Who Are You Becoming? Candice West on Somatic Healing, Permission Granted & MatchMaker VA

What must you release before you can become the person you know you are meant to be? In this episode of the Discover Virginia Podcast, Joseph sits down with Candice West, somatic practitioner, embodiment facilitator, producer with MatchMaker VA, and bestselling author of Permission Granted: From Who I’ve Been to Who I’m Becoming. Candice helps individuals and groups move out of constant overthinking and reconnect with the wisdom of their bodies. Her work explores what happens when we stop living according to old expectations, acknowledge what is changing within us, and give ourselves permission to evolve. Candice shares the meaning behind one of the central ideas in her book: “To acknowledge your awakening, embrace your truth, and honor your journey of transformation.” She also takes us back to a pivotal experience in the Colorado mountains in 2024 and explains when she realized she was ready to share her story publicly. Together, Joseph and Candice explore the different stages of personal transformation described in her book: The Me Era The Evolution Era The Blooming Era The Self-Renaissance Era Cashing in your permission slip Candice explains the difficult self-evaluation that must happen before real change can begin, the role the body plays in processing our experiences, and what she considers one of the hardest things she has ever had to do. The conversation also goes behind the scenes of MatchMaker VA, a new take on dating culture in Hampton Roads. As an official partner and producer, Candice supports contestants through the emotional realities of the experience, helping create a process that feels more grounded, honest, and human for both the participants and the audience. Candice also previews the Permission Granted Experience, coming to the Sandler Center on September 12, 2026. This episode is for anyone navigating reinvention, questioning an old identity, or trying to understand who they are becoming next.