Curious With Sonia

In this conversation, Sonia Houria Rivas sits down with Wayne Campbell, visual activist and founder of A Celebration of Demonstration, a gallery in the heart of Brixton, London, built as a safe space for protest. They explore how Wayne transformed uncontrollable anger after George Floyd's murder, into art; and how a gallery wall covered in thousands of handwritten messages became a place where strangers cry, hug, and heal.

They also go deep into the inner work behind the activism: the emotional toll of documenting protest up close, the choice between fear and love, why we cling to comfort instead of using our voice, and what it costs to overwork when your self-worth is tied to achievement. Wayne shares how he spent 40 years with all the creative tools but no direction, feeling invisible and broke, until focus arrived and everything aligned. If you've ever felt stuck, called to something bigger, or unsure what your purpose is, this episode is a masterclass in staying open, feeling the energy, and letting your calling find you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why you can have all the talent and tools and still feel lost
• How to channel anger and rage into creativity instead of letting it consume you
• The hidden cost of the happy suit
• How overworking and tying your worth to achievement leads to burnout
• Why asking "what is my role?" in the face of injustice matters
• How to recognise your calling
• Why connection, communication, and community are the foundation of resilience and change

Whether your thing is protesting, creating, or telling stories, this conversation is an invitation to stop looking away, choose your discomfort, and use what you have.

Connect with Wayne Campbell

Website: https://www.acelebrationdemonstration.com

IG: @acelebrationofdemonstration

New book: Carnival of Resistance (with fellow visual activist Wayne C)

Connect with Sonia 🌊 http://www.womenmakewaves.com.au 🔗 http://www.soniahouria.com 📱 IG: @womenmakewaves_

Listeners' Discounts

SuperFeast — 10% off all products with code WMWHEALTH http://www.superfeast.com.au

Australian Ceremonial Cacao — 10% off with link https://www.australianceremonialcacao.com/?ref=WMWHEALTH

Chapters

00:00 From Brixton to Visual Activism: Meet Wayne Campbell

01:52 Hiding Behind a Camera: How Photography Found Him

04:26 George Floyd, Rage, and Becoming a Visual Activist

06:54 The Emotional Weight of Documenting Protest

09:32 The Gratitude Box: Healing Inside a Brixton Gallery

12:51 Fear vs Comfort: Why We Look Away From Injustice

17:33 How to Process Anger and Heavy Emotions

21:09 Overworking, Self-Worth, and Learning to Rest

24:47 Carnival of Resistance: A First Collaboration

28:10 Trusting Timing, Intuition, and Opportunity

29:18 Fear at Protests and the Courage to Document

32:15 Feeling the Shot: The Craft of Visual Activism

32:55 Performative Activism vs Real Storytelling

34:57 Social Media and Why Every Voice Matters

36:12 What Protests Teach Us About Humanity

38:59 How to Find Your Calling

43:36 Turning Rage Into Purpose and Direction

47:54 A Global Vision: Safe Spaces for Protest Worldwide

You knew. Before you had the words for it, before anyone confirmed it, before it made any logical sense, some part of you already knew.

The relationship that wasn't right. The move that made no sense on paper. The person you should have trusted less, or more. That quiet knowing was your intuition. And most of us have spent years learning to talk over it.

In this solo episode, Sonia Houria Rivas breaks down what intuition actually is, and why it's so easy to miss. Not loud, not urgent, not dramatic. The exact opposite of the fear and mental noise we've been trained to listen to instead.

Sonia shares the real, unscripted moments her own intuition led her somewhere illogical and life-changing: a five-minute decision that sent her to the Netherlands after her mother's death, a random pick that became her move to Australia, the pull toward the Sahara that still doesn't have a map. And she walks through the client story of a woman who spent years outsourcing every decision to louder voices, disconnected from her own, until she learned to trust the one inside her.

This episode will help you tell the difference between fear and intuition, understand why listening gets harder the longer you ignore it, and walk away with a simple heart-centered practice to start hearing yourself again.

●      What intuition feels like

●      The difference between fear and intuition

●      Why belonging often costs us our own inner voice, and what happens when we stop paying that price

●      What happens in your body when you consistently ignore your own intuition

●      A guided practice to reconnect with your intuition, right now

Whether you're standing at a crossroads or just tired of doubting yourself, this episode is a reminder: the voice you're looking for isn't out there. It's already in you. You just have to get quiet enough to hear it.

00:00  What Intuition Actually Feels Like (And Why It's So Easy to Miss)

06:26  Why You Stopped Trusting Your Own Voice

13:24  The Fear That Shows Up Right After You Listen

20:27  What Happens When You Ignore Your Intuition

26:21  A Guided Practice to Reconnect With Your Intuition

🌊  Coaching & community:

www.womenmakewaves.com.au

🌍  Speaking & the Sahara Project:

www.soniahouria.com

IG: @womenmakewaves_ @amazingamazigh_

Ready to reconnect with your own inner authority? The Mentorship is where we do this work together. Rebuilding trust in your own intuition, getting to the roots of your disconnection and inner turmoil & creating solutions, step by step.

www.womenmakewaves.com.au

🍄  SuperFeast 10% off all products with code WMWHEALTH

https://www.superfeast.com.au/

🍫  Australian Ceremonial Cacao 10% off with link:

https://www.australianceremonialcacao.com/?ref=WMWHEALTH

What if the life that looks successful from the outside is the exact thing keeping you stuck?

In this episode, Sonia sits down with Shiran Faast, author of Unstoppable Business Growth, business transformation speaker, who built a $30 million company with her husband, won awards, and quietly felt like she was living in "a little prison."

Shiran shares how she ignored every signal for nine years. The ways she made herself smaller, the disconnect she felt every time she described what she did, the sense of being choked by an environment she'd outgrown. This is a raw conversation about why we stay in situations that aren't right for us, the fear of change, failure, and loss that keeps us frozen, and what it takes to make the leap when everything in you is terrified.

It works on two levels. If you're an employee, it's a guide to reading your own path: how to tell whether a job is a stepping stone toward something bigger or a place of stability you've chosen, and why naming that changes how you show up and what you walk away with.

If you're an employer, it's a reframe: when you understand what your people truly want from their lives and careers, you stop losing them, you build trust that makes a team stay through a crisis, and you keep the business healthy instead of waiting for the cracks to show up in the numbers a year too late.

If you've been calling yourself comfortable when you're really just scared, this one will mirror exactly where you are.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why you stay stuck in a role that looks "fine" on paper
• The early signs you're on the wrong path
• Alignment vs misalignment: the difference between successful and unstoppable
• How to tell if your job is a stepping stone or stability, and why it matters
• What keeps a business alive
• The cost of not changing

Chapters
00:00 Shiran's Journey of Transformation
04:59 Recognizing Signs of Misalignment
12:11 The Importance of Alignment in Business: Successful vs Unstoppable
18:36 Employee Engagement and Values, or How to Build a Team That Champions Your Company
24:28 Listening to the Cues When You've Outgrown Your Life
27:34 The Importance of Values in Business
29:19 Learning and Growth Through Diverse Experiences
31:39 Understanding Why Your Employee Is There and What Their Exit Strategy Is
35:32 Trust and Communication in the Workplace
40:31 Creating a Healthy Business Environment
46:05 The Fear of Change and Its Implications

I'd love to hear from you. What change have you been wanting to make but haven't been able to? What signal have you been ignoring?

If you're navigating a big life or career change and want support, explore the Inner Power Mentorship at http://womenmakewaves.com.au

Connect with Shiran
🔗 Website: https://www.shiranfaast.com/

🌊 Connect with Sonia
http://www.womenmakewaves.com.au
http://www.soniahouria.com
📱 Instagram: @womenmakewaves_

🔗 Useful Links & Listeners' Discounts
🍄 SuperFeast, 20% off with code WMWHEALTH 👉 https://www.superfeast.com.au/
🍫 Australian Ceremonial Cacao, 20% off with link 👉 https://www.australianceremonialcacao.com/?ref=WMWHEALTH

What if you're not lazy, not broken, and not self-sabotaging, but frozen?

You know what you need to do. You've known for a while. But no matter how hard you try, you can't seem to take action. You feel stuck in life and you can't move forward. That's not weakness. That's your nervous system in survival mode.

In this solo episode, Sonia Houria Rivas shares the deeply personal story of buying a plane ticket to Australia and not getting on that plane for two years, all while functioning, going to work, and taking care of everyone around her, but slowly losing herself in the process.

From people pleasing and over-functioning to crashing so hard she slept for three months, this episode unpacks what the freeze response actually looks like when you're still showing up on the outside but completely shut down on the inside, and why "feel the fear and do it anyway" doesn't work when your nervous system doesn't feel safe.

This is not just a story. It's a powerful breakdown of why you can't take action even when you know what to do, and what actually helps you get unstuck.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why you feel stuck and can't take action even when you know exactly what you need to do
• What the freeze response really is and why it gets mistaken for procrastination or self-sabotage
• Why "feel the fear and do it anyway" backfires when your nervous system is dysregulated
• How people pleasing and over-functioning lead to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and losing yourself
• What functional freeze looks like, still going through the motions but feeling numb, disconnected, and empty inside
• Why you can't think your way out of a freeze response and why willpower isn't enough
• The practical tools that help, breathwork, nervous system regulation, grounding, and reconnecting with joy, so your body feels safe enough to move
• Why making big life changes feels so scary, especially when it's tied to childhood patterns and fear of the unknown

  If you feel stuck, if you've been calling yourself lazy or wondering what's wrong with you, if you're scared of making a big life change but you know you can't stay where you are, this episode will change how you see yourself. Your freeze is not the problem. It's information.

You're not broken. You just need to feel safe enough to move.

Chapters

00:00 I Bought a Plane Ticket and Didn't Get On It for 2 Years

02:30 Why You Can't Take Action Even When You Know What to Do

05:00 Why "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" Doesn't Work 07:30 People Pleasing, Over-Functioning and Losing Yourself

14:00 What Functional Freeze and Burnout Actually Look Like

18:00 Your Freeze Response Is Not Weakness, It's Your Nervous System Protecting You

22:00 How Nervous System Regulation Helped My Client Get Unstuck

26:00 How to Get Out of Freeze: Breathwork, Grounding and Reconnecting with Joy

32:00 Making a Big Life Change from Desire, Not Survival

I'd love to hear what change you're navigating right now. What step have you been wanting to take but haven't been able to?

If you're navigating this and want support, explore the Inner Power Mentorship at http://womenmakewaves.com.au

🔗 Useful Links & Listeners' Discounts

🍄 SuperFeast — 20% off all products with code WMWHEALTH 👉 https://www.superfeast.com.au/

🍫 Australian Ceremonial Cacao — 20% off with link: 👉 https://www.australianceremonialcacao.com/?ref=WMWHEALTH

In seconds, Natalia Vindas went from a 20-year-old civil engineer to a woman who couldn't move her legs. After two years of fighting to walk again, she made a different choice - she let go, moved to the ocean, and learned to surf from a wheelchair.

Now she's a competitive para surfer, accessibility consultant, and proof that the ocean doesn't care about your disability. In this conversation, we talk about what it really takes to reinvent your life, why asking for help changed everything, and the visualisation practice she uses before every surf session to leave her stress on the shore.

Connect with Natalia: https://nataliavindas.com/

Connect with Sonia🌊 Website: http://www.womenmakewaves.com.au 📱 Instagram: @womenmakewaves_

Listeners' Discounts
🍄 SuperFeast — 20% off all products with code WMWHEALTH 👉 http://www.superfeast.com.au
🍫 Australian Ceremonial Cacao — 20% off with link 👉 http://www.australianceremonialcacao....

Keywords: adaptive surfing, para surfing, spinal cord injury recovery, wheelchair surfing, disability and travel, accessible travel Costa Rica, reinventing life after injury, women surfers, accessibility consultant, natural health, essential oils for healing, mindset and surfing, asking for help, Barcelona accessibility, nervous system, Women Make Waves, Natalia Vindas, Sonia Houria

Chapters

00:00 Reinventing Life After Injury

05:33 Accessibility Challenges in Costa Rica

08:33 The Accident and Its Aftermath

11:33 Finding Freedom in the Ocean

14:17 Competitive Surfing and Achievements

17:24 Mindset and Competition

20:20 The Importance of Asking for Help

23:18 Traveling and Learning About Accessibility

26:16 Impact of Accessibility on Life

29:07 Conclusion and Future Aspirations

30:04 Redefining Design and Accessibility

33:16 Navigating Career Changes and New Paths

34:28 Health Challenges and Resilience

36:19 Embracing Natural Health Practices

38:14 Cultural Perspectives on Natural Remedies

41:43 Adventure and Accessibility in Costa Rica

46:17 Learning from Diverse Abilities

48:05 Life Lessons and Personal Growth

What if your body isn’t broken, but responding to a life that doesn’t feel safe?

Most women are trying to heal their nervous system, regulate their emotions, and “do the work” while staying in environments that quietly keep them in stress, anxiety, and burnout.

In this solo episode, Sonia Houria Rivas shares the deeply personal story of the two years she spent dealing with extreme fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, panic attacks, and emotional overwhelm without understanding why.

From thinking it was perimenopause to uncovering the deeper root cause, this episode explores the powerful link between emotional safety, chronic stress, trauma patterns, and the nervous system.

This is not just a story. It’s a powerful breakdown of how your environment, relationships, and unresolved patterns can impact your health and your ability to heal.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why chronic emotional stress can show up as physical symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, and hormonal imbalance
• The difference between a triggered nervous system and being in a genuinely unsafe environment
• Why you can’t regulate your way out of a situation that requires self-abandonment
• What external safety means for your nervous system and overall wellbeing
• How childhood trauma patterns replay in adult relationships and keep you stuck
• Why choosing yourself can feel unsafe, even when it’s the healthiest decision

If you’re experiencing anxiety, burnout, emotional overwhelm, or feel disconnected from yourself, this episode will help you understand what your body is trying to tell you.

Your symptoms might not be the problem. They might be information.

You don’t have to choose between healing yourself and protecting yourself. You can do both.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of Discovery Understanding My Body
03:09 The Impact of Stress Unraveling Childhood Trauma
05:56 Navigating Relationships Recognizing Patterns and Triggers
08:49 The Importance of External Safety Recognizing Danger
12:14 Inner Work Healing and Choosing Differently
15:09 The Complexity of Emotional Responses Real vs Triggered Danger
17:48 Choosing Safety The Courage to Let Go
21:06 The Path to Healing Acknowledging Emotions and Needs

If this resonates, I’d love to hear what your body has been trying to tell you lately. What are you starting to see more clearly?

If you’re navigating this and want support, explore the Inner Power Mentorship at womenmakewaves.com.au

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🔗 Useful Links & Listeners' Discounts

🍄 SuperFeast — 20% off all products with code WMWHEALTH 👉 https://www.superfeast.com.au/

🍫 Australian Ceremonial Cacao — 20% off with link: 👉 https://www.australianceremonialcacao...

Episode Summary

Have you been feeling exhausted, irritable, bloated, or just not yourself — and no one can tell you why? You might be in perimenopause. You're not alone, and you're not crazy.

In this episode, Sonia sits down with naturopath, herbalist and women's health specialist Sulin Sze to break down everything you weren't told about perimenopause — what's actually happening in your body, why your symptoms are real, and what you can do about it naturally.

In This Episode We Cover:

• Why perimenopause can start in your late 30s — and the signs most women miss
• What your bleed is actually telling you about your hormones
• Belly fat, bloating and why your waistline is changing in your 40s
• Brain fog, memory loss and ADD-like symptoms — yes, it's hormonal
• Why ghrelin increases six times in perimenopause
• The liver-emotion connection and why rage and hot flashes are linked
• How chronic stress directly lowers progesterone
• The Mediterranean diet, phytoestrogens and herbs that actually help

Connect with Sulin Sze 🌿 Website: www.herbalwell.com.au 📱 Instagram: @perimenopause.naturopath ▶️ YouTube: Sulin Sze

Sulin's book: https://herbalwell.com.au/product/wildcraft-guide-botany-herbalism-for-wildcrafters/

Learn herbalism with Sulin: www.wildmedicineacademy.com

Perimenopause course: https://insighttimer.com/meditation-courses/calm-the-chaos-a-natural-toolkit-for-perimenopause

Connect with Sonia 🌊 Website: www.womenmakewaves.com.au 📱 Instagram: @womenmakewaves_

Listeners' Discounts

🍄 SuperFeast — 20% off all products with code WMWHEALTH 👉 www.superfeast.com.au

🍫 Australian Ceremonial Cacao — 20% off with link 👉 www.australianceremonialcacao.com/?ref=WMWHEALTH

Keywords: perimenopause symptoms, natural remedies, anxiety, insomnia, perimenopause weight gain, estrogen dominance, progesterone decline, insulin resistance

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Perimenopause: An Introduction

01:21 Cultural Influences on Perimenopause

06:05 Defining Perimenopause and Menopause

09:27 Symptoms of Perimenopause

14:54 The Role of Hormones in Perimenopause

25:37 Nutrition and Lifestyle Changes for Perimenopause

32:07 Understanding Hormonal Changes in Women

41:38 The Importance of Nutrition and Food Choices

52:38 Navigating Perimenopause: Hormonal Imbalances and Symptoms

56:39 Dietary Recommendations for Hormonal Health

01:01:03 Cultural Influences on Menopause

01:03:29 The Importance of Community and Connection

01:05:29 Nutrition and Herbal Remedies for Hormonal Health

01:10:13 Mental Health and Hormonal Balance

01:15:19 Generational Stress and Its Impact on Women

01:19:41 Emotional Health and Hormonal Well-being

01:24:33 Empowerment Through Knowledge and Support

Are you breathing wrong right now? Most people are - and it's silently fueling anxiety, brain fog, poor sleep, and chronic stress.

In this solo episode, Sonia Houria Rivas takes you on a deeply personal journey - from breaking her back in a surfing accident, to discovering the one tool that changed everything: her breath.

But this isn't just a story. It's a masterclass in why how you breathe matters more than you think, and what you can do about it starting today.

In this episode you'll learn:

• The difference between functional and dysfunctional breathing - and how to know which one you're doing
• Why chest breathing and mouth breathing are keeping your nervous system locked in chronic stress response
• What CO2 actually does in your body and why over-breathing is making you more anxious, not less
• The 4 pillars of functional breathing that can improve your sleep, digestion, focus, and emotional regulation
• How breathwork became the foundation of Sonia's shamanic practice - and why science and spirituality are two sides of the same coin

Whether you're dealing with anxiety, burnout, poor sleep, or you simply want to perform better - physically, mentally, emotionally - this episode will show you that the most powerful healing tool you have is already with you.

You draw 20,000 breaths a day. It's time to make them work for you.

🎧 Listen to the previous episode with Jason Rice, founder of Apnea Survival, for the science behind breath hold and stress management.

Chapters:

00:00 - How a Surfing Accident Forced Me to Stop and Face Myself

01:32 - From Physical Pain to Emotional Healing: My Journey Into Stillness

04:28 - How Breathwork at an Ayahuasca Retreat Changed Everything

10:23 - What Is Dysfunctional Breathing - And Are You Doing It?

14:40 - What Chronic Dysfunctional Breathing Does to Your Body, Mind and Emotions

16:22 - The 4 Pillars of Functional Breathing

19:24 - Breathwork for Athletes, Anxiety and Healing: Real Client Results

23:19 - A Simple Breathing Reset You Can Do Right Now

🔗 Useful Links & Listeners' Discounts

🍄 SuperFeast — 20% off all products with code WMWHEALTH 👉 https://www.superfeast.com.au/

🍫 Australian Ceremonial Cacao — 20% off with link: 👉 https://www.australianceremonialcacao.com/?ref=WMWHEALTH

Summary

In this conversation, Sonia Houria Rivas interviews Jason Rice, Apnea Survival Founder and expert in performance stress management and breath control. They discuss the importance of breath control in high-pressure situations, the physiological and psychological aspects of breath holding, and the misconceptions surrounding it. Jason shares insights on how proper breathing techniques can enhance athletic performance, manage stress, and build mental resilience. They also explore the role of cold water immersion in teaching discomfort management and emphasize the importance of safety in breath training. The conversation highlights the need for individuals to familiarize themselves with discomfort to navigate stress effectively. In this conversation, Sonia Houria Rivas and Jason explore the profound impact of breathwork on personal healing, the importance of stillness, and the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. They discuss how breath can be a tool for regulation and calm, the essence of humanity, and the role of creativity in authentic expression. The dialogue emphasizes the need for individuals to reconnect with nature and their true selves, highlighting the journey towards enlightenment and understanding one's purpose in life.

USEFUL LINKS
🔗 Website: https://apneasurvival.com.au/

LISTENERS' DISCOUNTS
SuperFeast: * 20% off on all products with Code *WMWHEALTH*at: https://www.superfeast.com.au/

Australian Ceremonial Cacao * _: 20% off with link: https://www.australianceremonialcacao.com/?ref=WMWHEALTH

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Breath Control and Performance
02:32 The Journey of Surf Apnea and Stress Management
05:45 Understanding Breath Hold and Stress Response
11:41 Myths and Misconceptions about Breath Holding
14:36 The Importance of Proper Breathing Techniques
17:22 Breath Control for Athletic Performance
20:43 Training Techniques for Surfers
23:28 Mental Resilience and Breath Control
26:40 Safety in Breath Training
29:19 Cold Water Immersion and Adaptation
32:33 Breathing Techniques for Recovery
35:29 Managing Discomfort and Stress in Daily Life
54:48 The Power of Stillness and Calm

01:00:07 Healing Through Breath and Consciousness
01:03:06 Interconnectedness of Mind, Body, and Breath
01:18:40 Creativity and Authenticity in Expression

Most people think overwhelm means something is wrong with them.

That they’re weak, failing, or not organised enough.
It usually means none of that.

Overwhelm happens when the demand placed on you, by life, work, others, or yourself, is higher than your capacity in that moment.

Capacity fluctuates.

With your nervous system.

With your season of life.

With your natural rhythms and relationships.

In this episode, I unpack overwhelm through three lenses:
the inner world, the natural world, and the relational world, and why understanding how you function matters more than pushing harder.

If you’ve been feeling tired, frustrated, or disappointed in yourself lately, this conversation is for you.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Overwhelm
01:36 The 3 Systems: Inner, Natural, Relational
03:12 The Inner World and Nervous System Signals of Overwhelm
05:50 Natural Rhythms: Seasons + Energy
06:52 Practical Strategies for Managing Overwhelm
08:10 Your Personal Data: Track the Pattern
12:21 Relational Intelligence
12:48 The Importance of Healthy Relationships
14:37 Be like the French - Fill Your Champaign Cup First
16:11 The Greatest Hack of All: Honour The Full Human Experience

16:31 Build a Life That Matches Your Rhythms

Useful Links - Listeners' Discounts

SuperFeast: 20% off on all products with Code WMWHEALTH at: https://www.superfeast.com.au/

Australian Ceremonial Cacao: 20% off with link: https://www.australianceremonialcacao.com/?ref=WMWHEALTH