Conversations with Kara-Leah

Rebecca Gunson on Navigating the ’Spiritual’ vs Mainstream Divide

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 on Transmuting Ancestral Trauma: Turning Poison into Potion

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

Ninakaye Taane-Tinorau on Tinder, Sexuality & Porn

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 de Fossard on Cults, High Demand Groups & Power Dynamics in the Spiritual Community

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

Lauren Hill on Online Bullying & Being Unapologetic

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

Darren Bruce on Unresolved Childhood Sexual Experiences & Emotional Vulnerability in Men

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 on Life after ISTA & The Power of Menopause

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

Harshada on Dealing with Sexual Abuse Scandals in Yoga and Tantra Lineages

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

Dane Tomas on How the New Age has Failed and Who He REALLY Serves (it’s not Lucifer)

This episode was originally recorded in November 2022.
 
Dane is a fascinating human to dialogue with because he's a voracious information consumer, assimilator and systemiser. He looks at human behaviour through a systems lens and sees beyond black and white, good and bad, right and wrong. 
 
He both adores the New Age swamp, as he calls it, and has no qualms calling out its more questionable behaviour - despite being part of the thing he's riffing about.
 
He's been a telemarketer, excelled at leveraging the algorithms on Facebook for organic scaling and selling, and has a knack for predicting what's coming next, and making sure he's ahead of the wave.
 
We talked about scandals in the New Age swamp, including touching on ISTA and his role there, power dynamics and what it means to be an esoteric entrepreneur. Oh - and if he really is a devil-worshipping Satanist. (He's not.)
 
Dane has published seven books, created multiple successful businesses in the healing & personal development industries & mentored thousands of people. He has spent the last 20-plus years deeply studying comparative religion, yoga, embodiment, psychedelics, sexuality, ritual magic, human behaviour, marketing, tantra, trauma & success principles. He is obsessed with the cross-over of spirituality and business and has just started a new podcast called The EE Podcast - The Esoteric Entrepreneur.
 
Find him here.
 
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

Yoga Teacher Kylie Rook on How Completing 1000 Days of Ucchāra Practice Helped Heal Anxiety and More

This episode was originally recorded in October 2022 to celebrate Kylie Rook's successful completion of 1000 Days in a row of Ucchāra Practice.
Kylie attended a Direct Realization Training with Kara-Leah in January 2020, where she learned Ucchāra and made the commitment to show up every day to the practice, no matter what.
And she did it!
We discuss what it was like to keep that commitment, and the results she noticed along the way. 
Kylie is ridiculously qualified to talk about all aspects of the body/mind - she has a Bachelor of Nursing degree and is a Yoga Medicine Registered Therapeutic Specialist. She has also studied extensively in Chinese Medicine, Myofascial Release, Functional Mobility, and Somatics, and has a keen interest in neuroplasticity.
Get ready to geek out on all things body/mind/yoga related!
For more on Kylie, see here.
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