Curious Hearts

Ep. 36: Tann Cordell-Schneier: The Breath is Everything.Tann and I had never talked explicitly about our spiritual lives, but I have known for a long time how much she listens to the world around her.She has been my primary bodyworker for many years, and her way of practicing is unlike almost any other I have know. Her ability to be still, to listen to the body, and to do less is nearly unparalleled. I always suspected there was a lot more going on behind the scenes than I was told. It’s like there is a silent orchestra in the room as she is working — and her work responding to each note.It should not have surprised me how winding and diverse Tann’s spiritual background is — but somehow, it did. Tann’s willingness to soften, to welcome the moment, to open to breath could only have come from years of letting go, and letting go, and letting go.Embodiment is an essential aspect of spiritual practice. We are not just walking heads. Our bodies and our breath can connect us to G_d as quickly as prayer.This episode is a playful, light, heavy, open exploration of just that. Enjoy.[00:01:39] A Lapsed Rabbi Father & a Jewish Day School[00:12:52] Rehab, the 12 Steps & a Higher Power[00:18:37] The Breath as Connective Thread[00:30:01] A Daily Pranayama Practice[00:49:16] Softening as Spiritual Principle[00:54:54] Getting Comfortable with the Open PathLinks: 🌐 Work with Vera: veralester.com 📅 Book a coaching discovery call: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery 🔗 Connect with Tann: https://www.tanncs.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

I love thinking about meditation as “spiritual showers.”You don’t only shower once. Ideally, you shower every single day. Forever. You don’t shower well enough once that you suddenly are clean forever.That’s how meditation is. That’s how all of our spiritual practices are.The reality of this magical universe is that it is chaotic and unpredictable and random. Chaos births the dancing star, or whatever.We cannot control the universe, we do not need to manage it, but we can manage ourselves. We can tend to our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual states, and keep things in relative order.That order, even in the face of all this chaos, is the greatest example of faith I can imagine.May you find gentle order and subtle peace today.Chapters:[00:01:24] The Vedas and the origin of spiritual order[00:14:02] How we create systems of order — and when they stop helping[00:18:38] "I am not the general manager of the universe"[00:21:52] Physical hygiene as spiritual practice[00:25:28] Caring for mind, heart, and spirit[00:29:28] What it means to keep your channel clearLinks: 🌐 Work with Vera: veralester.com 📅 Book a coaching discovery call: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Conversations with folks like Neel are the reason I started this podcast. I wanted to normalize spiritual life. It’s so much more common to hear people share deeply personal stories — we talk about finances and sex and taxes and death so much more than our grandparents.We were taught not to talk about politics or religion. We talk openly about our politics these days.But somehow, spiritual life is still so private.Religion is complicated -- its need to be right divides us. I believe sharing our spiritual life, our spiritual experiences, while our deeply held spiritual beliefs bring us together.Neel shares one of my favorite meditation truths: we don’t practice to become something we’re not. We practice to let go of all the things that get in the way of who we are meant to be.I’ll say up front: Neel talks fast. It’s a reflection of how fast his mind is.All our minds move so fast. Meditation shows us that, eventually just allowing the mind to rush while we stop trying to catch up. We just let the mind run, and allow ourSelves to rest.My suspicion is that Neel’s urgency and speed are central to his success in starting and growing a business, and allows him to shift and pivot as the technology world does.Meditation allows for all the unnecessary racing to fall away, so that the real urgency of the work — solving problems, serving clients, building teams — can shine. And, clearly, thrive.There’s so much else in this conversation for you — gems about non-attachment, spiritual parenting, and finding and following purpose.So delighted to share this conversation with you. Can’t wait to hear your takeaways and insights.Keep your heart curious and your mind quick,VeraChapters:* [00:02:54] Growing up culturally Hindu in small-town South Carolina* [00:09:42] The path from nihilism to entrepreneurship — and Katrina* [00:16:46] What Neel’s spiritual practice looks like today* [00:24:56] Dharma, karma, and running a business with spiritual principles* [00:33:24] Raising kids with purpose without the pressure* [00:49:33] “Stoic Christian Hindu agnostic” — how Neel defines his faithLinks:🌐 Work with Vera: http://veralester.com 📅 Book a coaching discovery call: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery🔗 Connect with Neel Sus: https://www.instagram.com/neelsus/🔗 Learn more about Susco: https://suscosolutions.com/#CuriousHearts #SpiritualEntrepreneur #HinduPhilosophy #TranscendentalMeditation #Dharma #BhagavadGita #FourAgreements #SpiritualGrowth #MindfulLeadership #MeaningfulWork #SpiritualPractice #ImmigrantStory #SpiritualParenting #PersonalDevelopment #VeraLester #NeelSus #SpiritualPodcast #MantraMediation #ConsciousLeadership #StoicPhilosophy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

One of the greatest gifts of my work is the people: they’re people doing extraordinary work who are committed to their own growth. Sierra is no different — but in additional to all of that, I feel eternally humbled that she trusts me.I officiated Sierra’s wedding at Congo Square in New Orleans. If you don’t know Congo Square, you should: it’s the birthplace of all American music. Enslaved Africans had one day off a week on Sundays, and it was there in Congo Square that they gathered to sign, dance, and feel the freedom in their spirits. Those rhythms blended with Carribean and Latin American sound to eventually inform Jazz, the Blues, and what we now call Rock’n’Roll and Hip Hop. All of it.The music matters to me, because of how those beats and voices carried forward ancestral wisdom, grief, and hope. The energy in Armstrong Park, just across Rampart Street from the French Quarter, is palpable. I was not sure it was appropriate for me - a white lady born in Virginia - to interface with those energies, but Sierra trusted me. That was the beginning of our incredible collaborative work - which we talk a little more about in this episode. Dr. Austin-King is an expert in Black feminist thought, and brings it down to earth in her everyday life.This is an episode about how to stay connected to the generations that came before us, and how to wisely navigate the world for the future generations. I especially loved hearing from Sierra about how she’s teaching her kids about a spiritual life that is grounded in family history.This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.* 00:00:25] Introducing Dr. Sierra Austin-King* [00:05:45] Growing up: folk traditions, ancestral altars & Catholic school* [00:13:50] What Sierra’s spiritual practice looks like today* [00:21:14] Rest as birthright & the body as ancestral altar* [00:24:56] The spiritual principles guiding her right now* [00:34:23] What healing actually feels like — and why it’s hard This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back, curious hearts! Thanks for your patience with me during my Mardi Gras hiatus. These are high holidays for me, and the energy of costume making and celebration really takes over. And then recovering and getting back to “normal life” is its own effort.I seriously considered recording a whole episode about making my costume — including how I choose the theme, what I learned while I was making it, and what it’s like to be out on Mardi Gras dressed as a giant Wild Thing. If that’s something you’d like, let me know in the comments!This week’s episode covers one of the most challenging paradoxes there is in a spiritual world, and I think we rarely talk about it.I think most folks with a deep spiritual practice are ashamed of their doubt. They think it’s evidence of their inadequacy, and often are trying to eliminate it.What if there’s no God, and prayer is just me talking to myself in the middle of the night? What if this murti is just a statue? What if meditation is just settling our nervous system, and it’s nothing more complicated than that?Before I set on this path, I thought I just “wasn’t spiritual.” Other people believed, and I didn’t. It was black and white. I was jealous of the people who had faith, but I wasn’t one of them.Then, life stepped in. I had no choice but to make a decision to believe. It doesn’t mean my faith is unwavering. I have doubt all the time. And now, honestly? I don’t trust people who pretend like they don’t.Once we make friends with our doubts, things change. Our faith is no longer about “getting it right,” or being the perfect practitioner. Instead, it’s about fumbling through, with compassion and curiosity for ourselves and the Divine.I hope you enjoy this episode, and I’m curious your thoughts![00:00:03] Introduction[00:00:24] Faith vs. belief — what's the difference[00:05:07] Why humans cling to certainty[00:07:05] When certainty falls apart: Hurricane Katrina[00:08:46] Faith as a choice, not a feeling[00:15:39] Faith requires doubt — not the absence of it🌐 Work with me: veralester.com 📅 Book a coaching discovery call: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery📸 instagram.com/verarocks #CuriousHearts #FaithAndDoubt #SpiritualPractice #SpiritualGrowth #MindfulLiving #YogaTeacher #SpiritualCoaching #MeaningfulWork #PersonalDevelopment #IntuitiveGuidance #SpiritualPath #FaithJourney #SelfDiscovery #ConsciousLiving #MindBodySpirit #SpiritualPodcast #VeraLester #HurricaneKatrina #InnerWisdom #SoulWork This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

My aspiration in the interview episodes of Curious Hearts is to reflect the extraordinary diversity of human spiritual life. Our internal worlds are the closest understanding we have of the Divine: vast, extraordinary, and always inspiring. No wonder we’re so curious.The magic of this conversation with Sam Reynolds is that his personal spiritual journey is a microcosm of how much is available to us when we follow our hearts — from boxer to childhood preacher, from radical atheist to dedicated Muslim, from strategic skeptic to visionary astrologer. These adjectives can only skim the surface of our conversation, which I know you’ll enjoy.I was introduced to Sam at the the Northwest Astrology Conference in May of 2020, where he gave a keynote about the power of astrology in those radical shifting times to connect us to each other and to ourselves. He was so inspiring, I immediately registered to study with him, and have been honored to call him friend since.You’ll hear in our conversation what a skilled teacher he is and why he was a preacher — his language is vivid, detailed, and makes you think deeply. We also talk about the mythic quality of astrology, our responsibilities to being in righteous community, and how he’s making sense of his spiritual life these days. He surprised me!This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.00:00 – Introduction to Sam Reynolds03:00 – Childhood faith, church, and early mysticism08:00 – Atheism, conversion, and becoming a child minister14:30 – Leaving the ministry and the loss of certainty22:00 – Black nationalism and intellectual searching27:30 – Astrology as a spiritual turning point34:30 – Traditional astrology, Kabbalah, and study41:30 – Islam, practice, and eventual departure49:00 – Ancestral veneration and a spirituality beyond dogmaConnect with SamIf you’d like to learn more about Sam’s take on astrology, be sure to sign up for his newsletter and keep and eye out for his upcoming classes — both in person and online. He’s an excellent teacher and I really appreciate how he holds that space.You can find everything you need at: https://www.unlockastrology.com/Work with MeIf you’re craving support on your spiritual path or seeking more meaning in your work, you can explore ways to work with me at veralester.as.me/Coaching-Discovery.You can also reach out directly at [email protected] or connect with me on Substack.#CuriousHearts #SpiritualJourney #AstrologyPodcast #SamReynolds #FaithAndDoubt #SpiritualPractice #Astrology #AncestralVeneration #Mysticism #Humanism #ReligionAndSpirituality #SpiritualPodcast #MeaningMaking #LivingTheQuestions This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I reflect on the practice of self-study and why it matters so much in moments of cultural upheaval, confusion, and pain. When the world feels overwhelming, it is tempting to turn all our attention outward. But lasting change asks something deeper of us. It asks us to look inward with honesty, curiosity, and care.I explore self-study as a spiritual practice found across traditions, from yoga and meditation to Christianity and 12-step communities. I talk about svadhyaya, the yoga practice of self-reflection, and why self-study only becomes helpful when it is grounded in witnessing rather than self-blame or self-improvement.We begin with the body, because we all have one. Through breath, movement, journaling, and reflection, the body becomes a living curriculum for understanding how we’ve been shaped, where we get stuck, and where freedom is possible. When practiced with curiosity and compassion, self-study becomes a way of relating more honestly to ourselves, to one another, and to the mystery that made us.This episode is an invitation to slow down, notice your patterns, and stay present with what you find without judgment. Self-discovery, practiced over time and in community, can be a quiet and powerful form of devotion.Chapters00:00 Opening reflections and why self-study matters right now03:58 What self-study is and why it needs a foundation of witnessing06:12 Self-examination across spiritual traditions08:55 Svadhyaya, yoga, and the role of disciplined practice11:36 Self-study in relationship and community16:27 The body as curriculum for self-discovery21:10 What’s coming next for Curious HeartsWork with meIf you’re craving support on your spiritual path or seeking more meaning in your work, you can explore ways to work with me at veralester.com.You can also reach out directly at hello AT veralester.com or connect with me on Substack.#CuriousHearts #SelfStudy #Svadhyaya #SpiritualPractice #Embodiment #SelfReflection #YogaPhilosophy #ConsciousLiving #InnerWork This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

In many ways, Seán is the reason Curious Hearts exists. He was my first yoga teacher, and he led my teacher training, and has been a mentor and now a friend for many years. His commitment to anti-dogmatic practice is imprinted on everything I do, and without that north star, I would not be doing what I do today.In this episode, Seán and I talk about singing a lot. Like, a lot. Kirtan — the traditional Indian practice of singing the divine names of God — and it’s American spin-offs have been central to my personal practice for years.“The soul is in the voice,” is a quote I heard years ago on On Being with Krista Tippett. And that has been my experience. The voice is a pathway to Spirit, and our spirit, faster than almost anything else I know.It would be impossible for us to have this conversation without talking about grief. Seán has known too much of it, but his take on how it creates a deeper inner-space was tremendously soothing for me to hear.If you’ve ever practiced with Seán, you know he’ll often leave you thinking for a while after class about just one tiny thing he said. This interview is no different.I hope you enjoy!00:00 Welcome and Sean’s spiritual roots03:00 Growing up anti-dogma and wary of spiritual authority10:00 Love, heartbreak, and choosing a heart-led life18:30 Discovering yoga, Bhakti, and creative healing24:45 Singing as a spiritual practice31:30 Grief, loss, and the expansion of the inner life41:00 Aging, seasoning, and earned wisdom49:00 Voice, vulnerability, and communal singing57:00 Devotion as a lifelong experimentConnect with Seán:If you’ve never had the pleasure of singing with Seán and the band, check out their website to get a taste: https://seanjohnsonandthewildlotusband.com/Read more about his teaching and explore the Asheville Yoga Center: https://youryoga.com/blog/teacher-feature-sean-johnson/Get jealous of the line-up at the Ayurprana Listening Room: https://ayurpranalisteningroom.com/Or explore the courses at Ayurprana Plus: https://liveayurprana.com/Connect with me:If you’re curious about Kirtan or practicing Bhakti yoga, I’d love to have you in class anytime. Kirtan is the first Monday of every month, and you can see my class schedule at Wild Lotus Yoga: https://wildlotusyoga.com/If you’re yearning for more meaningful work, I’d love to help you find it. When our outer life is in sync with our inner life, it’s a truly magical experience. I believe each of us have a Divine Call, and I’d love to help you hear and follow it. Find a time to chat here: https://veralester.as.me/Coaching-DiscoveryIf you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe! Rate the podcast, or share it with a friend. Your support and participation is essential to Curious Hearts, and I'm so grateful for it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

My concept of the Divine and my relationship with It has changed over the years. As I grow and change, how I understand this vast unknowable mystery also changes.This is one of many places where religion and spirituality diverge. In our current world, I am aware of how risky it is to say that we cannot know God. Our limited human brains cannot fully fathom the unlimited immensity of Divine Power.Paradoxically, when we admit and accept our human limitations, our relationship with the Divine can expand exponentially. We not longer are restricted to one face, one definition, or one path to know the Infinite.In this episode, I’m exploring one of my favorite spiritual puzzles: is there one infinite divinity? Or an infinity number of divinities?Have thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Feel free to comment, reply, or contact me privately at [email protected] someone who’d benefit from this episode? Share it!Chapters00:00 Welcome and why this conversation feels tender02:30 God as mystery, not certainty05:50 A childhood parable about many paths09:40 From one God to many 15:00 Infinite divinities and being held22:30 Living inside the questionsWork with MeIf you’re craving support on your spiritual path or feeling called to more meaningful work, you can explore ways to work with me at veralester.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

I met Michelle Cassandra Johnson through her anti-racist work for yoga studios, and have had the privilege to work with her over the years as her work as evolved — including doing deep grief work, ancestral work, and watching as she has developed a deep spiritual relationship with her beehives.This conversation is gem, just like Michelle. We talk about the relationships built with our ancestors, and how important their protection and guidance is for both of us in this wild world. She shares about how she started working with the bees, and everything they teach us about community care and interconnectedness.What I can’t convey is the energy of sitting with Michelle. It comes through some in this recording, but if you can be with her in person — I highly recommend it. Her mixture of depth, groundedness, ethereal magic, and a spiritual lightheartedness is not to be missed.Chapters00:00 Welcome and setting the container04:50 Growing up in the Black Baptist church12:55 Devotion, questions, and spiritual lineage23:10 Yoga, order, and discernment in chaotic times41:20 Mary Magdalene, refuge, and non-ordinary reality47:30 Bees, collective care, and tending the hiveThanks for listening! Share this with your feed if you enjoy our conversation:Connect with Michelle:You can learn more about Michelle Cassandra Johnson and her work as a writer, teacher, and spiritual guide at michellecjohnson.com. Peep her calendar to see if she’ll be near you soon.More about Curious Hearts:I’m cooking up a community that fall be under the Curious Hearts umbrella, launching later this spring of 2026. If you want to hear more, just click here: https://mailchi.mp/veralester/curious-hearts This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

This is a quick episode because there isn’t must to say: instead, it’s time to DO.If you’re at home, find a blank piece of paper and some colored pencils or crayons. Or open the cabinet and cook something without a recipe. Make up a new song. Write a poem.Your access to creating something is the connection to your inner spark of the divine. That magic is available to you anytime, anywhere. Just begin.Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.I hope your holidays are bright and restful, and I’ll see you on the other side. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

One of the gifts of my work is getting to connect with other deep thinkers and feelers about the nature of the divine.What is “god?” When that word gets stuck in my throat, why is it getting stuck? What is our calling as divine beings in these human vessels? What do we owe each other?I think Court and I visited a lot of these topics in the course of our conversation. I love that I was deep in Swampy Louisiana, while he is up in Expansive Montana. Our backgrounds and lived experience are quite different — but I learned a lot about faith and practice in this conversation.My biggest take away? “Jesus broke bread with Judas, too.”I’m curious: What’s your biggest takeaway from this conversation?Connect with Court🔗 Website: https://www.campcounselorcourt.com📬 Newsletter: https://www.campcounselorcourt.com/#newsletter📸 Instagram: @campcounselor.court🌱 Patreon (free and paid tiers): https://www.patreon.com/cw/CampCounselorCourtWork with MeAs we move into the Winter Solstice, I hope you have time to pause and reflect.My 2026: A Year of Intention workshop is waiting for you on January 11. Get more details here: https://wildlotusyoga.com/event/a-year-of-intention-workshop/If you’re craving support on your own spiritual path, or feeling called to explore meaningful work, or deeper alignment in your life, schedule a chat with me: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

This episode marks six months of Curious Hearts. It’s become a welcome ritual for me, even in the months where it has felt harder to get my thoughts together. This episode is one that I tripped over a few times before I could get it recorded. To me, this principle is both essential and challenging. It is, perhaps, the first principle I’ve shared so far that might feel more challenging that comforting. In order to have a rich and deep spiritual life, we must be willing to lean into the discomfort sometimes. The idea that “there is only one of us” has the potential to bring us great relief and ease. When I apply this principle to my business life, it takes all the sting out of rejection and frees me from fear in risk taking. In my personal life, it’s a constant reminder to hold everyone close — because how I treat everyone else is how I treat myself.As we enter into the holidays, I hope you will offer more patience and generosity to everyone around you — including, and especially, yourself.00:00 Welcome and why unity matters03:52 How we treat ourselves and others07:11 There is only one of us09:12 Jung, yoga, and shared consciousness21:03 Unity without losing individuality33:14 Compassion, accountability, and healingI am offering my New Year’s workshop again in 2026 — on January 11, 2026 we’ll design A Year of Intention. Check out more and register here: https://wildlotusyoga.com/event/a-year-of-intention-workshop/As your year comes to a close, if you are finding yourself longing for a fuller life —professionally or spiritually — I’d love to help. Find some time at veralester.as.me/Coaching-Discovery.#curioushearts #unity #spiritualpractice #interconnection #collectivehealing #innerwork This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Paige and I met at a workshop, and we were instant kin. She has a kind of grounded magic to her, a realness, on top of decades of yoga practice.I had the privilege of sitting by her side weeks after her husband died, and talking about the complications of grief. We could talk about how all our old practices had lost their juice, and how grief stripped us of what we knew.In this episode, we talk a little about that grief — but mostly about how House of Blues led her to yoga, how nature is the best and clearest teacher, and the medicine of ritual.Watching Paige evolve over the last few years inspires me, and I think this episode will inspire you. Her grounded presence is a gift, and I’m delighted to share it.Connect with Paige📸 https://www.instagram.com/pbp.writer/🕉️ https://www.dayayogashala.com/Work With Vera2026 is around the corner. I’m leading a mini-retreat at on January 11 called 2026: A Year of Intention. Find out more: https://wildlotusyoga.com/event/a-year-of-intention-workshop/If you’re searching for meaning, craving spiritual grounding, or navigating a transition of your own, schedule a time to connect: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery.📸 https://www.instagram.com/verarocks.Want to support this work? Leave a review of the podcast, and share it with someone you think needs to hear it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is an exploration of the spiritual powers of gratitude, and why it’s archetypal across so many traditions — as a strong suggestion if not a requirement.May your day be full of reminders to feel grateful for everything you might otherwise take for granted, and may your gratefulness reflect itself into how you view yourself and the world.If this posts resonates, I invite you to share with someone you’re grateful for today:In this episode we explore:• Why gratitude shows up in every spiritual lineage• How gratitude regulates the nervous system• The difference between saying “thank you” and feeling thankful• How gratitude makes space around grief, heartbreak, and personal disasters• The “advanced practice” of being grateful for what didn’t work out• A guided meditation for connecting with the felt sense of gratitudeWhether you observe Thanksgiving or not, this is an invitation to step into the deeper layers of gratitude—not as a remedy, but as a way of being present with your life.Resources mentioned:• Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott• The Science of Gratitude, a well sourced white paper about the study of gratitude, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, produced by the Greater Good Science Center at BerkeleyWork with meIf you’re seeking support on your spiritual path or wanting to find meaning in your work, you’ll find ways to connect with me at veralester.as.me/Coaching-Discovery.If this episode resonates:Follow the show • Leave a review • Share it with someone who may need it.Your presence here matters. Keep turning towards meaning. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is full of full-belly laughs and deep conversations about spirit and just how hard it is to be in the world right now. I am honored to call Reverend jessica young chang a dear friend, and I am so excited to share this conversation with you.There’s nothing else to say about it besides — you need to listen to this. I think I will need to listen and re-listen to it many times in the coming months.Things we talked about* Jessica’s essay on being a Black woman in a yoga class, Open Letter to my (white) yoga teacher: https://www.adevotedyogi.com/blog-1/2017/11/17/open-letter-to-my-white-yoga-teacher* Chicago Women’s Health Center* Tejas Yoga, Chicago* A People’s History of Christianity by Diana Bass* The Barmen DeclarationConnect with Rev. jessica young chang:* Instagram: @revjessyc* Website: https://www.adevotedyogi.com/If you’re in Columbus, go visit her at https://www.first-church.org/To connect with Vera:* Schedule an inquiry: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery* Read more: veralester.com* or send me a message 💌Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

To get to my own spiritual path, I first had to clear away the overgrowth of my brain. I am a smart person, but I was also raised by parents who valued education. I am incredibly grateful for that, and I still find a tremendous joy in learning new things and wrestling with complicated concepts.But one of the side effects of my rigorous academic upbringing was my reliance on logic and rationality to meet every challenge and solve every problem. It worked really well, until it didn’t.So much of my personal and spiritual growth has been about unlearning my reliance on intellect, and learning new ways to connect, understand, and grow.Paradox is the fastest way through the intellectual brambles to my wisdom path.In this episode, I share the definitely of paradox, along with a few personal and universal examples. (Hint: if you’ve ever fallen in love, you understand paradox.) I also explain why I value paradox so much that I include it in my 12 core spiritual principles.Are you enjoying Curious Hearts? Why not share it:Mentions & References* Laura Lundgren’s review) Madeline L’Engle* Becca Rich (ep. 2 of Curious Hearts)* Douglas Brooks (tantric philosophy, sammelana)* Ramana Maharshi (the thief and the policeman)* Rumi (“out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field.”)* Flatland by Edwin AbbottThank youIf you’re craving spiritual guidance or looking for more meaning in your work, reach out, or find ways to work with me at veralester.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Matt Candler is one of my favorite kinds of people. He’s humble. He’s funny. And he’s not willing to change paths.One of the hardest things for each of us to learn in the course of our lives is the way we used to do things isn’t the best way anymore. We often wrestle with the guilt of our old misunderstandings, or we feel that “sunk cost fallacy” in all the time or energy we spent in something that no longer fits us.It takes tremendous courage to change.When reviewing this episode, that’s the thing I think we all can learn from Matt’s example. His humility is palpable — understanding the heavy weight of his privilege, and constantly seeking out folks with a different experience to continue to learn from.When he ran 4.0 schools, I was always impressed by how much he looked to other business models and organizational styles to inform education. “We’ve always done it this way,” is a poor excuse, and he built an organization that is constantly challenging us to be better adults for the children in schools.And when he burnt out of running a nonprofit (because who doesn’t?), he didn’t double down and force anything. He built a gracious transition, and shifted into his latest joy: electrifying everything.I hope in this conversation you’ll hear how humor and humility overlap, and take away the great gifts of an active practice of compassion.Stay curious.Chapters00:00 — Welcome & introduction02:00 — Growing up Presbyterian and performing spirituality10:30 — Family legacy and emotional inheritance16:00 — Leaving conservative faith for inclusive community19:20 — Creating a modern spiritual practice24:30 — Loneliness, creativity, and finding joy again31:00 — Parenting, presence, and play as spiritual work39:00 — Compassion meditation and forgiveness45:00 — “Like me” awareness: seeing our shared humanity55:00 — God as the space between us Referenced Concepts & Resources* Hebrews 12:1 — “Surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…”* Lovingkindness by Sharon Salzberg* Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) — Stanford University* Dieter Rams — Less but better* Walt Whitman — “I am large, I contain multitudes.”* Flatland by Edwin Abbott — on geometry and spirituality* Artwork by Nic Aziz — @nicoelganso/Connect with Vera LesterLearn more or work with me → veralester.comSchedule a coaching inquiry → https://veralester.as.me/Coaching-DiscoveryFollow on Instagram → @verarocksSubscribe to Curious Hearts wherever you listen.If this episode resonates, please share it or leave a review — it helps other curious hearts find the show. 💛 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

It took me all week to record this episode.The form and the content of this work are often the same. I often find that I live out these episodes for a week at a time before I can sit down to record. Recording an episode about Courage required courage.In many ways, this episode is a distillation of why this project is so important to me, and why I needed to share Curious Hearts with you.I need to be reminded of the ways that I let my doubts and fears get in the way of the life I really want. And how often those fears are just fear of the unknown. What I have learned in following my own spiritual path is that it has often led me to places I never expected - or even imagined.And even fantastic unknown things are still unknown. In order to step out of the safety of our mundane prison, we must find courage.The practice of courage is more important today than it has ever been in my life. The threats and the fears are more real than they have ever been. So developing this skill is more essential than even.With desire and fear, wrapped together, I send you love. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

In May of 2022, I took a leap of faith and traveled across the country to the Northwest Astrology Conference. I’m grateful for so much of what I learned in that journey, but perhaps most grateful for meeting my new friend Bear Hickman.Bear is an esoteric healer, astrologer, and psychotherapist with her feet solidly on the ground yet her magic is in full view. There is no shortage of f-bombs in this conversation, and we talk about grace, astrology, recovery, and mastectomies… and so much more.This fierce vulnerability is probably what drew me to her in that elevator, and I am so delighted to share our conversation with y’all.Some highlights:✨ The link between addiction, creativity, and spiritual seeking✨ How to recognize and move through spiritual bypassing✨ The sacredness of the body and the power of pleasure✨ How humor and beauty can become spiritual practice✨ What to do when your life falls apart — and how to trust what comes next.We mentioned:* Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism by Chögyam Trungpa* John Welwood — “spiritual bypassing”* Existential Kink by Carolyn Elliott* Pleasure Activism by adrienne maree brownAbout Bear Hickman:Bear (Lauren K. Hickman) is a licensed clinical social worker associate, longtime astrologer, and Reiki teacher. Through Ursidae Integrative Therapy and her Moon Mailer, she helps clients connect the spiritual and the psychological with compassion and humor.🌙 Website: https://ursidae.us/🪐 Substack: ursidae.substack.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ursidae____/Connect with Vera💫 Website: veralester.com✨ Schedule a coaching inquiry: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery🕯️ Support the podcast: https://veralester.substack.com/subscribe📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verarocks/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

St. Theresa of Avila calls it the “Interior Palace.” Rumi talks about the treasure buried underneath our own house.It’s a truth that we’ve been fighting for centuries: you can’t buy this. No one sell it to you, and there’s no easy fix. The treasure you’re seeking is inside.What you’re looking for is already here, and you already have everything you need to find it. That’s the good news, and the bad news.It would be easier if just one more training, certification, book about meditation, or podcast had the secret to what you seek. None of them do. Not even this one.We all need teachers, and guides, and community. We need to get skilled at working with our golden raw materials. But never let that get confused: you already have it. It’s nothing other than you.If you’ve ever felt like you’re not enough, or that joy and fulfillment are always “out there,” this episode offers a reminder: the treasure has been inside you all along. ⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Do we already have everything we need?02:00 – Yoga philosophy & the true self (Atman)09:45 – Rumi, St. Teresa & the treasure within16:00 – Consumer culture & the illusion of “not enough”22:00 – The inner pull as divine guidance24:30 – Spiritual practices to peel away what’s not true28:40 – Becoming whole & self-possessed🙏 If this episode resonates, please like, subscribe, and share with someone on their spiritual path.🔗 Explore coaching + classes: veralester.comAnd in the meantime, take excellent care.#spiritualawakening #selfdiscovery #innerwork #yogaphilosophy #RumiQuotes #spiritualgrowth This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

This episode was a big deal for me: it was the first time I interviewed someone I had never met before. I launched Curious Hearts to learn how people from all backgrounds, walks of life, and beliefs live a spiritual life. To me, it is especially important to talk to people I don’t know — because they are more likely to have a different experience than I do.In this episode, Lee and I had a wide-ranging conversation about traveling, building community, and being willing to be uncomfortable. Lee shares how his early exposure to Catholicism, Episcopalian traditions, Judaism, and even the influence of the Seneca Tribe shaped his understanding of faith and belonging.We talk about what it means to be “watched” versus “watched over,” the importance of community and mentorship, and the ways our ancestors and spiritual practices support us when life gets difficult. Lee also reflects on his years living and working in Asia, where Eastern philosophy, Buddhism, and even daily prayer rituals deepened his perspective.From Marcus Aurelius to Howard Thurman, from quiet prayer to outdoor adventures, Lee reminds us that self-actualization and spiritual growth often come through leaning into discomfort, building authentic community, and practicing forgiveness with ourselves first.✨ If this conversation resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend.🌐 Learn more about my work at veralester.com📩 Coaching inquiry form: veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery📸 Connect on Instagram: @verarocks This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

In a world that is clamoring and competing for your precious attention, learning to direct and re-direct our attention is a powerful skills. In an “attention economy,” your focus is the currency. Are you spending it wisely?Like most things other that are simple and powerful, mastering our attention is not easy.But learning to redirect our focus when it’s been hijacked is at the core of every other thing we want to achieve. This is the only part of your consciousness I believe you can have near full control over.In this episode, we use breath as a point of focus. There’s a brief meditation practice at about 20:00. Please feel free to skip right to that, and use it as an anchor for your practice this week.At the end of the episode, I share one of my favorite practices that I give my coaching clients. It’s a powerful way to re-shape how you see yourself and your whole life.00:00 – Welcome & why attention matters02:50 – Attention as currency in today’s world07:30 – A personal story: shifting focus after yoga teacher training15:05 – The yoga teachings of dharana, dhyana, and samadhi20:36 – Guided breath meditation + reflectionsECLIPSE SEASON SPECIALI have a special Eclipse Season offer, only available until September 22! $108 for a one hour consult.We can:☑ Strategize how to use these eclipses as a catalyst for your growth☑ Re-evaluate or shift your plans for the coming season so you’re prepared for changes☑ Look at your ancestral lineage, and create a veneration ritual for deeper connection☑ Get into nuts & bolts of how the eclipses are hitting your chart…☑ Or maybe you want some one-on-one guidance about learning how to harness your attention, without sticking your head in the sand?Find a time here: https://veralester.as.me/eclipseP.S. This offer is only available in the eclipse window from 9/8-9/22, but you can schedule your session after the 22nd.In the meantime, take great care of yourself, and keep leaning into your curiosity. All my love,Vera This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Thirteen years ago, I sat at the Downtown Wild Lotus Yoga studio, deep in the Marigny, to listen to an information session about a yoga teacher training.My boyfriend at the time joked that we should “weld me up a tall bike.” I was used to being CBD-downtown, not downtown-downtown. To say I was out of my element was an understatement.I got there, and was surprised how beautiful and warm the studio was. I found a blanket seat, and a couple rows ahead I saw it: a Rattail. I sooo did not belong here with these tattooed, rattailed punks. It turns out that rattail belonged to today’s guest, who has become one of my dearest friends, and favorite people on the planet. Our friendship is a testament to never judging a book by its cover, and always being willing to be surprised. It turns out: I did belong. And so did they.I am a better person for knowing Bear, and I think you will be better after having listened to this episode.We talked about finding and losing Jesus, the petulance of adolescence, and the profound maturity required to be Who You Are, in spite of everything. Also: Plants. Bear is the Plant Witch, and I am the Animal Witch. We are kindred, they are a gift, and that I know for sure. Enjoy.Books & Authors Mentioned* Ibram X. Kendi — Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America* Robin Wall Kimmerer — Braiding Sweetgrass* Eduardo Galeano — We Say No * bell hooks — if you’re new to bell hooks, start with All About Love: New Visions* James Baldwin — writings on truth, liberation, and the possibility of a better future. Bear’s Essay about leaving yoga is here: https://bearteachesyoga.org/blog/2018/10/18/a-letter-to-my-yoga-studentsConnect with Bear: @bearhebert_ on Instagram, or https://www.bearcoaches.com/If you loved today’s episode, would you share it with one person you think will enjoy it? I need your help to spread the good word. It’s also helpful if you comment on Substack, or rate the show wherever you’re listening.I am available for Meaningful Work Coaching and Spiritual Coaching — to help you be Who You Are all the time. Find out more at http://veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery.Take great care, Curious Hearts, and we’ll see you soon. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

“The divine is in the space between us.”The lessons of community have been so much harder for me than I think they should be. If many hands make light work, then why is it so hard to reach out for help? Do I really want to work so hard all the time?Being with other people doesn’t always feel “light,” and our modern lives make isolation very tempting. We have to choose to being with others most of the time, and the veil of modernity fools us into think we’re doing it All By Ourselves.Spiritual life is the same. It’s tempting to go into the cave, sit and meditate, and arrive at a place where we no longer need anyone or anything. Because then we can never be hurt.Unfortunately, that’s not how life works. This episode is partly a reminder to myself — and a gentle nudge to you — to reach out. I talk about the people you’ll meet on the path, and how they support our development and why it’s so necessary.Isolation is tempting. But it’s a trick. Let’s go, together. Thanks for listening. If this conversation stirred something in you, I’d love to hear it. You can share your reflections or questions in the comments on Substack, or send me a note directly.Want more ways to connect?* Subscribe to this podcast on Apple or Spotify so you don’t miss an episode.* Leave a review or a comment to help other folks find Curious Hearts.* Follow me on Instagram @verarocks for daily reflections and behind-the-scenes.* Curious about coaching? Learn more or schedule a discovery call at veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery.And if you think a friend might need this episode, pass it along — that’s how this circle of listeners grows.Until next time, may you find ease and peace in every breath. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Isabelle Guzman is a medicine woman, an artist, a dancer, a photographer, and a retired body worker. Our spiritual paths have crossed and interwoven for years, and I’m so delighted to share this conversation with you.A lot of Isabelle’s work focuses on celebration of the magic in every day life, but also on creating the freedom we’re all seeking.We talk about her background growing up across and between traditions, her studies with a Mayan traditional healer, and her aim to be astonished in every moment.I was especially honored that Isabelle shared her story of sobriety with us — and partially because of that, and by her request, I will not be sharing any video from this interview. Because consent is love.00:00 - Welcoming Isabelle01:40 - Isabelle's Early Spiritual Journey20:19 - Discovering Herbalism and Studying in Belize34:03 - Transitioning to a New Chapter38:20 - The Impact of 12-Step Programs42:31 - Embracing Spiritual Practices and Community🕊️ #SpiritualPractice #CreativityAndFaith #EverydaySacred #LivingTheQuestions #HealingThroughArt→ Subscribe for more conversations on meaning and spirit.→ Learn more or work with me: www.veralester.com→ Follow along: @verarocks or @curiousheartspod This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Listening is as sacred a spiritual practice as anything else I know. It gives us a framework for how to witness the world without needing to act immediately, training us to be responsive and not reactive. It’s also a direct portal into deep appreciation of everything that already here for us — you’ll never be bored again. Listening practice is one of the ways we train ourselves to be “more sensitive, but less affected.”And it is the essential skill for deep relationships; with ourselves, our loves, and the mystery.00:00 — Welcome and Why Listening is Powerful20:40 — Skip to Practice 30:57 — Reflection on the Practice39:49 — Bonus: City Park SoundscapeOnce you get the hang of this practice, it’s a friend you can rely on anytime, and anywhere. Let me know how it goes for you — and as always, if I can be of service, shoot me a message or visit me at www.veralester.com.#Listening #ListeningPractice #SpiritualPractice #DeeperConnection #Mindfulness #CuriousHearts This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Like many of my guests, Priya is a bit of a paradox: she is both pipeline engineer and a bhatki yoga teacher, an energy business executive and Vedic astrologer. She describes her own childhood spiritual life as “chaotic” and “unorthodox.” Growing us as the child of Bengali immigrants, she had neither a traditional American experience nor a traditional Indian one.What she did have was initiation into a bhakti tradition from birth — her grandmother singing the Hanuman Chalisa, gathering in friends houses for puja as a kid, to now leading kirtan and teaching bhakti in her own unique way.In this conversation, we talk about our personal experiences with Neem Karoli Baba and Hanuman, how prayer contributed to her sisters miraculous recovery, and how bhakti might be treatment for C-PTSD. I hope you enjoy this exploration of practices! Have questions about anything we talked about? I’d love to hear.⏱️ Chapters 00:00 - Welcome + Priya’s magical path 01:45 - Growing up in a puja-filled household 06:30 - Science, spirituality, and the bhakti path 10:00 - Bhakti yoga as nervous system healing 14:30 - Feeding people as sacred practice 18:00 - Divine love, lineage, and Neem Karoli Baba 33:00 - Surrender and miracles 35:00 - Community prayer and Priya’s sister’s healing—🕊️ #BhaktiYoga #DivineFeminine #SpiritualHealing #Hanuman #PujaPractice #ComplexPTSD #SacredCommunity #FindingMeaning #NeemKaroliBaba #Chalisa #HanumanChalisa #miracles→ Subscribe for more conversations with spiritual seekers, teachers, and mystics. → Learn more or work with me: www.veralester.comThis Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for listening! Want to help me grow? Share with someone you think would appreciate this conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

🌀 Making Meaning is more than a spiritual principle — it might be the spiritual principle. In this episode, we dive into the human instinct to ask, “Why am I here?” and trace how our stories — inherited, imagined, and evolving — shape our personal purpose, and how our meaning shapes our choices along the path.From existential dread to ancestral discovery, from societal myth-making to the quiet clarity of practice, this episode explores how meaning is not something we find, but something we make. I share personal stories, spiritual perspectives, and gentle invitations to look at the narratives that have shaped you — and how they might shift.Whether you're in a moment of certainty or deep confusion, this episode is a gentle hand on your back and a reminder: meaning doesn’t stay the same. It’s a relationship with mystery — one we return to again and again with our curious hearts.If you're in the thick of the questions right now, you're not alone. Come sit with me.00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast00:28 The Innate Human Curiosity05:38 The Power of Stories in Human Connection12:52 Personal Stories and Family Narratives32:15 Spiritual Practice and Meaning MakingThe books and references I mentioned:* Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Hararihttps://www.ynharari.com/book/sapiens-2/* The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell* Brene Brown - https://brenebrown.com/ And if you or someone you love is craving support on your spiritual path or seeking meaningful work, find ways to work with me at veralester.com. To schedule a coaching inquiry, visit http://veralester.as.me/coaching-discovery.Until next time,  stay grounded in your curiosity and keep turning towards what matters. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back, curious hearts —This week’s episode is a tender, smart, and surprisingly funny conversation with my longtime friend Sam Brandao — a law professor, musician, and someone I’ve known since we were awkward, opinionated teenagers trying to make sense of the world. (Spoiler alert: we're still trying.)Sam is one of those people who might surprise people with the depth of his spiritual life — which is exactly why I wanted to talk to him. On the surface, he’s a rational, level-headed law professor. He only goes to church so he can play the organ. But beneath that? He’s someone who has been asking the same questions we all are:What do I actually believe?Can anything be trusted?What does practice look like when life keeps pulling you off-center?What if everything I built to protect me is actually a cage?This episode moves between the philosophical and the deeply personal. We talk about grief, law school culture, non-duality, breath, the weirdness of spiritual practice, and why so many of us come back to it even when we try to run away.We also cover:* How Sam went from childhood atheist to weekly church organist* The deeply spiritual experience of not listening to the sermon* Why patriotism might have been our real “childhood religion”* Whether safety is real — or just another illusion* What happens when you stop trying to be right and start trying to be real* The spiritual roots of resistance (yes, including actual war)This is one of those conversations that surprised me as it was happening — where we followed the thread wherever it led, and wound up somewhere deeper than we expected.Did this conversation resonate?Here’s how to stay connected:🌀 Subscribe (it’s free!) so you get new episodes in your inbox💬 Leave a comment or send me a message — I love hearing what lands for you🔗 Share this episode with a thoughtful friend🌿 Work with me: veralester.com — I offer spiritual coaching, work mentoring, and ceremony design for people on the edge of changeThank you, always, for listening. May you keep turning toward what matters.----------------------------------------00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:26 Meet Sam Brandao03:22 Sam's Early Spiritual Life05:38 Musical Journey in Church09:54 Law School and Critical Thinking18:23 Shifting Perspectives on Religion25:30 Spirituality in Daily Life33:52 Philosophical Reflections36:10 Reflections on Patriotism and Impermanence37:38 The Evolution of Patriotism in Modern Times41:03 The Role of Law and Security in Society43:33 Spirituality and Social Justice53:39 Meditation and Spiritual Practices56:16 The Paradox of Practice01:01:53 Breath and Martial Arts01:08:09 Final Thoughts and Farewell This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Ok, Curious Hearts. It’s time.We can’t just talk about practice. We can’t only read about it, study, or think about it.Thinking is great, but it has never brought me the same deep peace that practice does.Because I know how hard it can be to just sit down and do it, these practice episodes are here to keep us all honest.Today’s practice is one of the most simple - but difficult - practices I know. And that’s sitting still.We live in a world that favors movement, activity, and is always expecting us to produce something. Stillness doesn’t make money, and we literally have nothing to show for it.Practicing stillness is radical, and essential, in a world on fire.In this episode, I’ll talk about some of the things that get in the way, why stillness is important, and there’s a 10 minute guided practice that starts about the 6:00 minute mark.So don’t just do something: Sit there!00:00 Introduction and Purpose00:59 The Importance of Stillness04:01 Preparing for Stillness06:30 Guided Stillness Practice15:33 Reflections on Stillness18:41 Challenges and Overcoming Resistance23:27 Benefits of Stillness26:46 Practical Applications28:37 Conclusion and Encouragement This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back, Curious Hearts. Renee Blanchard is so smart, wise, and funny. If you knew her from Church Alley Coffee, the deeply soulful little shop she ran for over a decade in New Orleans, you know she’s a natural hostess. But you might not know about her incredibly deep spiritual life. She’s navigating a brave transition right now — after going back to school in her 40s, she’s closed her business, is working in a whole new field. Her spiritual connection has been at the heart of all of it. Together, we talk about: 💫 Growing up as a south Louisiana Catholic-- including TV Church 🌱 Nature as sacred, and environmentalism as a path of spiritual service 🔥 What it means to take courageous action for your values (including the time Renee climbed a smokestack and got arrested under the Patriot Act!) 🌀 Spiritual principles like uncertainty, optimism, grace, and paradox 🧘‍♀️ Daily practices like prayer, presence, and letting go that help us stay grounded even when we don’t know what’s next This conversation is rich, honest, and full of heart. And hilarious. It’s about how we keep walking forward when we can’t see the whole path—and how we do it with faith, curiosity, and compassion. 📸 Follow Renee on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetjosephinest/ 🥗 Connect with Renee about nutrition: https://www.churchalley.store/blog 🎧 Listen to Making Good, her podcast: https://churchalleycoffeebar.podbean.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

We’ve been sold the myth that time moves in a straight line—that if we just keep going, we’ll eventually “get there.” But anyone who’s done real healing work, grieved deeply, practiced anything with devotion, or simply paid attention knows that’s not how it works.I’m excited to share this episode — its the first of the spiritual principles. It’s foundational, because it’s underneath everything we do: time. Our existence is not a straight line forward, it’s cyclical. I share how this shows up in nature, in our own lives, and in spiritual traditions across the world. You'll hear a story about grief and Mardi Gras, some thoughts on real time vs. invented time, and why returning to a moment isn’t a failure—it’s a deepening.May this episode help you notice what season you're in, and remind you that there's no such thing as being behind.00:00 Introduction & Welcome00:43 Foundational Spiritual Principle: Time02:04 Understanding Cyclical Time04:15 Real Time vs. Invented Time09:23 Mardi Gras: A Cyclical Experience15:38 The Spiritual Significance of Time26:22 Practical Applications and Reflections40:58 Conclusion and Blessings This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Practice is the non-negotiable anchor and safety net to help us survive this world on fire.In this episode I share a little of my own history of practice, what elements make up a spiritual practice, and why it is such an essential lifeline.Have any insights that come up during the episode? Let me know — comment below, or send me a message. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

 I am really excited to share with you my first interview episode today with Becca Rich. Becca and I have known each other for many years, and have watched each other grow personally and spiritually along the way. Her wisdom is truly beyond her years.She works as a holistic time coach and she really helps people to understand the way that our external understanding of time really gets in the way of what is the most important to us. What is our soul's calling?So I was really expecting in a lot of ways our conversation to talk about time. I think that our relation to time—and time being cyclical rather than some linear notion like that, having those side by side, almost like a spiral, right? Moving forward, like a sine curve—is one of the core spiritual principles, right?I think having a relationship with time that is cyclical rather than singular, rather than linear, is really profound in how we can experience the world. So I was really expecting that to be what naturally came out of my conversation with Becca—and I am so glad I was wrong.We had this really beautiful sweeping conversation about the paradox between having a really deep connection to our personal spiritual world and how that allows us to then participate in the material world. Like, disconnecting from the material world is required for us to have a deep spiritual experience. And once we have that deep spiritual grounding, then we can reenter—reengage—with the material world in a more meaningful, less stressful way.So anyway—I love Becca. I loved this conversation. I hope that you do too.If you are interested in working with Becca, I highly recommend it—if you have your own challenges around time and/or if you want to support other people in navigating their time. I have done Becca's holistic time management training and I love to use it with my clients, helping them to understand that sometimes our relationship to time really is based on scarcity—and it doesn't have to be that way.I hope that you enjoy this conversation. And afterwards, I hope that you have a really wholehearted day.Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome Curious Hearts! This is the inaugural episode of "Curious Hearts: Making Meaning in a World on Fire". I created this podcast out of a deep curiosity I have about non-traditional spiritual journeys, and the everyday spiritual practices that help us get through the day. In this episode, I share a little about my intentions for the podcast, and my own spiritual life. Have Questions? Want to suggest a future guest? (Maybe you?) Shoot me an email at [email protected]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe

The audio companion of the story of Annie & Peter Goetzen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe