Toward A Better Life Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Episode 153 Toward A Better Life with Kevin Pennell

0:00:00 Episode Preview

0:01:18 Gunshae - By Lady Eve (Used by Permission)

0:07:09 Episode Opening:

• The podcast that features like-minded people sharing stories, ideas, and activities, on what we can do to generate a Better Life individually and collectively.
• Submissions: 
• Be a part of the show by sharing your prose, music, poetry, or storytelling.  Just send them to me kevin@towardabetterlife.com.  If it's audio, please send it as an MP3 file.
• Subscribe
• AND Spread the word and keep following for magical insights into Earth Based Spirituality, self development, and self care.
• Free Discovery Call
• By the way, if you'd like to dive into self-care, self development, or distance shamanic work, drop me a line kevin@towardabetterlife.com for a free discovery call.

0:11:59 Interview with Lady Eve

• Lady Eve is a musician, artist, and the owner of Singing Pines. Eve grew up in Atlanta and spent summers in Appalachia basking in the aroma and nurturing her deep love and appreciation of trees and the forests while playing in mountain streams. Eve is a certified forest bathing guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, and enjoys sharing her passion for soundscape and sensory/somatic experiences. As a Bardic Druid (with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids) and an active Zazen practitioner, she incorporates meditation and subtle awareness throughout her endeavors. Her artistic advocacy focuses on the connection between music, environment, accessibility and wellness. In 2016 she began to lead an ongoing series of soundwalks, which gives the public opportunities to experience natural surroundings through listening techniques, meditative breathing, and contemplative focus. In recent years, the soundwalk program has grown into an artist residency called the ACA Soundscape Field Station at Canaveral National Seashore, and an accessibility program for blind and partially sighted youth called Young Sound Seekers, sponsored by the National Park Service. These programs highlight the growing importance of environmental sound (soundscape) on the quality of health for all living creatures. As a musician and soundscape artist, she uses field recordings, electronic music, spoken word, and classical oboe in her compositions and collaborations. She has performed at several venues throughout North America.

 1:10:12  Meiji Sunbeams by Lady Eve (Used by Permission) 

1:19:54 Episode Closing Thoughts

Connections:

Lady Eve

• Website: https://www.singingpines.co/
• Contact: info@singingpines.co

Order of Bards Ovates and Druids

• Website: https://druidry.org/

Toward A Better Life

• Website: https://towardabetterlife.com/
• Kevin Pennell: https://towardabetterlife.com/contact/

Episode 152 Toward A Better Life with Kevin Pennell

0:00:00 Episode Preview

0:01:02 Dark Night of the Soul by Spiral Dance (Used by Permission)

0:06:34 Episode Opening:

• The podcast that features like-minded people sharing stories, ideas, and activities, on what we can do to generate a Better Life individually and collectively.
• Submissions: 
• Be a part of the show by sharing your prose, music, poetry, or storytelling.  Just send them to me kevin@towardabetterlife.com.  If it's audio, please send it as an MP3 file.
• Subscribe
• AND Spread the word and keep following for magical insights into Earth Based Spirituality, self development, and self care.
• Free Discovery Call
• By the way, if you'd like to dive into self-care, self development, or distance shamanic work, drop me a line kevin@towardabetterlife.com for a free discovery call.

0:04:07 Interview with Rachael Schmidt

• Rachael Schmidt, author of Common Sixth Sense, is a mindfulness-based self-development coach, mentor, and educator with more than twenty years of experience helping people awaken to their fullest potential. She has worked with teenagers, Fortune 500 leaders, and everyone in between, guiding them to live more authentic and connected lives. Schmidt teaches mindfulness integration at the graduate level and is the founder of the consultancy, Common Sixth. You can learn more at www.commonsixth.com.

1:01:49  Deep Peace to You by Awenfire (Used by Permission) 

1:05:30 Episode Closing Thoughts

Connections:

Rachael Schmidt

• Website: https://commonsixth.com/
• Contact: https://commonsixth.com/contact-rachael-schmidt/
• Order Rachael's Book: https://commonsixth.com/book/

Spiral Dance

• Website: https://spiraldance.com.au/

Awenfire

• On Sound Cloud: https://soundcloud.com/awenfire

Toward A Better Life

• Website: https://towardabetterlife.com/
• Kevin Pennell: https://towardabetterlife.com/contact/

Episode 143 Toward A Better Life with Kevin Pennell

0:00:00 Episode Preview

0:00:53 Episode Opening:

• The podcast that features like-minded people sharing stories, ideas, and activities, on what we can do to generate a Better Life individually and collectively.
• Submissions: 
• Be a part of the show by sharing your prose, music, poetry, or storytelling.  Just send them to me kevin@towardabetterlife.com.  If it's audio, please send it as an MP3 file.
• Subscribe
• AND Spread the word and keep following for magical insights into Earth Based Spirituality, self development, and self care.
• Free Discovery Call
• By the way, if you'd like to dive into self-care, self development, or distance shamanic work, drop me a line kevin@towardabetterlife.com for a free discovery call.

0:04:05 Interview with Lizbeth DeSa

• Lizbeth is Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Practitioner, Educator, Conflict Mediator, Laughter Yoga Leader, Writer.  She helps those dealing with Shame, Anxiety, and Depression.  Using  An IFS Approach, she has also helped individuals suffering from Complex Trauma issues and  PTSD with IFS.  Lizbeth believes the mind is made up of sub-personalities or "parts". Each part has unique qualities.  Some parts are functional and valuable while others may behave in negative ways.  However, they have positive intentions, even if that is hard to believe.  Underlying the parts is a person's true essence or Self.The Self knows how to heal in order to become whole and integrated.  Sing the song of Your Self.  Stay tuned as Lizbeth DeSa shares the magic of Internal Family Systems Therapy.

 0:53:14 Episode Closing Thoughts

Connections:

Lizbeth DeSa

• Website: https://www.multiplemind.com/
• Contact: https://www.multiplemind.com/ 

Toward A Better Life

• Website: https://towardabetterlife.com/
• Kevin Pennell: https://towardabetterlife.com/contact/

Episode 142 Toward A Better Life with Kevin Pennell

0:00:00 Episode Preview

0:00:55 Episode Opening:

• The podcast that features like-minded people sharing stories, ideas, and activities, on what we can do to generate a Better Life individually and collectively.
• Submissions: 
• Be a part of the show by sharing your prose, music, poetry, or storytelling.  Just send them to me kevin@towardabetterlife.com.  If it's audio, please send it as an MP3 file.
• Subscribe
• AND Spread the word and keep following for magical insights into Earth Based Spirituality, self development, and self care.
• Free Discovery Call
• By the way, if you'd like to dive into self-care, self development, or distance shamanic work, drop me a line kevin@towardabetterlife.com for a free discovery call.

0:03:38 Interview with Erica Joy Siegel

Erica is an Acupuncture Physician & Herbalist in the Jacksonville, Florida area. In practice for 20 years she assists in treating a variety of health conditions, simple to complex, acute to chronic. Utilizing several techniques and adjunct therapies to get desired outcomes. She's the only practitioner in the region doing Acunova-a protocol from Denmark using points on the hands and feet to help recover some vision and slow degenerative eye diseases. She is also unique in her offering of laser acupuncture for kids and needlephobes.  She's also authored a wonderful book The Acupuncture Point Functions Charts & Workbook which she talks about in this episode Acupuncture Demystified

 0:51:08 Episode Closing Thoughts

Connections:

Erica Joy Siegel

• Website: https://www.joyvisionacu.com/
• Contact: https://www.joyvisionacu.com/contact-acupuncture-ponte-vedra

Toward A Better Life

• Website: https://towardabetterlife.com/
• Kevin Pennell: https://towardabetterlife.com/contact/

Episode 141 Toward A Better Life with Kevin Pennell

0:00:00 Episode Preview

0:01:03 Episode Opening:

• The podcast that features like-minded people sharing stories, ideas, and activities, on what we can do to generate a Better Life individually and collectively.
• Submissions: 
• Be a part of the show by sharing your prose, music, poetry, or storytelling.  Just send them to me kevin@towardabetterlife.com.  If it's audio, please send it as an MP3 file.
• Subscribe
• AND Spread the word and keep following for magical insights into Earth Based Spirituality, self development, and self care.
• Free Discovery Call
• By the way, if you'd like to dive into self-care, self development, or distance shamanic work, drop me a line kevin@towardabetterlife.com for a free discovery call.

0:04:27 Interview with Angie Hawkins

• Angie Hawkins is an Inner Glow Coach who transforms high-achieving, spiritual women from chasing love and approval to radiating fierce confidence so they can finally feel happy, free, and loved for who they are.  She works with women who've done therapy, read the books, tried the spiritual path, but still feel like something's missing. Through deep inner work and identity transformation, she helps them break the cycle of not feeling "enough," so they can experience real love, confidence, and peace without having to change who they are.

  Angie authored Running in Slippers, a raw and vulnerable memoir about finding resilience after emotional rock bottom. Angie has moved from Chicago to Hawaii on her own, jumped out of a helicopter and into the ocean Navy SEAL-style, bungee jumped, skydived, and cliff jumped, and now she's jumping in to talk with me about People Pleasing, Boundaries, and Being A Functional Adult.  Stay tuned for my eye opening chat with Angie. 

0:49:56 Episode Closing Thoughts

Connections:

Angie Hawkins

• Website: https://www.runninginslippers.com/
• Contact Dana: https://www.runninginslippers.com/contact
• Buy Her Book: https://www.runninginslippers.com/book

Toward A Better Life

• Website: https://towardabetterlife.com/
• Kevin Pennell: https://towardabetterlife.com/contact/

Episode 140 Toward A Better Life with Kevin Pennell

0:00:00 Episode Preview

0:01:12 Episode Opening:

• The podcast that features like-minded people sharing stories, ideas, and activities, on what we can do to generate a Better Life individually and collectively.
• Submissions: 
• Be a part of the show by sharing your prose, music, poetry, or storytelling.  Just send them to me kevin@towardabetterlife.com.  If it's audio, please send it as an MP3 file.
• Subscribe
• AND Spread the word and keep following for magical insights into Earth Based Spirituality, self development, and self care.
• Free Discovery Call
• By the way, if you'd like to dive into self-care, self development, or distance shamanic work, drop me a line kevin@towardabetterlife.com for a free discovery call.

0:05:48 Interview with Dana O'Driscoll and Nate Summers

• Dana O'Driscoll - Dana is the Grand Arch Druid of AODA in the US along with being a lifelong student of nature spirituality and Druidry and has been practicing for 18 years. She has authored of multiple books that focus on nature spirituality and neopagan practices through the lenses of reverence, respect, and direct action on behalf of the living earth. 

• Nate Summers has authored several books as well studying with a number of amazing teachers and mentors over the years.  Nate's approach is a blend and mix of the lineages.  Ultimately, his goal in writing, teaching, and mentoring is to help people discover their own truths and ways with the guidance and wisdom handed down through the ages and through many powerful lineages. Nate hopes to empower people in their lives, to help them discover ease, peace and confidence, and to be lit up inside with their own primal passion, vitality, and power.

• Dana and Nate talk about their new book "Eco-Spirituality in the 21st Century: ReVisioning Nature, Community, and Connection for a Better Tomorrow" an incredible title for an incredible book.  Eco-Spirituality offers a new vision for nature spirituality both by drawing upon ancient, ancestral connections and by visioning human-nature-spirit connections for a brighter future. The authors combine their collective skill sets in druidry, wilderness survival skills, permaculture, and more, to create this new framework for engaging in an eco-centric spiritual practice and lifestyle in the 21st century.  Stay tuned for this compelling chat about Eco-Spirituality!

1:15:27 Episode Closing Thoughts

Connections:

Dana O'Driscoll

• Website: https://thedruidsgarden.com/
• Contact Dana: https://thedruidsgarden.com/about-the-druid/contact/

Nate Summers

• Website & Contact: https://www.primalnate.com/

Toward A Better Life

• Website: https://towardabetterlife.com/
• Kevin Pennell: https://towardabetterlife.com/contact/

Episode 139 Toward A Better Life with Kevin Pennell

0:00:00 Episode Preview

0:00:58 Episode Opening:

• The podcast that features like-minded people sharing stories, ideas, and activities, on what we can do to generate a Better Life individually and collectively.
• Submissions: 
• Be a part of the show by sharing your prose, music, poetry, or storytelling.  Just send them to me kevin@towardabetterlife.com.  If it's audio, please send it as an MP3 file.
• Subscribe
• AND Spread the word and keep following for magical insights into Earth Based Spirituality, self development, and self care.
• Free Discovery Call
• By the way, if you'd like to dive into self-care, self development, or distance shamanic work, drop me a line kevin@towardabetterlife.com for a free discovery call.

0:03:40 Interview with Corie Wightlin

• Corie Wightlin, an ADHD/executive functioning coach, educator, and mindfulness facilitator who gets ADHD—because she lives it. With over 25 years of experience in cognitive science, education, and coaching, she helps overwhelmed folks turn chaos into clarity using real-life strategies that actually work. Her approach is rooted in self-compassion, practical tools, and meeting clients exactly where they are.

0:50:01 Episode Closing Thoughts

Connections:

Corie Wightlin

• Website: https://wightlincoachingservices.com/
• Corie's Dopamine Menu: https://wightlincoachingservices.myflodesk.com/wugdpijekr
• Buy the Book - Balance Your Business:  https://wightlincoachingservices.com/balance-your-business

Toward A Better Life

• Website: https://towardabetterlife.com/
• Kevin Pennell: https://towardabetterlife.com/contact/

Episode 138 Toward A Better Life with Kevin Pennell

0:00:00 Episode Preview

0:01:08 Nwyfre and Intuition - The Listening Breath Dr. Abby Campbell (Produced by Kevin Pennell and Used By Permission) 

0:03:57 Episode Opening:

• The podcast that features like-minded people sharing stories, ideas, and activities, on what we can do to generate a Better Life individually and collectively.
• Submissions: 
• Be a part of the show by sharing your prose, music, poetry, or storytelling.  Just send them to me kevin@towardabetterlife.com.  If it's audio, please send it as an MP3 file.
• Subscribe
• AND Spread the word and keep following for magical insights into Earth Based Spirituality, self development, and self care.
• Free Discovery Call
• By the way, if you'd like to dive into self-care, self development, or distance shamanic work, drop me a line kevin@towardabetterlife.com for a free discovery call.

0:07:47 Exploring Our Soul - Kevin Pennell 

• Kevin is a Podcast Host and Producer of Toward A Better Life. He's also a Licensed Massage Therapist, an Usui Reiki Sensei, and Continuing Education Instructor and Instructor for various self-help workshops.  Kevin has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Spurgeon College. As a healing facilitator, he devotes his life to being a "hollow bone" or tool to bring about "Compassionate Healing".

  Various cultural and ceremonial methods may be applied to his work as a facilitator for personal healing and spiritual counseling.

  He employs Traditional Massage Therapy, TuiNa (a Chinese form of medical massage), Thai, Trigger Point Therapy, Acupressure, and other bodywork techniques plus Reiki, Intuition, and Empathy to promote the individual's emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Creator and Spirit Guides play vital roles in Kevin's facillitory work with others. He also applies hypnosis, journey, and guided meditation techniques for overcoming present, past, and/or past life issues in person and via Zoom

  Kevin also writes, honing his love of writing through journalism. As an author, he applied his biographical and spiritual insights to complete the work Two Feathers: Spiritual Seed Planter that shares the life and spirit of Ken Two Feathers.

0:37:14  Guided Meditation with Kevin Pennell

0:54:53 Episode Closing Thoughts

Connections:

Kevin Pennell

• Email: kevin@towardabetterlife.com
• Buy the Book - Two Feathers Spiitual Seed Planter:https://towardabetterlife.com/product/two-feathers-spiritual-seed-planter/

Toward A Better Life

• Website: https://towardabetterlife.com/
• Kevin Pennell: https://towardabetterlife.com/contact/

Episode 137 Toward A Better Life with Kevin Pennell

0:00:00 Episode Preview

0:00: 56 Eve of A Great Discovery by Awenfire (Used By Permission) 

0:04:55 Episode Opening:

• The podcast that features like-minded people sharing stories, ideas, and activities, on what we can do to generate a Better Life individually and collectively.
• Submissions: 
• Be a part of the show by sharing your prose, music, poetry, or storytelling.  Just send them to me kevin@towardabetterlife.com.  If it's audio, please send it as an MP3 file.
• Subscribe
• AND Spread the word and keep following for magical insights into Earth Based Spirituality, self development, and self care.
• Free Discovery Call
• By the way, if you'd like to dive into self-care, self development, or distance shamanic work, drop me a line kevin@towardabetterlife.com for a free discovery call.

0:08:05 Interview with Victoria Williams 

• Victoria Williams is the author of The Warlock and the Ovate.  The cover says it's a timeless fantasy adventure crafted for older children and adults. Set in a mythological world of ancient castles, majestic dragons, wise druids, and battle-hardened Vikings and even a magical tree where morality and corruption collide. Powerful themes of redemption, ancient wisdom, and the awakening of true purpose are also found in the pages of Victoria's The Warlock and the Ovate a world where hope prevails!

0:49:39 Episode Closing Thoughts

Connections:

Victoria Williams

• Email: victoriawilliams7525@icloud.com
• Buy the Book - The Warlock and the Ovate: https://www.amazon.com/Warlock-Ovate-Victoria-Williams-ebook/dp/B0FJZ75K56/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2QN5ZTGSV3G83&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Yn7yXIOIVu5V4dKNvRD8_g.ASkI5I9qDmBLWSYmoBo7-cJHpKjzTSdOKsJUYtcYIYc&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+warlock+and+the+ovate&qid=1756942778&sprefix=%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1: https://www.paulownia-la.com/12-universal-laws-of-nature/

Awenfire

"An Artist/Producer who blends Ancient Wisdom with Moden Songcraft"

• Music Link: https://soundcloud.com/ahebblet

Toward A Better Life

• Website: https://towardabetterlife.com/
• Kevin Pennell: https://towardabetterlife.com/contact/

Episode 136 Toward A Better Life with Kevin Pennell

0:00:00 Episode Preview

0:01:15 Episode Opening:

• The podcast that features like-minded people sharing stories, ideas, and activities, on what we can do to generate a Better Life individually and collectively.
• Submissions: 
• Be a part of the show by sharing your prose, music, poetry, or storytelling.  Just send them to me kevin@towardabetterlife.com.  If it's audio, please send it as an MP3 file.
• Subscribe
• AND Spread the word and keep following for magical insights into Earth Based Spirituality, self development, and self care.
• Free Discovery Call
• By the way, if you'd like to dive into self-care, self development, or distance shamanic work, drop me a line kevin@towardabetterlife.com for a free discovery call.

0:05:13 Interview with Matthieu Mehuys 

• Matthieu Mehuys, is an award-winning author and landscape architect on a mission to make the world a greener, healthier place. His story began on a family farm in Belgium, where, from the age of three, Matthieu was captivated by the magic of plants and the incredible transformation of a tiny seed into vibrant life.  After earning a Master of Engineering in Landscape Architecture, he started what he thought was his dream job—but Matthieu quickly felt trapped in a system that didn't align with his purpose. Depressed and unfulfilled, he decided to make a bold move, quit a 9-to-5 job and set off on a global adventure to explore and work on some of the world's most stunning gardens and groundbreaking eco-projects.  This journey shaped Matthieu's vision and passion, leading him to start his own business. Today, he helps clients around the world creating low-maintenance, biodiverse gardens, farms, and high-value developments. His focus is on designing spaces that work with nature to restore ecosystems, reduce maintenance, and unlock the full potential of the land

0:56:46 Episode Closing Thoughts

Connections:

Matthieu Mehuys

• Website: https://www.paulownia-la.com/
• Buy 12 Universal Laws of Nature: https://www.paulownia-la.com/12-universal-laws-of-nature/
• Contact Matthieu Mehuys: https://www.paulownia-la.com/#contact

Toward A Better Life

• Website: https://towardabetterlife.com/
• Kevin Pennell: https://towardabetterlife.com/contact/