More than a handshake

In this conversation, Justin describes himself as a team-oriented person with strong work ethic who tries to “leave things better” than he found them, a value shaped by time attached to Marines as a Navy corpsman. He recounts joining the military after childhood fascination, attempting SEAL training, then serving five years as a medic primarily with 1/9 Marines and deploying to Afghanistan. He discusses difficult reintegration—fireworks triggering cover-seeking, and hesitation to seek formal help due to career impact. Justin traces a “windy road” through college, contracting overseas including Kabul, an MBA, and becoming an EMS/fire supplies sales rep, while emphasizing using VA benefits despite red tape. Justin and Sheena discuss the ways we need to help veterans, and how mental health is served by the buddy system.

In this conversation, Sheena and Megan explore the question “Who am I?” through yoga philosophy, ego, identity, and self-trust. Megan shares her path from early yoga practice to teaching, living in Japan and Bali, running a yoga school, and then losing that identity during the pandemic. She discusses rebuilding through teaching opportunities and then eventually taking over Niantic Yoga Studio after a healer’s prediction and a symbolic owl sighting. They contrast purpose (dharma) with job, emphasizing creating, and what it’s really like to serve without attachment to outcomes. Megan’s shares her daily practice as meditation with alternate-nostril breathing and the Gayatri Mantra. The episode closes with yoga’s guidance for the world: compassion, keeping the heart open, and yoga as accessible to everyone. Megan can be found at @yogatrotteracademy and @nianticyoga and of course, in person at Niantic Yoga Studio.    00:17 Who Am I Really 04:34 Masks and Self Trust 09:47 Ego and Curiosity 12:34 Japan and Bali Journey 15:53 Pandemic Identity Collapse 21:31 Finding Purpose and Dharma 31:25 Co Regulation and Death Work 34:04 Generational Gifts 35:16 Leaving Bali 35:44 Healer Prediction Comes True 39:52 Owl Sign and Move 41:17 Finding the Yoga Shala 45:54 Ankle Injury Podcast Birth 47:33 Hard Times Become Beauty 49:05 Personal Yoga Practice 50:18 Gayatri Mantra Meditation 56:23 Focus Shapes Your Mind 59:27 Observing Thoughts Power 01:02:49 Origin Story with Yoga 01:03:51 Priest Teacher at Villanova 01:07:14 Embodied Poses Change Mind 01:08:13 What Yoga Pose Are You 01:14:16 Yoga Becomes Lifeline 01:15:37 Mindful Movement Community 01:19:01 Dharma Over Dollars 01:21:45 Create Without Attachment 01:27:41 Heart Led Business Balance 01:38:49 Yoga Is For Everyone

This week, Sheena sits down with Malcolm Archibald, who describes himself as grounded in legacy while aiming to create more love and happiness. He discusses navigating cultural noise, defining manhood as intentional pursuit paired with character, and adopting a growth mindset focused on getting 1% better every day. Malcolm shares childhood anger and reframes happiness as a decision. He explains resilience as built through repeated risk-taking and major life moves, and recounts being drugged in college as a pivotal moment that shifted him away from self-centeredness. He details his journey healing self-hatred tied to Black identity through mentors and Black Men’s safe spaces. He credits restaurant bartending for access to transformative networks, and explains how travel fuels self-discovery. Malcolm shares his Instagram and his community dinner series, Dinner And Discourse. Malcolm’s Instragram: @whereismalcolmat   00:12 Legacy and Love 02:19 What Makes a Man 06:00 Happiness Is a Choice 09:17 Anxiety and Resilience 12:32 Leaps Build Confidence 15:53 Chasing Greatness 22:10 Drugged in College 23:36 Owning Past Anger 25:47 The Angry Truth Seeker 28:39 From Black Sheep to Lighthouse 29:48 Pivotal Moments Behind the Bar 31:45 Healing Black Identity 34:16 Mentors and Men's Circles 35:27 Chasing Money to Self Worth 39:01 Travel as Self Reflection 40:39 Mexico Reset and Alone Time 46:18 Remote Work and Simple Living 49:24 Redefining Success and Family 52:56 Growth Mindset and Closing

In this conversation, Sheena talks to Allison Guillbault, a trauma therapist who now also coaches, speaks, and hosts retreats. She shares how embracing being “too much” became a turning point after years of shrinking herself, and reframes “too much” as confidence, vulnerability, discernment, and reciprocity. She discusses cycle-breaking around guilt, perfectionism, and wealth, arguing women should pursue money and talk about it. Allison describes leaving a corporate career to become a therapist, trusting intuition amid uncertainty. She offers retreats in Bali and New Orleans, a 12-week group program “Uncaged,” and the “Woke Bitch” rage room. She also recounts her atypical IVF journey, its cost, and how becoming a mom added new values to her life. Show notes: 00:00 Meet Alison 01:12 Owning Her Height 02:17 Yes I Am Too Much 03:52 A Moment of rising up 07:28 Confidence Without Armor 10:16 Healing And Uncertainty 13:50 Origin Story Too Much 15:52 Career Leap To Therapy 21:10 Mom Guilt 24:53 Childhood Roots Of Independence 33:38 Cycle Breaker Money Talk 42:08 Breaking Generational Cycles 42:59 Raising a Bold Daughter 43:47 Therapy and Retreat Offerings 46:25 Uncaged and Somatic Audacity 52:35 Betting on Yourself 53:40 Woke Bitch Screamy Calls 57:55 Rage as Regulation 01:02:26 IVF Journey 01:12:07 Motherhood and Slower Living 01:18:28 Permission to Define Yourself 01:21:37 Where to Find Allison

In this conversation, Sheena sits down with Georgina “Gigi” Vass, about identity, inspiration, and the pivotal life events that shaped her path into becoming a sex therapist. Gigi describes meaning and purpose as rooted in loved ones, humor, and balancing family needs with self-care. She explains what sex therapy is and clears misconceptions about physical contact. They discuss career origins, training differences, changes in the field (holistic approaches, porn/tech, visibility, neurodivergence), current topics, and why people may be having less sex. They cover BDSM, kink vs fetish, shame and self-compassion, and creativity in sex. Gigi also has great insight about sustaining intimacy in long-term relationships, and the harms of avoidance in communication. Georgina Vass can be found on instagram and tiktok as @georginavasstherapist and by email at [email protected] 00:00 Meet Gigi 01:49 Roots And Family 03:14 What Inspires You 05:45 Defining Life Moments 11:19 Meaning And Purpose 13:56 Finding Balance 17:19 What Is Sex Therapy 18:56 Why Sex Therapy 27:06 Trends In Sex Therapy 32:38 Why Less Sex 37:04 BDSM Basics 40:19 Taboo Kinks and Labels 42:31 Do You Need a Why 46:09 Fetish Versus Kink 47:18 Misconceptions and Education 49:33 How to Explore Safely 54:50 Sex as Creativity 01:01:10 Keeping Desire Alive 01:06:39 Repair and Consistency 01:11:10 Working Through Sexual Shame 01:14:15 Avoidance and Hard Talks

In this episode, Sheena sits down with holistic health coach and yoga teacher Bethany for a rich conversation about healing, self-discovery, and what it truly means to thrive. Bethany shares her journey from witnessing eating disorders in high school to building a multidimensional practice rooted in nutrition, human design, yoga philosophy, and ceremony work. Together they explore the power of following inspiration, the importance of foundational self-care, and the beauty and complexity of being a cycle breaker, all while weaving in the deeper truth that real healing happens not in isolation, but in connection with others. Bethany can be found at @bethanykovo and @empowercollective 00:00 Purpose 02:17 Early Eating Disorder Awakening 03:53 From Clinic to Collective 07:17 Yoga as North Star 16:08 Coaching Clients and Tools 20:59 Nourish Method Explained 25:47 Human Design Basics 36:35 Human Design vs Astrology 45:07 Belonging as a Need 46:15 Soul Lessons and Co-Creation 49:42 Healing Through Relationships 52:39 Disconnection and Basic Needs 55:56 Cycle Breakers and Conforming 01:03:14 Breaking Family Patterns 01:11:05 Future Work and Community 01:16:28 You Are Already Whole 01:20:16 Holding Two Truths 01:28:08 Final Wrap

In this episode, Sheena sits down with Kat Burns for an honest and inspiring conversation about healing, self-discovery, and the power of creativity. Kat is a creative alchemist and spiritual practitioner, using sound healing, Reiki and tarot, based in Lisbon, Portugal. Kat opens up about her journey from struggling with profound self-worth issues to healing her limiting beliefs through somatic work and energy practices. Together they explore the science and spirituality behind sound as a healing modality, what it means to follow your intuition when the world has been drowning it out, and how stepping away from burnout culture ultimately led Kat to build a life and thriving practice abroad. If you're a creative who feels stuck on their own journey of growth, this one is for you. Kat can be found at https://iamkatburns.com/ and @iamkatburns 00:00 Creative Identity 01:44 Fulfillment Through Service 05:03 From Self Hate to Hope 09:35 Faith as Catalyst 11:32 Tools That Changed Everything 19:11 Somatics and Nervous System 23:10 Becoming Who You Needed 25:14 Sound Healing for Creativity 27:57 Creative Blocks Explained 34:55 Frequencies and Brainwaves 44:04 Reclaiming Intuition 50:54 From LA to Remote Year 56:11 Why Lisbon Stayed 01:00:12 Building Community Abroad 01:02:45 Sound Healing Origins 01:04:23 Family Support and Identity 01:09:55 Business Ease and Flow 01:14:57 Returning to Creative Love 01:22:48 Creative Alchemy Invitation

  In this conversation, Sheena and Daniel sit down to reflect on identity. Daniel explains why he now specializes in grief counseling—personal losses and years supporting caregivers. He emphasizes using direct language about death, the emotional weight and rewards of connection, and the use of rituals to honor loss. They discuss grief beyond death, stigma, trauma, and meaning-making. The conversation turns to his love story: meeting his South African partner online, sustaining years of communication before meeting in person, and shifting from scarcity mindset to investing in happiness. Daniel shares his plans to move to SA, and navigating fears about politics and adjustment. He closes with his best advice. 00:00 Meet the Guest 00:39 Identity Beyond Work 03:18 Rethinking Work Ethic 06:21 Why Grief Counseling 12:47 Talking About Death 16:13 Grief Beyond Death 19:55 Stages and Meaning 24:56 Trauma and Stigma 30:01 Regrets and Relationships 35:54 Heavy Days and Burnout 37:32 Human Connection in Care 38:26 Grief and Joy Together 39:06 Rituals to Honor Loss 42:29 Meeting Love During COVID 45:41 Long Distance to First Visit 48:08 Chemistry and Travel Lessons 52:15 Attachment Identity and Partnership 57:42 Moving Plans and Marriage Talk 01:04:58 Fears Excitement and Gratitude 01:10:47 Closing Advice

Sarah, an RN and death guide, shares her background as a longtime bartender who became a nurse out of necessity, and how she sits with discomfort. She explains how she supports end-of-life autonomy, and how her nursing experience and spirituality inform her work. She outlines her business, End With Ease, including guidance on medical aid in dying (not legal in Connecticut) and voluntary stopping eating and drinking (VSED). Sarah recounts early experiences with death, loneliness in the work, self-care amid stress, and how her own cervical cancer led her to slow down and deepen her connection to spirit. Sarah can be found @good_death_nurse and [email protected] 00:00 Meet Sarah 00:55 From Bars to Nursing 04:20 What Is a Death Guide 13:13 Hospice Misconceptions 14:54 Spiritual Side of Dying 17:14 First Death Experience 24:00 Embracing Death Guide Role 28:24 Loneliness and Self Care 33:19 Palliative to Hospice Process 39:55 Private Client Planning 42:05 Dying at Home Explained 50:30 VSED Basics Legality 52:42 Hard Reality Timeline 53:23 Body Natural Dying Process 54:49 Letting Go Not Forcing 55:58 Learning Sharing Evidence 59:24 Hardest Part Family Resistance 01:00:13 Young Fighter Breakthrough 01:06:51 Death Is Beautiful Now 01:12:35 How To Get Curious 01:15:30 Hospice Morphine Myths 01:17:02 Spirit And Body Explained 01:21:22 Cancer Changed Everything 01:26:32 Body As Gift On Loan 01:34:54 Closing Contact Info

Sheena Knight introduces her unfiltered podcast on identity and purpose, explaining why she’s stepping into vulnerability after years of being more comfortable asking others hard questions. She shares her own identity as a sensitive, risk-taking artist and idea-lover who has long navigated masking and dysfunction. She reflects on choosing a bold, unconventional life. After a recent cancer experience and a period of grief, she commits to rejecting small talk in favor of raw conversations about what’s underneath people’s stories. This show is for those seeking realness, connection, and courage. Sheena can be found at @thesheenaknight or @morethanahandshake 00:00 Why I Went First 00:29 Who I Am 02:38 Masks and Code Switching 03:25 Family Roots and Survival 04:16 Choosing a Bold Life 05:42 Cancer and the Cave 06:18 No More Small Talk 07:17 Who This Show Is For 07:49 In Motion and Next Episode