unmet parts
The power of community
My greatest teachers here in Peru
..... and more stream-of-consciousness thoughts from yours truly :)
If you'd like to get in touch with me directly, you can send me an email at kyates8@gmail.com
Unlocking Your Creative Essence
27 Apr 2024
00:40:43
Soul Initiation & Remembering our Innate Power w/ Maitreya Wolf
19 Apr 2024
01:22:25
Ep. 2: In this episode, I share a rich conversation with Maitreya Wolf, a soul evolution mentor, tarot reader, and musician whose life and work are devoted to the spiritual power of Beauty, living the path of soul, and the wild earth.
We explore:
The qualities and stages of a soul initiation process
Recognizing the link between our personal and collective evolution; becoming coherent and generative beings not only for ourselves, but for the greater field of consciousness
Accessing our unique purpose during these times
The intertwined journey of personal and collective evolution
Living at the choice point in our lives, learning how to orient within the arc of our trajectory and soul’s compass
Working with our core wounds and challenges in a generative, life-giving way as part of our evolutionary process
The relationship between trauma and initiation, and reframing trauma as a deepening into our soul path
Learning to recognize and clear the distortions to our own inner beauty
Returning to the remembrance of our innate connection to all of life
Widening ourselves and our perspectives to the fullness of existence, so we can make truly conscious choices in our lives
Becoming coherent for life to pour through us in full awareness
Re-establishing our innate connection to nature and the wild
How being in relationship with nature is linked with our personal empowerment
Becoming in tune with the rhythms and cycles of nature and sourcing our power therein
Awakening from “stranded amnesia" to reclaim our sovereignty and remember who we truly are
Remembering the symbiosis of all things and how this applies to our lives
Choosing to “stay and be with what is” rather than run away, as a generative act
The questions to ask ourselves to be in true service to our world today and discover what we are here to give.
How to connect to your “Exalted Self”
Accessing your creative power and becoming the creative force of life
Changing our relationship to life (at a personal and collective level)
Returning to a state of wonder and reverence for life, and to the magnificence of our being
Transmuting and integrating all parts of ourselves so we may become more whole
Resources from this episode:
You can get in touch with Maitreya at her website:
Welcome back to the podcast! It's been a 3-year evolutionary hiatus for The Wild Within, but it feels amazing to be back, ready to explore what is emerging at this point in time, sharing tools for elevating our consciousness and diving deeply into our medicine within. This season, you can expect solo shows and inspiring conversations with others in the consciousness movement, to help your journey to awakened and empowered living in these times.