Conversations with Kara-Leah

EJ Kidd on The Danger & Benefits of Cannabis (& other plant medicines) on the path of Tantra & Yoga

Welcome to the fourth episode of season 3 of Conversations with Kara-Leah.
My guest today is EJ Kidd. (Full bio below)
 
Highlights from our conversation.
On Tantra and Plant Medicines
🌀 "Tantra is not a dogmatic construct. Tantra is self-dissolving, self-eating—like the ouroboros, the snake that devours itself. Anything within the context of Tantra will dissolve itself once it has served its purpose."
🔥 "The path of poisons isn’t about chasing peak experiences. It’s about remaining completely sober—completely anchored in the base of awareness—even as the substance is circulating in your brain."
🌿 "Is it medicine? Is it a drug? Is it toxic? Is it dangerous? If you’re dedicated to Tantra or Yoga—should you even be working with these things? Or is that just spiritual tourism?"
On The Dangers & Pitfalls
🌿 "I see people go from ‘I sat with the medicine a few times’ to ‘I’m called to be a shaman’ in under two years. Meanwhile, the indigenous medicine carriers start training as children and don’t serve until decades later."
🌪️ "Plant medicines don’t just show you truth. They also reflect your illusions. If you’re cycling in your mind, the medicine will amplify the cycle. If you’re grasping for power, it will feed that too."
🔮 "One of my teachers sat me down and said, ‘EJ, what are you doing in my ceremony?’ And I had to ask myself—was I here for truth? Or was I just using the medicine as a spiritual colonic, trying to purge my problems away?"
On The Intensity of the Experience
🦋 "Cannabis isn’t just a substance. It’s a spirit. And that spirit is sticky. You don’t smoke cannabis—it smokes you."
🎭 "I took what was supposed to be a ‘small’ dose of Wachuma, sat down in a restaurant—and watched the walls start melting. Meanwhile, I was ordering dinner like nothing was happening."
💀 "When you ingest a plant medicine, you aren’t just altering your consciousness. You’re inviting an entity inside you. The question is—who’s really in control?"
Chapter Highlights
00:44 Meet EJ Kidd: From Silicon Valley to Peru
01:31 Exploring Plant Medicines and Their Role in Awakening
03:40 EJ's Journey: From Corporate Life to Spiritual Path
06:40 First Encounters with Tantra and Plant Medicine
10:30 The Intersection of Tantra and Psychedelics
18:06 Navigating the Pitfalls of Plant Medicine
30:46 The Role of Facilitators and the Impact of Capitalism
39:41 Roles and Training of Indigenous Shamans
41:13 Community Recognition and Western Facilitators
41:51 Impact of Western Ideals on Indigenous Practices
44:18 Navigating Plant Medicine with Pure Motives
45:21 Understanding Non-Corporeal Entities in Tantra
53:56 The Path of Poisons in Tantra
59:04 Cannabis as a Tool for Embodiment and Healing
01:10:58 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways
Who is EJ?
EJ is a practitioner of Tantra and meditation, exploring the wisdom of presence, energy, and deep connection with life. Rooted in ancient teachings, EJ’s path is one of deep inquiry—exploring the connection between sound, awareness, and the profound intelligence of nature. With a focus on the intersection of Tantra and plant medicine, EJ explores how these traditions open doorways to healing, expansion, and remembrance. EJ is a musician, educator, ceremonialist, and connector for those seeking plant medicine. As a vocal expression guide, EJ helps others unlock the power of their voice for healing and transformation. EJ also offers small group and private healing retreat experiences, creating sacred spaces for deep exploration and connection.
Find EJ.
https://www.instagram.com/ejkidd/
EJ on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/ej-kidd-246881263/
EJ on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6eEebEFOxBEHsxSXUNU56H?si=_UQdJnhVQrmvo2l9xSQYAw
 
Show Credits
Audio • Luke Bowman
Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic
Photo • Pete Longworth
Graphic Design • Tara Spice
 
Subscribe to KL's newsletter
https://karaleah.com/subscribe/

Poet Laura Sharp on Magick, Spells & Ritual in the World of Poetry

Welcome to the third episode of season 3 of Conversations with Kara-Leah, recorded in my new home - Squamish Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Canada. 
My guest today is poet Laura Sharp.
Laura is a Scottish Poet and Bodyworker living and working in Squamish (Skwxwú7mesh.)  She’s 31 years old and has had as many different jobs, and as many different addresses in as many years.  Her debut book Places You Catch Yourself is a collection of poetry and prose about the never-ending search for home in new places and strangers faces. 
 
Her work has been featured by the Lupine Review, BBC The Social, Speculative Books and most recently Whistler Writers Festival. Hilariously, Laura never wanted to be poet but she has always wanted to understand life deeply and has recently come to learn the two go hand in hand.
Laura & I talk about all the things including:
✨ the allure of the Sea-to-Sky Corridor & how life 'makes sense' here
✨ why she started writing poetry
✨ being haunted by not-enoughness
✨ on writing your way out of suffering
✨ writing as a practice for liberation
✨ her yoga journey & the impact of the lockdown
✨ yin yoga & writing poetry
✨ poetry as a process of listening
✨ why the book finally got published
✨ the power of the next step
✨ self-love of all aspects of being
✨ the power of being vision-led
✨ why she burned the first copy of her book
✨ how she uses poetry to write her life into being
✨ being on the stage at Whistler Writer's Festival four months after publishing
✨ the power of art beyond numbers
✨ the art of surrender
✨ Squamish Poet Next Door's thriving poetry scene
✨ the power of owning your shit & letting it move through you
 
Find Laura here:
https://www.instagram.com/thebreathworkpoet/
https://www.facebook.com/laura.sharp.731
 
Show Credits
Audio • Luke Bowman
Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic
Photo • Pete Longworth
Graphic Design • Tara Spice
 
Subscribe to KL's newsletter
https://karaleah.com/subscribe/

Bhairav Thomas English on the Truth About Kundalinī Awakening & his Guru Initiation

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
 
Subscribe to KL's newsletter
https://karaleah.com/subscribe/

Warren Hooley on the Missing Factor in the Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn Model

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

Adam Robertson on Transformational Festivals, Inclusivity and Safety in NZ

This conversation went to ALL the juicy places - the playful, the painful, the divine, and everything else in between. 
 
We talk about Adam's personal journey with trauma and how he found healing. We get into hot-topic issues around gender, sexuality, identity, and Adam's experiences as a gay man in New Zealand. And we talk about making Transformational Festivals into spaces that are TRULY safe and inclusive because as much as we love these Festivals we also recognise how they could be better. Oh, and there's a bonus twerking lesson in there too! You're welcome.
 
Adam Robertson is a Neurosomatic Facilitator, Public Speaker, Coach, and founder of Twerkwerk.
 
Find Adam here:
 
Website • https://www.adamrobertson.co.nz/
Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/adamtrobertson/
Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/adamtrobertson0
Twerkwerk • https://www.twerkwerknz.com/
 
Credits
 
Audio • Luke Bowman
Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic 
Photo • Pete Longworth
Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Aaron Hendry on Faith, Social Justice & Why Love Is The Way

Aaron Hendry is a Youth Worker, rangatahi advocate, writer, and political commentator on social justice issues. In this episode, we focus on youth homelessness in Aotearoa and how Aaron's Christian faith motivates him to work with the most structurally marginalised people in our society. We also get into personal responsibility vs collective responsibility, ideologies of hate and fear, what it really means to 'be the change', and explore how Love can be the guiding force in our lives. Aaron is incredibly articulate and passionate. I can't recommend this episode enough.
 
Find Aaron here:
 
Substack • https://wlas.substack.com/
Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/a.j.hendry/
Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/aejayhendry
Twitter •  https://twitter.com/AeJayHendry
 
Credits
 
Audio • Luke Bowman
Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic 
Photo • Pete Longworth
Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Lara Charlotte on Plant Medicine, Astrology & Venus Retrograde

Join us for a playful and enlightening exploration of Lara's extensive experience with plants, planets, and prayer.
 
Lara spent over 5 years in full-time training with traditional shamanic plant medicines in the Peruvian Amazon, and she shares with us some of the depth of knowledge of that tradition and the power of plants as allies. Along the way, we talk about multi-dimensional reality, animism, and what it means to live inter-relationally. We also go deep into the current astrological reality, particularly the upcoming Venus retrograde from July 22 - September 3, 2023.
 
For more guidance and support with your Venus retrograde experience, check out Lara's program Heart Alchemy: https://www.pathoftherose.com/heart-alchemy
 
Find Lara here:
 
Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/mythic_muse/
Website • https://www.pathoftherose.com/
 
Credits
 
Audio • Luke Bowman
Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic 
Photo • Pete Longworth
Graphic Design • Tara Spice

BLASE on Embodied Ecstatic Dance & Transformational Festivals

BLASE is an Auckland-based DJ and Embodied Ecstatic dance facilitator known for his diverse, multi-genre music journeys. I've had the delight of dancing to his incredible DJ sets, so I was fascinated to hear about how he found his way to facilitating ecstatic dance experiences in just a couple of short years, and what makes his sets so damn good. We also vibe on our mutual love of transformational festivals and share some tips and tricks on how to get the most out of these powerful containers. Plus there's some inside information on what really goes on in the fashion industry
Find Blase here:
Soundcloud • https://soundcloud.com/user-690668005Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/stephenblase/Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/stephen.blase/
 
 
Credits
 
Audio • Luke Bowman
Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic 
Photo • Pete Longworth
Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Tyran Mowbray on Sex, Masculinity & Being a Tantrik Tradie

A classic Aussie bloke working as a bricklayer, Tyran's been on an incredible journey. There's sex, drugs, bikie gangs, porn addiction, plenty of drama, and an intense downward spiral. All of which led Tyran into deep self-inquiry, a ton of learning and now the work he does today as a men's health and sex coach. We talk all things conscious sexuality and masculinity, including Tyran's experiences with ISTA, polyamory and porn, the importance of brotherhood, and more.
 
Find Tyran here:
 
Website • https://www.tyranmowbray.com/
Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/tyran.mowbray/
Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/TyranMowbray1
 
Credits
 
Audio • Luke Bowman
Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic 
Photo • Pete Longworth
Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Laura-Ellen on The Entrepreneur Journey & Untangling Money Shame

I adored this conversation with Laura-Ellen. Join us for real talk on our experiences with entrepreneurship - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the transformative. We go into burnout, money shame, how we're navigating the current economic downturn, and why sometimes it's beneficial to embrace day jobs and take a break from the hustle.
 
With a deep-rooted passion for sexual wellness and mental health, Laura's focus lies in the regeneration of individuals. She firmly believes that as women rejuvenate their bodies, they bring vibrancy not only to themselves but also to their families, friends, communities, and the entire ecosystem. Her purpose is to revolutionize our approach to sex, shifting away from a porn-centric mindset towards a profound and transcendent pleasure that is accessible to all.
 
Find Laura-Ellen here:
 
Website • https://laura-ellen.com/
Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/_laura_ellen
 
Credits
 
Audio • Luke Bowman
Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic 
Photo • Pete Longworth
Graphic Design • Tara Spice