Empowered Human Academy

This week’s guest is Australia-based artist and illustrator, Shira Bentley. Shira began her career as a print artist, and her love of collaborative storytelling quickly led her to illustration. Her beautiful work transforms ideas into engaging visual stories filled with color, humor, and snippets of daily life. Shira’s art has been exhibited in memorable spots like the roadway overlooking the Sydney Opera House as well as on the international scene.

We first met Shira back in February of 2020, before the pandemic lockdowns began. Shira is a kindred soul—our conversations easily turn into hours of getting lost in the magic, but don’t worry—we capped this one at an hour. Throughout this conversation we discuss staying true to your creative voice while also balancing your audience’s needs, saying “yes” before you’ve figured it all out, and maintaining your integrity by making things that you honestly like. Whether or not you identify as an artist, we think you’ll find Shira’s wisdom applicable, whatever your niche.

Teresa self-identifies as intuitive, always learning, awake, and optimistic. After twenty-one years of working in public schools as a counselor, she decided to pivot and create Leaders For Life International—the leadership program that had always been living in her soul. Since its inception, L4L has planted seeds of empowerment in so many lives—reaching students in over 24 states and 8 countries.

...Throughout this conversation we discuss the power of the subconscious, creating triumph from challenges, paying attention to what you want, and listening closely when your dreams evolve and shift. Teresa is living with her eyes wide open and we’re so grateful to learn from the way that she sees.

As a self-described forever learner, Trisha McDonald has already lived what feels like multiple lifetimes. From surviving a traumatic stroke when she was only 19 to retiring from the US Air Force at 23 and to now building an inspiring career in the realm of tech and social impact—Trisha is constantly evolving. Her openness, vulnerability, and fierce optimism are reflections of how she’s awake to each twist and turn—her life is a story she’s actively writing.

In this episode we discuss impostor syndrome, confronting gender and geographical stereotypes, loneliness as an opportunity to come home to yourself, and owning your worthiness. Trisha drops so many powerful insights and we’re stoked to share it with you.

Dr. Sara Siddiqui self-describes as a “healthy lifestyle cheerleader”. In her work as a chiropractic physician with a holistic approach, she has a front row seat to witnessing how trauma and stress affect our bodies. She’s also keenly aware of how we have to want to change before anything new can happen.

In this episode we discuss how traumas, thoughts, and toxins impact our bodies, how knowing your “why” helps keep you aligned with your purpose, and why a progress model for health is more empowering than striving for perfection. We hope this conversation might be a flashlight to help you understand your relationship with your own body more clearly. We learn so much from Dr. Sara and we’re thrilled to share her brilliance with you.

Annalisa Munoz Funk is both a talented brand consultant and a dear friend. As a business visionary blazing trails in predominantly white and male-driven spaces, she’s a force in helping foster conversations centering diversity and inclusion. After taking time to sift through fear and listen to her soul, she wrote her dream job into existence. She didn’t simply wait for the doors to open—rather, she built the door and walked through it herself.

In this conversation we discuss moving through fear, turning around to help the people coming up behind you, and how a letter she wrote to herself completely shifted her career trajectory. Annalisa is a compelling example that you can want it all and still actively fight for the best of everyone else, too—because there’s room for everyone if we keep building bigger tables.

Alexis Robertson isn’t interested in being anyone other than what her soul wants to be. After nearly a decade’s investment as a lawyer, she took internal inventory of her skill sets, desires, and thematic throughlines and took a leap into the unknown. Now as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at a major law firm as well as a Whole30 coach, Alexis has synthesized her passions to build a path all her own.

If you’ve found yourself at a crossroads or uncovering a layer of yourself that you never knew was there, then this conversation is for you. In this conversation we discuss taking ownership of your experience and how that shift has the power to unlock everything forever. We can’t wait for you to experience Alexis’s undeniable magic, power, and warmth for yourself.

Our guest today is Xiomara Araruz. Xiomara is a yoga teacher, holistic wellness counselor, and yoga programs coordinator at the Art of Living Retreat Center in North Carolina. As you’ll soon discover, Xiomara is a deeply grounded and calming guide for those ready to take the journey within.

Throughout this conversation we discuss how to balance planning for the future while also remaining present, transforming negative energy into a different flavor, and how breathing techniques can help support you in showing up with your full self.

If you’ve been curious about cultivating more calm in the midst of such a wild year, then be sure to listen through the end where Xiomara leads us through some breathing practices in real time. We loved this timely conversation and are truly stoked to share it with you.

Chuy Rodriguez self-describes as a family man and an artist. As a wildly talented love photographer based in Los Angeles, Chuy is used to existing in vulnerable spaces with his clients. The nature of his work has taught him that we invite authenticity from others by embodying it first.

In this conversation we discuss working through creative funks, doing what you want to do before you know how to do it, and building confidence in your craft. Chuy’s unique blend of tenderness and confidence is truly inspiring and we know you’re going to love him as much as we do.

Our guest this week is marketing director for The New Primal and our friend, Jacob Henriquez. He was also named Whole30 coach of the year in 2019. As you’ll soon discover, Jacob possesses an inspiring and magnetic sense of self—but it didn’t come easy. He candidly shares about the challenges of being queer in traditionally non-queer spaces as well as the importance of validating yourself first.

Throughout this conversation we discuss prioritizing self-care, setting boundaries, the challenges of remote working, authenticity vs. tokenism, and how embracing impermanence can help increase self-confidence. Jacob’s journey is a clear example of how the strength you cultivate inside yourself has a direct impact on how you lead others—and how what works for you will be entirely unique because your path is yours alone. We truly enjoyed this conversation with Jacob and know you’ll love him just as much as we do.

2020 has been overwhelming to say the least. Collective anxiety is high and fear is constantly looming. We thought it’d be the perfect time to pull in an emotional expert to help us move through it all.

Dr. Vickie Bhatia is a licensed clinical psychologist and Whole30 Certified Coach who is making an impact by helping people get in touch with their emotions. Specializing in both individual and couples therapy, Vickie’s work encompasses overcoming fear and anxiety, improving mood, increasing self-worth, and managing emotions in a healthy way.

Throughout this episode we discuss how stress manifests itself in the body, the difference between fear and anxiety, and how moving through fear into thriving frees up your capacity for deeper creativity and focus.

We learn so much from Vickie and can’t wait for you to experience her wisdom for yourself.