Real Eyes Realize

Drew Lawrence is the epitome of someone who experienced a “wake-up call” and was asked to provide consultation in an area he was chosen to explore and help others do the same.  He works with dignitaries, influencers, and all people interested in their purpose and path, particularly as it aligns to where and when their soul came into this world. He is a humble, fascinating, and scholarly person, a friend, and I can’t wait for you to meet him on this podcast!

Drew Lawrence: Drew is a successful author, speaker, Sanskrit scholar and Vedic astrological consultant. He was head of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Sanskrit Editorial Dept in Los Angeles from 1975-1977. He has been a practitioner/teacher of Vedic Astrology or Jyotish for more than 46 years and has been a featured speaker at an International Symposium on Vedic Astrology held in San Francisco and also in London. He has authored five books thus far.

Manoj Chalam discusses the great mono-myth of the Hero’s Journey through the lens of Hindu and Buddhist archetypes, as well as his own life experiences. Some of you may recall Manoj was our very first interview guest, along with his wife Jytohi Chalam, two beloved Vedic philosophy teachers of our REAL Eyes Realize host, Christina Roberts Enneking. Jyothi’s soul has passed on as she has joined the great Atma (auspicious nature of consciousness), and Manoj discusses life after the passing of his life partner, among other topics. 

This podcast episode touches upon beginning anew, moving beyond the past and focusing on the here and now. We discuss archetypes, storytelling, the “friend” spiritual guide, and how we collectively elevate one another in this lifetime. Expect philosophy, humor, psychology, neuroscience, casual dialogue, and deep insights to reflect upon in your own hero’s journey, in both the conscious and unconscious realms.

Dr. Manoj Chalam: “Murti Wallah”. Manoj Chalam uses humor and personal anecdotes in his lectures and workshops to illuminate Hindu mythology. An Indian-born scientist with a PhD from Cornell University, Manoj helps individuals find their archetypes in Hindu Yogic deities and teaches the 4 ways to work with an archetype as a Vedantic practice. He has also compiled a book on the symbolisms of Hindu and Buddhist deities. Manoj presents workshops on Hindu symbolisms and Tantra at yoga studios, keynotes at festivals, ashrams, and universities, worldwide.

Kaylyn and Teri are the co-founders of Simplified Coach, Inc, a Silicon Valley based business with global outreach. Founded in 2010, this business was created to deliver world-class leader coaching, group workshops, and managed services to help companies and leaders build mastery in communication, relationships, and team performance. They transform behaviors and skills with neuroscience-based tools and experiential knowledge that accelerates leadership for individuals and teams.

This podcast episode touches upon the pillars of success for these two women co-founders and the importance of trust, honesty, and supportive partnership. They embody what it is to truly partner and have business and friendship mix successfully. They share tips, tricks and trends of leadership challenges post-COVID and the ways in which they are finding ways for themselves and clients to thrive. This is a tell-all tale and we’re excited for you to find out more about these stellar leaders and their work in this world.

Johnny is a survivor: he’s endured multiple forms of abuse, suicide attempts, and has found a way to move from his greatest wounds to a wisdom that rocks our world with messages of hope, tenacity, and levity. Johnny  talks candidly in his two TED talks about his journey, and his tagline is: “the real miracle is that he lived to tell the tale”.  In our REAL Eyes Realize podcast, we are lucky to dive into the levers Johnny looks at as important to play with in life, and those that simply don’t matter. In his light-hearted and witty approach, he shares a range of personal experiences and the ways in which he has navigated his way through mental health challenges ranging from OCD, bipolar disorder, PTSD and more. He’s gone from not being able to touch food or hug people to fully engaging in life, on his terms.  We are thrilled to introduce you to the “Mental Health Rockstar” of our times, Johnny Crowder.

Justin and Shelly led the powerful online community called The Liberation Experience, a forum for people all over the world to explore what actions they could take to end racism in this world, in this lifetime.  Everything that Justin and Shelly are a part of turns into a movement of like-minded and like-hearted people and their style makes showing up in an activist way plausible and the greatest act of love we can do for one another. In the time when we see and feel such dramatic polarity in our world, these bright individuals urge all of us how to BE change agents for the greater good of all citizens, and doing so with love in  our hearts.

Justin Michael Williams. From growing up with gunshot holes outside of his bedroom window, to sharing the stage with Deepak Chopra, Justin knows the power of healing to overcome. He is an author, top 20 recording artist, and transformational speaker who is using music and meditation to wake up the world. With over a decade of teaching experience, Justin has become a pioneering voice of color for the new healing movement—between his podcast, keynotes, and motivational online platforms, Justin’s teachings have now spread to more than 40 countries around the globe. Justin is dedicated to using his voice to serve. To being a beacon of hope for those who are lost, and to make sure all people, of all backgrounds, have access to the information they need to change their lives. “When people wake up to their own brilliance—it’s like magic,"says Williams. 'If my work and art can inspire people to do that, then I’ve fulfilled my mission.” His first book, Stay Woke: A Meditation Guide for the Rest of Us, was released nationwide February 11, 2020. 

Shelly Tygielski. Author of the book, “Sit Down to Rise Up: How Radical Self-Care Can Change the World,” launched on October 26, 2021 from New World Library. She is also the founder of Pandemic of Love, a global, grass-roots, volunteer-led mutual aid community that has directly matched nearly two million people since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, accounting for over $60 million in direct transactions. Her work has been featured in over 100 media outlets including CNN Heroes of 2020, Forbes, Upworthy, The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS This Morning, the New York Times and Washington Post. Shelly has been hailed by individuals from President Joe Biden to Arianna Huffington, and Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn to Maria Shriver. Shelly is a trauma-informed mindfulness teacher named one of the “12 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement” by Mindful Magazine in 2019. She teaches formalized self-care and resilience practices at organizations around the world, and is widely regarded as a self-care activist.

Jane is the Founder and Executive Director of The Coaching Fellowship, a leadership development program designed for women leading efforts for positive social impact.  This organization offers individual coaching and opportunities for connection with empowered women leaders worldwide, an important building block for cultivating strong leaders who care: care for the environment, care for the greater good of the community, and care for one another deeply. In addition, Jane has recently released a new book, “Unlocked, How Empowered Women Empower Women”, which includes short stories that highlight impactful female leaders working to propel women and girls forward. In telling their stories, Jane shows how these pioneers are creating lasting change and how we can apply their trailblazing lessons to our own lives. This book was written during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, where it is said (according to the World Economic Forum), women lost 36 years of progress in 2020 in terms of gender equality in the workplace, due to the pandemic.  That is an entire generation of progress lost. There is work to do and Jane helps us understand what we can do to support prosperous growth for all.

Jane Finette.  Jane Finette is obsessed with accelerating change at scale through conscious leadership. Her passion, expertise and two decades of experience are anchored at the intersection of technology and human potential. At her core, she empowers individuals and communities to solve the world's largest, most persistent and perennial problems.

Jane is the Executive Director and Founder of The Coaching Fellowship, a 501c3 non-profit which nurtures and brings together some of the world’s most extraordinary emerging young women leaders in social change.

Some of Jane’s past work includes senior leadership roles at global brands such as eBay, Sotheby's and Mozilla reaching hundreds of millions of users through all stages of growth. She has founded and run large international teams, expanded organizations globally, built products, ran marketing departments and grown large scale open source communities. Jane is also a successful serial entrepreneur and certified CPCC ACC executive coach, and leadership expert.

Jane is the author of the book Unlocked — How Empowered Women Empower Women, a referendum on women's inequality and a toolkit for leveling the playing field for women and girls. Part inspiration, part practical guide, Unlocked was written to encourage and empower women to take action into their own hands, and to reach gender equality in our lifetime.

Reisa Babic is a good friend, a pillar in her community, a cancer survivor, and one of the most humble and inspiring people you will meet, simply by the way she lives her life. Diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, she teaches all those who know her how to live life to the fullest, enjoy every moment, and not to take anything for granted … and she does this without truly teaching or preaching. She is super real with all the feelings that arise in raising an almost 15-year old son in Silicon Valley, as a single parent, and simply wanting one wish: to see him grow up. She is an active support for others diagnosed with cancer, particularly moms or other parents, and helps to educate others on the disease and ways to live with it, and moreso, to live fully with it. You will find her attitude inspiring, and find yourself rooting for Reisa when she says, “I may have cancer, but it will never have me!”

Reisa Babic. Reisa is a single mother, working full time, living with cancer. When she is not working, she is spending time with her 14-year old son (when he isn’t playing video games) who is her “life saver,” watching him play soccer or football. Reisa is an active volunteer with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, supporting those diagnosed with cancer and helping them understand there is hope. Work/life balance is very important to ensuring she is available for her son while still succeeding at work. Too many people live to work and not enough of us enjoy what we have while we are here.

While traveling through the Sacred Valley of Peru from December 27, 2021 - January 6, 2022, with these two master teachers Roberto & Rene, and good friend Gv Freeman, we enjoyed experiences of deep cleansing on physical, psychological and spiritual levels. At the end of our trip, I had a dream. That dream was to introduce people to their teachings, and furthermore to their personification of spiritual depth with no ego and an abundance of love. I wanted to provide this special podcast episode on my birthday, and offer to anyone wishing to make a donation to a cause close to their heart, that invitation.

When I asked Robert & Rene if they would be open to an interview on REAL Eyes Realize podcast, they said they work with people face to face in order to see what is important for healing. That is hard over a podcast platform, then they could feel my heart and intention was pure, and said “of course, Princesa. Happy Birthday!” I introduce to our listeners these two incredible teachers, and their teachings.

If listeners are so inclined and fund a cause that lights a lantern in your heart, giving to something or someone that matters deeply to you, please donate. I have initiated a Go fund Me campaign for two causes that matter to me and you are invited to donate there, if desired.

Roberto & Rene Flores Solis. Brothers. Friends. Master Spiritual teachers. Roberto and Rene are plant medicine guides and instruments for deep awakening. Roberto is a kind-hearted and well-educated guide in Quechua traditions, a channel to “the doctors” of plant medicine, and a soul who will keep you laughing, loving, and enjoying the life you have been gifted to live. Rene is assistant to his brother and has proofed text books, and studied in-depth about Incan archeology and history. He is a fluent English-speaking guide who shares wisdom, stories, and has a heart of gold to all who meet him.

This podcast features Govind Dass (Gv) Freeman, a technical whiz, business consultant and expert generalist who provides founders, entrepreneurs, and executives clarity and a non-judgemental mirror for navigating the path toward lasting success and happiness. We discuss the struggle of forgetting and continually coming back to remembering we are enough in this world, and looking at the deep beliefs that when shattered, can break open the door to purpose and fulfillment. Gv gets REAL with us, discussing his path from substance abuse and trauma to a life where he now leads people through difficult challenges, doing their own DEEP work, and dancing  in consciousness experiences in a loving and supported way. Through Gv’s matter-of-fact and approachable personality, we get to journey with him from an existence of feeling broken to being bold.

Govind Dass (Gv) Freeman. Gv Freeman is a Personal Growth Strategist & Psycho-Spiritual Counselor with over 25 years of experience living at the center of a marketing, product, sales, and self-care Venn diagram. Gv is the creator of Founders Thriving, a movement designed for founders, entrepreneurs, and executives to be successful and happy - here and now - by decoupling net worth and self-worth and developing a healthy relationship with themselves and their business. Gv's interests and experiences span many roles including serial entrepreneur, fractional CRO, entheogen guide, and spiritual tourist. Gv pulls from all of these disciplines to help startups launch, companies grow, and founders thrive.

For Gv, who is a dedicated Yogi, accepting the gift of his name (Gv is short for Govind Dass, a gift from his teacher Ram Dass) serves as an ever-present reminder that while we can never go back and make a brand-new start, we can start now and change our ending. In his spare time, Gv hosts retreats and travels the world, enjoys as much music as possible, and loves spending time with his friends and soul family.

This podcast features Jennifer Prugh who is a business owner, author, creative artist, and community builder.  She shares with us a compass for making business decisions that are conscious and kind, as well as prudent and profitable.  She shares her history from pushing against social constructs to finding yoga, teaching yoga, and inevitably building a business seen as a sanctuary for all who call Breathe Together Yoga their healing space.  We’ll discuss the pivots that were needed in the midst of COVID-19 uncertainty and understand guiding principles, like meditation, that keep kindness and compassion at the forefront of how we show up in this world.

Jennifer Prugh. Jennifer Prugh is the co-founder and owner of Breathe Together Yoga in Los Gatos, CA. She created the JOY of Yoga School of Integrative Learning where she oversees and teaches for the 200 and 300 Hour teacher trainings. She also created JOYMAP, a 100 hour course in meditation and awareness practices. 

Jennifer is passionate about “life education”, making mind and body practices accessible so students are empowered to live fully and contribute to life brilliantly.  She offers eight years of experience as an Associate Professor of storytelling, storyboarding, and creativity, ten years as a professional artist, and a Master’s Degree in Art and Consciousness studies to her teaching and business leadership. 

Jennifer leads four international retreats a year, and this year she published River of Offerings, Twelve Journeys Along the Ganges River, a book of her stories and photographs ten years in the making, available at Insight Editions or your favorite local bookstore.