The Long Road Home Podcast

Hi, and welcome back to The Long Road Home Podcast.In this episode, I’m in conversation with Abby Kneipp, joining us from the mountains of Peru—a place she now calls home after a profound and challenging period of transformation.About this conversationThis conversation is about what happens when life strips everything back.Over the last few years, Abby moved through what many would call a dark night of the soul—a period marked by deep physical illness, heartbreak, isolation, and the unravelling of almost every part of her life.It’s a story of loss, but also of listening.Of learning to trust the quieter voice beneath the noise.And of finding a way back—not to who you were, but to something deeper and more true.Because at the heart of this episode is a question I keep returning to:What does it mean to live in alignment with the soul?About Abby KneippAbby Kneipp is a mystic, healer, and guide who has spent over a decade working with indigenous communities and sitting in plant medicine ceremonies around the world.Her work centers on supporting women in healing trauma, reconnecting to their bodies, and reclaiming their power—particularly through womb work and feminine embodiment.She is also an advocate for children and indigenous rights, and brings a deeply lived understanding of trauma, resilience, and transformation into everything she shares.What we talk aboutIn this conversation, we explore:* the experience of a dark night of the soul and spiritual awakening* healing trauma through ceremony, embodiment, and deep inner work* learning to listen to the soul and trust your inner voice* the cost of speaking your truth—and how it can impact belonging* navigating illness, sensitivity, and environmental factors like EMFs* ancestry, identity, and Abby’s journey to Ireland* returning to Peru and finding a sense of home in the land* womb wisdom, feminine power, and reconnecting to the body* practical ways to come back into the body and feel more groundedKey Takeaways* Your soul often speaks quietly—but it is persistent and deeply guiding.* Telling the truth can sometimes cost you belonging, but it can also lead you to a deeper alignment.* Healing is not linear—it can involve collapse, isolation, and rebuilding from the ground up.* The body is not something to escape, but a place we return to.* The womb can be a powerful center of connection, intuition, and belonging for women.* Environment matters—where we live can deeply impact our well-being.* Belonging is not always found externally—it can be cultivated within.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Abby Kneipp’s Journey00:53 The Call to the Medicine Path04:01 Listening to the Soul07:00 Navigating Inner Voices08:52 The Near-Death Experience15:59 The Dark Night of the Soul22:52 Returning to Peru and Healing31:21 Finding Wisdom in the Journey32:46 The Depth of Healing Work33:30 Feminine Empowerment and Sexuality35:03 The Wisdom of the Womb37:53 Connecting with the Womb43:04 Ancestral Ties and Identity49:34 Finding Home in Peru51:57 Connecting to the Body and Soul58:48 The Search for BelongingConnect with AbbyWebsite LinkedIn Instagram FacebookOriginal theme music composed by Diego TenorioIf you listen, I’d love to hear what resonates or what it brings up for you.In gratitude,Yamuna xThe Long Road Home is a listener-supported podcast. Subscribe to receive new episodes and support the continuation of these conversations. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yamunaflaherty.substack.com/subscribe

Hi, and welcome to The Long Road Home Podcast!In this first episode, I’m recording from the Western Ghats of India, under the stars, sharing tea and conversation with Aje and Irie Akarsha—an intercultural couple raising their four children on a mountainside homestead in Kerala.What unfolds is a deeply honest conversation about what it means to step outside of expectation and into a life shaped by presence, nature, and inner truth.We talk about:* Leaving behind societal conditioning and choosing authenticity* The real cost—and quiet rewards—of living unconventionally* Parenting with freedom, boundaries, and trust* Building a life rooted in land, ritual, and simplicity* Grief, identity, and letting go of comfort* And ultimately, what it means to belong—not to a place, but within yourselfThis conversation is a return to the body, to the earth, and to the present moment as home.To find out more about our guests find them here:LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasakarsha/Instagram @iriemama.indiaYoutube https://www.youtube.com/@RasAkarsha/videos This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yamunaflaherty.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Long Road Home—a space for those searching for home and belonging.Here, we explore what it means to find your place in the world—through identity, relationships, movement, and the quiet work of becoming.Here, you are allowed to be in-between.Each episode offers:* intimate, honest conversations* stories of leaving, staying, and starting again* reflections on identity, place, love, and loss* glimpses into the lives of people finding their wayand gentle reminders that belonging is not something you chasebut something you grow intoThese aren’t stories with neat endings.They’re lived experiences—unraveling, evolving, and becoming.For the wanderers, the seekers,the ones who have built a life in one place but still feel the question…the ones who have crossed oceans and are still finding themselves—you’re in the right place.This is a space to listen, to reflect,and to remember that home is not always a destination—but something within.Subscribe, and welcome to The Long Road Home. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yamunaflaherty.substack.com/subscribe