Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast

What if many of the beliefs, judgments, assumptions, and reactions shaping your life aren't actually yours?

In this episode of the Go Slow To Go Fast Lifestyle Podcast, Kendra Chapman sits down with Kay Whitaker, storyteller, teacher, shaman, and lineage keeper, to explore the ancient wisdom behind her book, The Seven No-Nos: A Guide to Awakening and Freedom.

Kay shares how a 13-year journey of studying with Peruvian teachers, along with teachings from an Egyptian lineage carrier, transformed the way she understands consciousness, human connection, spirituality, and what it means to truly be ourselves.

At the heart of Kay's teachings is a simple but profound idea: we may need to unlearn what we've been taught in order to remember who we really are.

✨ What it means to "go slow to go fast" Kay explains why moving too quickly can interfere with deeper thinking, meaning, and intentional communication—and why, for her, "fast" has never necessarily meant "faster."

✨ Kay's journey into ancient wisdom From her childhood fascination with ancient cultures and music to studying with Peruvian teachers and learning from an Egyptian lineage carrier, Kay shares the experiences that shaped her life's work.

✨ The concept of "Song" In Kay's teachings, our "song" represents the totality of who we are—our beingness, experiences, energetic self, and connection to something greater. She explains why learning to feel and understand our own "song" is central to remembering who we truly are.

✨ Why modern culture can disconnect us from ourselves Kay discusses how socialization, programming, and inherited beliefs can cause us to lose touch with our natural ability to feel, perceive, question, and connect.

✨ The Seven No-Nos Kay explains the seven patterns that can keep us trapped in automatic reactions and prevent us from seeing life more clearly:

1. No Blind Beliefs

2. No Judgments

3. No Expectations

4. No Assumptions

5. No Jumping to Conclusions

6. No Arrogance

7. No Negative Perceptions

✨ Why questioning our beliefs can create freedom Kay challenges listeners to examine the beliefs and stories they've inherited from parents, teachers, culture, and previous generations—and to ask whether those beliefs are actually true.

✨ Judgment as an everyday habit From judging other people to something as simple as choosing a brand of toilet paper, Kay illustrates how deeply judgment can become embedded in our everyday thinking.

✨ Moving from reaction to response One of the central ideas in The Seven No-Nos is learning to recognize our automatic reactions and create enough space to ask: Why do I feel this way? Where did this belief begin? And is it actually true?

✨ The possibility of breaking generational patterns Kendra and Kay explore whether we can change the patterns we've inherited and whether humanity has an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past rather than continually repeat them.

What belief, judgment, assumption, or expectation are you carrying that may not actually belong to you?

Instead of immediately reacting, what would happen if you slowed down long enough to question it?

That pause may be where freedom begins.

Kay Whitaker is a storyteller, teacher, author, and lineage keeper whose work draws from ancient teachings and traditions she studied over many years.

Her work focuses on helping people question inherited beliefs, reconnect with their deeper awareness, and rediscover what she describes as their unique "song."

Her latest book, The Seven No-Nos: A Guide to Awakening and Freedom, offers a practical framework for examining the beliefs and patterns that can keep us stuck in automatic ways of thinking and reacting.

The Go Slow To Go Fast Lifestyle Podcast explores what happens when we stop living on autopilot and begin creating space for greater clarity, connection, purpose, and alignment.

Hosted by Kendra Chapman, each episode invites you to slow down, listen inward, and reconsider what truly matters.

Because slowing down isn't about doing less.

It's about creating the space to live more intentionally, more fully, and more authentically.

If Kay's story or the Seven No-Nos resonated with you, take a moment this week to notice your own automatic reactions.

Where are you judging?

Where are you making assumptions?

Where are you holding an expectation?

Where might you be operating from a belief you have never stopped to question?

Sometimes the first step toward change isn't doing something new.

It's slowing down long enough to see what has been running the show all along.

00:00 Introduction to the Journey

04:21 The Importance of Slowing Down

06:29 Discovering Ancient Wisdom

11:28 The Teachings of the Hedekas

16:25 Understanding Our Song

21:18 The Seven No-Nos Explained

26:15 Breaking Free from Blind Beliefs

31:15 Healing Through Awareness

36:07 The Non-Linear Nature of Time

40:54 Conclusion and Call to Action

45:55 Episode conclusion

📩 For partnerships, consulting, speaking, and/or collaborations:

email: [email protected]

===================

Stay Connected with Me, Kendra Chapman

🌐 Website: www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithkendrachapman/

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/kendra.weber3

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kendrachapmanliving123

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-chapman-3-100kecb85539165/

✍🏽 Substack: https://coachingwithkendrachapman.substack.com/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

🌟 Connect with our Guest: Kay Whitaker

🌐 Website: World Balance — worldbalance.com Katasi — katasi.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katasee

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kaycordellwhitaker

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Music featured in this podcast is licensed through Epidemic Sound. All music is used under a valid license. Copyright remains with the respective composers, artists, and Epidemic Sound.

For more information about Epidemic Sound, visit their website.

Intro and Outro music Come Correct by the artist Teeklef

The Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. The views and opinions shared are personal and are not intended as medical, mental health, financial, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your specific health, medical, or personal circumstances. Any actions you take based on this content are at your own discretion, and results depend on your individual commitment, circumstances, and responsibility.

Kendra Chapman talks with Doug Red Hail Pineda about meditation, natural medicine, Indigenous heritage, and moving through the world with more awareness and less reactivity. The conversation moves from childhood meditation and breathwork to advocacy, colonialism, psilocybin, and the idea that peace depends on where we place our attention.Doug shares how his background in Indigenous healing traditions and legislative advocacy shapes his views on wellness, spirituality, and responsibility. A recurring theme: slowing down isn't a retreat from life—it can help us respond to it more wisely.

Timestamps

00:00 — Episode intro: natural medicine, advocacy, and ancient wisdom

01:30 — Doug's present-moment practice and why meditation matters

03:15 — Breathwork basics and the pause between inhale and exhale

06:52 — Why peace begins with attention, not force

08:06 — The mind as a protective container against outside influence

11:26 — What the Church of Psychedelics is and why it exists

12:16 — Doug's mixed heritage and the weight of colonial history

16:10 — Blood quantum, reservations, and resource extraction

17:58 — Standing Rock and resistance to pipeline expansion

20:52 — Why change requires patient, methodical action

22:45 — "We do not achieve peace, we allow peace"

24:15 — The "me" versus "we" idea and shared consciousness

28:07 — Ego as separation and returning to source

30:17 — Seeing power structures clearly without getting stuck in them

32:23 — Random acts of kindness and assuming positive intent

34:48 — The thermometer versus thermostat analogy

39:00 — Colorado, plant medicine, and the legal framework around psychedelics

42:17 — Mycelium, mushrooms, and the "Wood Wide Web"

45:35 — Pharma, synthetic psilocybin, and questions of consistency

47:33 — Mindfulness, prayer, and direct connection to source

48:18 — Breathwork and sympathetic-parasympathetic balance

51:38 — Psilocybin, healing, and building a relationship with medicine

53:04 — Scabs, scars, and how healing can change our reactions

54:02 — Ceremony, music, and collective experience

56:25 — Respect, cultural context, and continuing the conversation

59:42 — Final takeaway: being a spiritual being having a human experienceNotable quotes

📩 For partnerships, consulting, speaking, and/or collaborations:

email: [email protected]

===================

Stay Connected with Me, Kendra Chapman

🌐 Website: www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithkendrachapman/

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/kendra.weber3

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kendrachapmanliving123

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-chapman-3-100kecb85539165/

✍🏽 Substack: https://coachingwithkendrachapman.substack.com/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

🌟 Connect with our Guest: Doug Red Hail Pineda

🌐 Website: https://thechurchofpsychedelics.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_church_of_psychedelics/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-church-of-psychedelics/

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechurchofpsychedelics

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/churchofpsychedelics/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thechurchofpsychedelics/

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Video production by Tate Chapman. To see more videos created by Tate Chapman and his brothers, check out the Triple Dare Adventures YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/@TripleDareAdventures

Music featured in this podcast is licensed through Epidemic Sound. All music is used under a valid license. Copyright remains with the respective composers, artists, and Epidemic Sound.

For more information about Epidemic Sound, visit their website.

Intro and Outro music Come Correct by the artist Teeklef

The Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. The views and opinions shared are personal and are not intended as medical, mental health, financial, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your specific health, medical, or personal circumstances. Any actions you take based on this content are at your own discretion, and results depend on your individual commitment, circumstances, and responsibility.

Kirana Sidin joins Kendra Chapman for a warm conversation about slowing down, staying intentional, and building a life that feels meaningful on the inside, not just impressive from the outside. They talk through motherhood, self-respect, purpose, and the daily habits that help women stay grounded while caring for everyone else.Kirana shares how a single comment from her youngest son helped her realize she needed to reclaim space for herself, which eventually led to her book, coaching work, and a clearer framework for a good life. This episode is especially relevant for moms, working parents, and anyone trying to balance family, identity, and personal growth.

00:00 - Opening the conversation about moms, family, and intentional living

01:35 - Why slowing down helps you move with clarity

03:03 - Living on autopilot versus choosing intentionally

04:55 - Why quality time with family matters

07:24 - Finding 10 to 15 minutes a day for yourself

08:50 - Building a solo reading habit

10:40 - Why moms need space for themselves

13:22 - The comment from her son that sparked a life shift

15:06 - How reading led to coaching

18:24 - Turning personal reflections into a book

19:43 - The meaning behind Cheers for a Good Life

22:27 - The four foundations of a good life

23:55 - What continuous growth means

26:03 - Passing intentional living on to children

27:09 - Why children mirror their parents

30:42 - Trial and error in parenting

32:30 - Modeling apologies and accountability

33:53 - Mom guilt and pressure around work

35:04 - Expectations placed on women

38:22 - Challenging guilt and mixed messages

41:06 - Kirana's book and coaching

45:10 - Building a good life intentionally

47:00 - Closing reflections

📩 For partnerships, consulting, speaking, and/or collaborations:

email: [email protected]

===================

Stay Connected with Me, Kendra Chapman

🌐 Website: www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithkendrachapman/

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/kendra.weber3

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kendrachapmanliving123

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-chapman-3-100kecb85539165/

✍🏽 Substack: https://coachingwithkendrachapman.substack.com/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

🌟 Connect with our Guest: Kirana Sidin

🌐 Website: https://cheersforagoodlife.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiranasidin/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kiranasidin

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiranasidin/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

=============================

Video production by Tate Chapman. To see more videos created by Tate Chapman and his brothers, check out the Triple Dare Adventures YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/@TripleDareAdventures

Music featured in this podcast is licensed through Epidemic Sound. All music is used under a valid license. Copyright remains with the respective composers, artists, and Epidemic Sound.

For more information about Epidemic Sound, visit their website.

Intro and Outro music Come Correct by the artist Teeklef

The Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. The views and opinions shared are personal and are not intended as medical, mental health, financial, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your specific health, medical, or personal circumstances. Any actions you take based on this content are at your own discretion, and results depend on your individual commitment, circumstances, and

Kendra Chapman sits down with meditation coach and former UK school leader Will Fraser to explore how slowing down can actually help people move through life with more clarity and intention. The conversation covers his pivot out of education, his meditation practice, and how he now teaches both grounded attention skills and more expansive altered-states work.In this episode, Kendra and Will discuss how meditation can support focus, emotional regulation, and self-awareness without requiring a spiritual label. Will also shares how his courses are structured, why accessibility matters to him, and how he built a new path after leaving a high-intensity career in school leadership.

(0:00) Introduction and welcome back to the podcast

(0:42) Will's pivot from education to meditation coaching

(1:37) Why meditation creates distance from reactive thinking

(2:33) Stealth meditations, walking practice, and 10-minute resets

(5:34) ADHD, childhood restlessness, and early self-regulation

(6:57) The school meditation club that changed everything

(8:20) Travel, Eastern traditions, and shifting his worldview

(10:36) Skepticism, materialism, and the question of consciousness

(12:16) The stress of senior leadership in education

(13:44) Meditation as a reset during a demanding workday

(17:42) The paddleboard "download" that sparked his first course

(20:09) Leaving education and starting over as a meditation teacher

(22:18) Learning to trust intuition and meaningful inner guidance

(25:40) The marketing challenges of launching a new business

(29:10) Mind Beyond Matter and psychedelic-style altered states without substances

(34:02) Attention Academy and rebuilding focus in a dopamine-driven world

(36:22) How binaural sound and guided practice work together

(38:03) Why he avoids dogma and lets students have their own experience

(43:35) Journaling, recurring symbols, and the role of spirit guides

(47:07) Pay-what-you-can pricing and accessibility tiers

(48:43) Final thoughts on meditation as a broad family of practices

(50:40) Closing reflection on how meditation should have existed centuries ago

📩 For partnerships, consulting, speaking, and/or collaborations:

email: [email protected]

===================

Stay Connected with Me, Kendra Chapman

🌐 Website: www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithkendrachapman/

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/kendra.weber3

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kendrachapmanliving123

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-chapman-3-100kecb85539165/

✍🏽 Substack: https://coachingwithkendrachapman.substack.com/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

🌟 Connect with our Guest: Will Fraser

🌐 Website: https://www.mind-beyond-matter.com/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

=============================

Video production by Tate Chapman. To see more videos created by Tate Chapman and his brothers, check out the Triple Dare Adventures YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/@TripleDareAdventures

Music featured in this podcast is licensed through Epidemic Sound. All music is used under a valid license. Copyright remains with the respective composers, artists, and Epidemic Sound.

For more information about Epidemic Sound, visit their website.

Intro and Outro music Come Correct by the artist Teeklef

The Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. The views and opinions shared are personal and are not intended as medical, mental health, financial, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your specific health, medical, or personal circumstances. Any actions you take based on this content are at your own discretion, and results depend on your individual commitment, circumstances, and responsibility.

Dr. Fish shares how his early experiences as a musician and professor led him to study performance anxiety and develop a practical approach grounded in Zen and mindfulness. He offers a simple but powerful message: you are not broken — you are perfectly human.Key takeaway: Mindfulness is a skill, and like any skill, it improves with practice. By slowing down, accepting intrusive thoughts, and re-engaging with the present moment, you can speak and perform with more confidence, clarity, and calm.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone preparing for a big conversation, presentation, interview, or performance.

00:00 — Welcome and episode introduction

03:00 — Why confidence is not always the real issue

04:06 — Dr. Fish's Zen background and influence

06:42 — The moment that connected Zen and mindfulness

11:07 — What mindfulness really means in this conversation

12:01 — The READ method: engage, accept, detach

15:02 — Why performance anxiety often affects confident professionals

17:38 — The three root causes of performance anxiety

21:26 — When nervousness is a normal response

23:32 — Mindfulness as a skill that must be practiced

24:08 — Everyday mindfulness exercises: brushing teeth, washing dishes, waiting in line

27:18 — Be here now: staying present in daily life

30:06 — Dr. Fish's offerings and online courses

35:48 — The main truth about anxiety: you are not broken

37:20 — Kendra's story about her son's speech competition

39:19 — Final reflections and closing thoughts

📩 For partnerships, consulting, speaking, and/or collaborations:

email: [email protected]

===================

Stay Connected with Me, Kendra Chapman

🌐 Website: www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithkendrachapman/

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/kendra.weber3

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kendrachapmanliving123

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-chapman-3-100kecb85539165/

✍🏽 Substack: https://coachingwithkendrachapman.substack.com/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

🌟 Connect with our Guest: David Fish

🌐 Website: https://riseupeight.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidleefish/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

=============================

Video production by Tate Chapman. To see more videos created by Tate Chapman and his brothers, check out the Triple Dare Adventures YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/@TripleDareAdventures

Music featured in this podcast is licensed through Epidemic Sound. All music is used under a valid license. Copyright remains with the respective composers, artists, and Epidemic Sound.

For more information about Epidemic Sound, visit their website.

Intro and Outro music Come Correct by the artist Teeklef

The Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. The views and opinions shared are personal and are not intended as medical, mental health, financial, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your specific health, medical, or personal circumstances. Any actions you take based on this content are at your own discretion, and results depend on your individual commitment, circumstances, and responsibility.

Christina Simmons, LCSW-C, joins Kendra Chapman for a conversation about how slowing down can restore focus, support healing, and reduce the mind-body strain created by constant urgency. They explore Christina's personal path into social work and trauma therapy, along with the ways speed, survival, and conditioning show up in everyday life.This episode is especially useful for anyone feeling pressure to do more, move faster, or keep up with systems that reward burnout over well-being.

• In this episode, Christina explains her current practice of going one thing at a time as a way to build deep focus and do better work.

• She shares how a formative experience in middle school, during her mother's breast cancer transition, shaped her desire to offer support beyond the family system.

• Kendra and Christina discuss how schools, hospitals, and other institutions often hold some of life's most vulnerable transitions.

• Christina describes how her education, psychology training, and social work path became a way of honoring her mother's influence.

• We discuss why slowness can feel difficult for many people, especially when productivity, speed, and approval have been rewarded for years.

• Christina names the role of conditioning from education, work, colonialism, capitalism, and family systems in shaping urgency.

• She explains how rushing can affect the nervous system, digestion, immunity, stress hormones, inflammation, and information processing.

• Christina outlines a practical starting point for change: awareness, permission, reframing slowness, and recognizing that slowness is active, not passive.

• She talks about betrayal as self-abandonment, especially when someone constantly meets other people's expectations at the expense of their own pace.

• Christina connects trauma, identity, and survival strategies, including how marginalized people may adapt by becoming faster, stronger, smarter, or more compliant.

• She shares how trauma can live in the body through bracing, numbness, dissociation, eating changes, relationship patterns, chronic pain, hypertension, diabetes, and inflammation.

• Christina explains that trauma can be intergenerational, epigenetic, and, for some listeners, connected to spiritual beliefs about soul-level memory.

• She describes her integrative trauma therapy approach, which includes EMDR, hypnosis, integrative and functional nutrition, somatic experiencing, mind-body medicine, and energy healing.

• The episode closes with a message that slowness is resistance, self-love, and a way to reclaim power.

00:00 - Opening the conversation and setting the tone

00:53 - Christina's definition of going slow to go fast

03:37 - The middle school experience that sparked her calling

07:25 - Honoring her mother through education and doctoral study

09:47 - Why slowness matters without losing momentum

10:36 - How systems reward speed and productivity

12:28 - Why rushing strains the mind, body, and spirit

14:46 - First steps: awareness, permission, and reframing slowness

16:31 - Why slowness is active, not passive

18:48 - Why speed can become self-betrayal

19:12 - The pressure of expectations and survival responses

21:58 - How marginalized identities can lead to overfunctioning

23:58 - Purpose as your own song, not someone else's script

24:47 - Christina's trauma therapy modalities and healing approach

27:38 - How trauma shows up in the body and relationships

30:27 - Trauma, chronic illness, and inflammation

32:00 - Intergenerational, epigenetic, and spiritual dimensions of trauma

33:09 - Books, astrology, and other resources Christina recommends

38:40 - Turning practice into pattern through consistency

39:38 - Collective healing through presence and slower conversation

41:41 - The health risks of living in constant urgency

43:03 - Why the goal is priority, not perfection

44:05 - Final message: slowness as liberation and resistance

44:45 - Healing tools Christina offers for listeners

📩 For partnerships, consulting, speaking, and/or collaborations:

email: [email protected]

===================

Stay Connected with Me, Kendra Chapman

🌐 Website: www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithkendrachapman/

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/kendra.weber3

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kendrachapmanliving123

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-chapman-3-100kecb85539165/

✍🏽 Substack: https://coachingwithkendrachapman.substack.com/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

🌟 Connect with our Guest: Christina Simmons

https://www.risemdllc.com/ebook

🌐 Website: https://www.risemdllc.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risemdllc?igsh=MWF2OWxpbzdtY2hiYQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

=============================

Video production by Tate Chapman. To see more videos created by Tate Chapman and his brothers, check out the Triple Dare Adventures YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/@TripleDareAdventures

Music featured in this podcast is licensed through Epidemic Sound. All music is used under a valid license. Copyright remains with the respective composers, artists, and Epidemic Sound.

For more information about Epidemic Sound, visit their website.

Intro and Outro music Come Correct by the artist Teeklef

The Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. The views and opinions shared are personal and are not intended as medical, mental health, financial, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your specific health, medical, or personal circumstances. Any actions you take based on this content are at your own discretion, and results depend on your individual commitment, circumstances, and responsibility.

Kendra Chapman opens with the podcast's core invitation to slow down, then sits down with Swami Nityananda, a spiritual teacher with the Awake Yoga Meditation Community and a longtime professor of English, for a conversation about presence, kindness, and inner freedom. Together they explore how small daily pauses can reshape relationships, reduce stress, and help people live with more intention.In this episode, Kendra and Swami discuss practical ways to bring meditation and awareness into ordinary life, from the first few breaths of the morning to tense conversations, caregiving, and work pressure. The conversation centers on a simple but powerful idea: joy and wisdom are not things we chase outside ourselves - they are qualities we can recognize, trust, and strengthen from within.

• Swami Nityananda's background and perspective - Kendra introduces Swami as a spiritual teacher with the Awake Yoga Meditation Community, consecrated as a swami in 2014, and a former Loyola University professor with deep academic and spiritual experience.

• How to start the day slowly - Swami recommends meditation first thing in the morning, or even three quiet breaths before getting out of bed, to set intention and connect with inner quiet.

• The power of awareness and resetting - Swami explains that at any moment, you can pause, take a breath, get water, go outside, and return to a conversation or task with a calmer nervous system.

• Self-criticism vs. self-compassion - The conversation covers how harsh self-judgment triggers a stress response, while kindness toward yourself supports better sleep, presence, and healthier relationships.

• What non-dual awareness means - Swami describes it as the light within each person - always present, whether or not we consciously notice it - and the source of wisdom, creativity, and right action.

• Joy as part of responsibility, not opposed to it - Swami argues that joy does not make someone less serious or less effective; in fact, it can make attorneys, surgeons, caregivers, and leaders better at what they do.

• Discernment and healthy boundaries - Being compassionate does not mean carrying other people's burdens for them. Swami emphasizes honoring others' autonomy and allowing people to learn from their own journey.

• Caregiving as a spiritual practice - Kendra shares her experience helping her father recover from knee surgery, and the discussion reframes caregiving as a gift of being, not just doing.

• Nature, creativity, and abundance - Swami points to nature as a model for abundance and grounding, and says each person already has intrinsic talents and a natural capacity to express them.

• A daily kindness practice - Swami suggests dedicating the day to a spiritual quality like kindness, then reflecting at night on where it showed up and where it could be strengthened.

00:00 - Kendra introduces the podcast and its slow-down philosophy

00:02 - Guest intro: Swami Nityananda and her teaching background

01:44 - The episode's focus on presence, kindness, and spiritual slowing down

00:26 - How Swami begins the day with meditation and quiet

01:59 - Setting the alarm earlier to create five to ten minutes of stillness

03:04 - Why awareness gives you the freedom to reset in any situation

04:32 - Self-awareness as the power to choose your next thought or word

05:35 - Rephrasing yourself when you speak from the wrong place

06:57 - How daily life keeps offering opportunities to grow in self-awareness

07:26 - Going outside for three breaths to reset the nervous system

08:51 - Making self-reflection a weekly practice, not just a daily one

09:47 - Treating yourself like a friend with compassion and honesty

11:15 - Why harsh self-criticism creates a threat response in the body

13:29 - Defining non-dual awareness as the light within everyone

15:25 - Why nature, dancing, and elders can all be access points to inner wisdom

17:21 - Flow, personality, and the different styles teachers use to express care

18:21 - Compassion with discernment: not carrying what is not yours to carry

20:22 - The role of healthy boundaries in honoring another person's growth

22:32 - Applying good boundary habits from one area of life to another

23:53 - Why the culture values activity but often forgets the art of downshifting

26:11 - Singing, music, and joy as support while doing daily chores and service

28:16 - Aligning with the natural pace of life instead of forcing speed

29:48 - Easy entry points for non-dual awareness in the middle of a busy day

31:39 - How small acts of kindness accumulate into inner strength

33:37 - Resetting anywhere, including in a business meeting

35:31 - When to step out of a situation because your nervous system is overwhelmed

36:30 - The amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and the pause before reacting

39:16 - Why joy is natural, and how children model unselfconscious presence

41:35 - One person's peace can shift the tone of a tense room

42:47 - Joy as a strength for serious professions like law and surgery

44:22 - Healthy laughter versus disrespectful laughter

46:31 - Creativity, intuition, and the courage to express yourself freely

47:44 - Abundance as something natural, rooted in each person's gifts

51:35 - Reality as self-revealing and feedback as a tool for growth

52:19 - Where to connect with Awake Yoga Meditation Center

53:44 - Final reminder: connecting with your light creates a ripple effect

📩 For partnerships, consulting, speaking, and/or collaborations:

email: [email protected]

===================

Stay Connected with Me, Kendra Chapman

🌐 Website: www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithkendrachapman/

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/kendra.weber3

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kendrachapmanliving123

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-chapman-3-100kecb85539165/

✍🏽 Substack: https://coachingwithkendrachapman.substack.com/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

🌟 Connect with our Guest: Swami Nityananda

🌐 Website: https://www.awakeyogameditation.org/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swami_nityananda_giri/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeYogaMeditation

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

=============================

Video and podcast production by Tate Chapman. To see more videos created by Tate Chapman and his brothers, check out the Triple Dare Adventures YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/@TripleDareAdventures

Music featured in this podcast is licensed through Epidemic Sound. All music is used under a valid license. Copyright remains with the respective composers, artists, and Epidemic Sound.

For more information about Epidemic Sound, visit their website.

Intro and Outro music Come Correct by the artist Teeklef

The Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. The views and opinions shared are personal and are not intended as medical, mental health, financial, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your specific health, medical, or personal circumstances. Any actions you take based on this content are at your own discretion, and results depend on your individual commitment, circumstances, and responsibility.

Kendra Chapman welcomes back Russell Van Brocklen for part two of their conversation about dyslexia, reading, and writing. This episode focuses on a practical method for helping students move from basic sentences to advanced body paragraphs by using their interests, word analysis, and repeated typing-based practice.Russell explains why he believes dyslexia is not simply a reading problem, but a brain-processing difference that can also become an advantage when taught the right way. He also walks through examples, student outcomes, and how parents can apply the method at home.

• In this episode, Russell breaks down his teaching method as word analysis followed by articulation, starting with a student's specialty or intense interest

• He explains how to move from a universal theme to stronger writing, using Dead Poets Society as the example and "perspective" as the theme

• Russell argues that students should work from the specific to the general, rather than being given broad prompts first

• He describes a step-by-step process for building an advanced body paragraph by typing key words, then typing dictionary definitions, then building synonyms and related meanings

• He emphasizes that typing matters because handwriting can overload working memory for many dyslexic students

• He says the method helps students build a stronger vocabulary, with a goal of roughly 500 evolved words over time

• Kendra and Russell discuss how the approach can make students more confident because they can successfully engage with complex texts they care about

• Russell shares examples of students who improved dramatically, including Casey, who jumped eight grade levels, and Reed, who improved in both reading and writing over months of home practice

• He explains why he believes dyslexia is not a reading problem but a symptom of a deeper issue involving organization and front-brain overactivity

• Russell says the method can also help students learn to create problem statements, which he sees as valuable for school, research, and future careers

(0:00) Audio check and setup for part two

(0:57) Welcome back and recap of part one

(2:23) Russell previews advanced body paragraphs and the neuroscience behind the method

(4:55) A New York example showing major gains with a low-cost writing intervention

(6:22) Using a favorite movie to identify a universal theme

(7:45) Why dyslexic students can answer faster than expected

(9:29) Moving from a broad theme to a more specific teaching method

(10:27) Shakespeare as a model for structure, conflict, and theme

(11:08) Casey's story and how intense repetition changed her reading level

(12:36) The typing-based process: sentences, key words, definitions, and repetition

(14:37) Why word analysis requires knowing the exact meaning of a word

(16:33) Why repeated typing, not copying, creates real learning

(17:04) Why handwriting can collapse working memory for dyslexic students

(18:21) Building vocabulary and why writing supports reading

(19:46) Why students must work in their own interests, not generic test prep

(20:45) Turning universal themes into basic sentences and body paragraphs

(21:25) Using quotes from a script to build an advanced paragraph

(23:24) Introducing the idea of a warrant and why it connects claims to evidence

(24:32) A comparison between a younger dyslexic student and an older AP student

(26:07) Confidence gains and why the process can take 12 to 18 months

(28:41) Why dyslexia is not just a reading problem

(30:30) Kendra tries the reading exercise with a dense academic passage

(33:59) Why dense text overwhelms many readers with too much information

(35:55) A high-end example of fast progress with advanced reading practice

(37:39) Why schools often won't accommodate the way dyslexic students actually learn

(38:37) The tennis analogy for unequal learning conditions

(40:53) What parents should do at home: specialty first, then audio books, then specific to general

(42:18) Why private tutoring and school programs are often too expensive

(43:16) Teaching problem statements, even to a 10-year-old aiming for NASA

(45:07) The upcoming book If You Write, You Can Read and more outcome examples

(48:19) How the course platform works and the weekly Q and A with Angela

(49:29) Final thoughts: the method can be fixed with parent involvement

(51:15) Why this approach may matter for problem-solving in the real world

(52:23) Kendra plans to switch books after struggling with A Wrinkle in Time---

Closing

-----------------------------------

📩 For partnerships, consulting, speaking, and/or collaborations:

email: [email protected]

===================

Stay Connected with Me, Kendra Chapman

🌐 Website: www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithkendrachapman/

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/kendra.weber3

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kendrachapmanliving123

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-chapman-3-100kecb85539165/

✍🏽 Substack: https://coachingwithkendrachapman.substack.com/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

🌟 Connect with our Guest: Russell Van Brocklen

🌐 Website: https://dyslexiaclasses.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyslexiaclassesus/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cqwfxn9FqFx1Idl0YbeHg

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87/

=============================

Video production by Tate Chapman. To see more videos created by Tate Chapman and his brothers, check out the Triple Dare Adventures YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/@TripleDareAdventures

Music featured in this podcast is licensed through Epidemic Sound. All music is used under a valid license. Copyright remains with the respective composers, artists, and Epidemic Sound.

For more information about Epidemic Sound, visit their website.

Intro and Outro music

Come Correct by the artist Teeklef

The Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. The views and opinions shared are personal and are not intended as medical, mental health, financial, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your specific health, medical, or personal circumstances. Any actions you take based on this content are at your own discretion, and results depend on your individual commitment, circumstances, and responsibility.

Discover how slowing down and focusing on foundational life skills can lead to long-term success, especially for youth. Join us as Rob Heller shares the story behind his Boost Program, addressing critical gaps in social, mental health, and life skills education in today's fast-paced, phone-driven culture.Key Topics:

• The importance of fundamental life skills that are often missing from traditional education

• Rob Heller's journey from successful entrepreneur to youth development innovator

• The creation and mission of the Boost Program to bridge skill gaps among teens and young adults

• How a century of personal development wisdom from figures like Dale Carnegie and Napoleon Hill influences modern training

• The impact of phone-based culture on interpersonal skills and social development

• Strategies for parents, educators, and leaders to cultivate meaningful connections

• The value of slowing down to build a foundation for lasting human success

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to the podcast and guest Rob Heller

00:17 - Exploring the core message: slowing down for success

00:37 - Rob Heller's background: entrepreneur and youth development innovator

00:52 - The gap in traditional education: overlooked soft skills

01:17 - Rob's journey from corporate success to solving youth development issues

01:41 - The inspiration behind the Boost Program

02:01 - How century-old personal development wisdom shapes the curriculum

02:22 - The significance of interpersonal skills in a digital age

02:51 - Addressing concerns about phone-based culture and social connection

03:02 - Closing thoughts on building meaningful human connections

03:30 - How listeners can learn more and get involved with the Boost Program

03:58 - Final motivational message: slow down to build a lasting foundation

04:08 - Wrap-up and encouragement to let your light shineResources & Links:

====================

🧢 WORK WITH ME | Kendra Chapman

Ready to stop spinning and start aligning your life with what actually matters?

I offer 1:1 and group coaching for individuals who are serious about real, lasting growth—in your life, work, and purpose.

✨ Book your free Alignment Call; email: [email protected]

—

📩 For partnerships, consulting, speaking, and/or collaborations:

email: [email protected]

===================

Stay Connected with Me, Kendra Chapman

🌐 Website: www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithkendrachapman/

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/kendra.weber3

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kendrachapmanliving123

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-chapman-3-100kecb85539165/

✍🏽 Substack: https://coachingwithkendrachapman.substack.com/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

🌟 Connect with our Guest: Rob Heller

🌐 Website: https://boostprogram.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boost_program/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boostkids

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Boost_Program

X: https://x.com/BoostProgram_

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@boost_program

=============================

Video production by Tate Chapman. To see more videos created by Tate Chapman and his brothers, check out the Triple Dare Adventures YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/@TripleDareAdventures

Music featured in this podcast is licensed through Epidemic Sound. All music is used under a valid license. Copyright remains with the respective composers, artists, and Epidemic Sound.

For more information about Epidemic Sound, visit their website.

Intro and Outro music

Come Correct by the artist Teeklef

The Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. The views and opinions shared are personal and are not intended as medical, mental health, financial, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your specific health, medical, or personal circumstances. Any actions you take based on this content are at your own discretion, and results depend on your individual commitment, circumstances, and responsibility.

Discover how embracing a slower, intentional pace can transform your health journey. Jen Germain, a certified functional medicine health coach and autoimmune survivor, shares practical wisdom on healing from chronic illness, the importance of mindset, and sustainable lifestyle habits for lasting wellness.

00:00 - The importance of going slow to enhance health and well-being

00:44 - Morning routines that set a positive tone for the day

01:12 - Embracing the freedom of creating your own schedule

02:08 - The significance of self-care and prioritizing your needs

02:41 - The necessity of replenishing your cup to avoid burnout

03:06 - How slowing down improves decision-making and reduces inflammatory responses

04:31 - Personal health journey: diagnosis and the role of functional medicine

05:00 - Healing through nutrition and lifestyle changes after autoimmune diagnosis

06:15 - The impact of diet on autoimmune and inflammatory conditions

07:37 - Practical tips for meal prep and meal timing

08:51 - The importance of pacing in diet and exercise adaptations

11:27 - Overcoming sugar addiction and dietary temptations

12:53 - Simple strategies for busy schedules to stay healthy

14:47 - The benefits of meal prepping and using versatile appliances like the Instant Pot

16:36 - The challenge of feeding picky eaters and involving family in healthier choices

17:26 - Exercise recommendations for middle-aged adults

18:52 - The value of outdoor activity and strength training for longevity

20:46 - How exercise boosts brain health and immune function

22:37 - Breaking down exercise into manageable daily segments

23:10 - The significance of social connection for overall health

24:34 - Thoughtful approaches to medication protocols and maintaining muscle mass

27:07 - The importance of sustainable habits and gradual change

28:27 - Cultivating a mindset of love, gratitude, and self-acceptance

30:22 - The impact of negative self-talk and the power of loving your body

31:17 - Water as a metaphor for self-love and nurturing positive thoughts

32:43 - The value of kindness and self-compassion in health journeys

33:40 - Reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning

35:26 - The importance of mindfulness and noticing progress

37:14 - Strategies for managing stress eating and emotional triggers

38:24 - Proactive planning and routine adjustments for stressful days

39:10 - Setting achievable goals and focusing on one or two changes at a time

41:16 - How personalized coaching and genetic insights inform health strategies

44:14 - The foundational role of mindset and self-love in sustained healing

45:35 - Embracing progress at your own pace — it's never too late to start again

====================

🧢 WORK WITH ME | Kendra Chapman

Ready to stop spinning and start aligning your life with what actually matters?

I offer 1:1 and group coaching for individuals who are serious about real, lasting growth—in your life, work, and purpose.

✨ Book your free Alignment Call; email: [email protected]

—

📩 For partnerships, consulting, speaking, and/or collaborations:

email: [email protected]

===================

Stay Connected with Me, Kendra Chapman

🌐 Website: www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithkendrachapman/

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/kendra.weber3

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kendrachapmanliving123

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-chapman-3-100kecb85539165/

✍🏽 Substack: https://coachingwithkendrachapman.substack.com/

🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/

Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links

🌟 Connect with our Guest: Jen Germain

🌐 Website: https://www.compasshealthcoachingllc.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compasshealthcoachingllc/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/compasshealthcoachingllc

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifergermain/

=============================

Video production by Tate Chapman. To see more videos created by Tate Chapman and his brothers, check out the Triple Dare Adventures YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/@TripleDareAdventures

Music featured in this podcast is licensed through Epidemic Sound. All music is used under a valid license. Copyright remains with the respective composers, artists, and Epidemic Sound.

For more information about Epidemic Sound, visit their website.

Intro and Outro music

Come Correct by the artist Teeklef

The Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. The views and opinions shared are personal and are not intended as medical, mental health, financial, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your specific health, medical, or personal circumstances. Any actions you take based on this content are at your own discretion, and results depend on your individual commitment, circumstances, and responsibility.

—----