The Elegant Erotica

Welcome to the Anfisa Shimkevich Podcast! Today, I’m overjoyed to welcome Naturopathic Doctor and Hormone Expert, Dr. Cassandra Wilder. Her mission is to demystify how our bodies work and empower women with the tools and education we all deserve; knowledge to understand what’s normal, what’s not and how to support our bodies naturally. Through her refreshing and holistic approach, Dr. Wilder has helped thousands of women restore harmony to their hormones and welcome healthy periods.

In this episode:

• How women’s health thrives on the body’s innate intelligence, functioning in a cyclical harmony. Every aspect of your lifestyle; diet, exercise, product choices, and past medications shapes your overall well being, reflecting the intricate connection between health, environment, and habits.

• How to approach your menstrual cycle recognising the four seasons, each with unique needs and nurturing practices to support your body holistically.

• Dr. Cassandra’s shares her journey, from masking chronic health issues with the birth control pill to achieving a balanced, regular cycle through holistic care.

• Why a healthy cycle should feel like a gentle wave, not a chaotic rollercoaster and why it’s important to listen to your body and align with its needs.

• Advice for women; the power of prioritising sleep, protein and avoiding prolonged fasting in order to stabilise your hormones and support your long-term health and body composition.

• How women face immense pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by social media and how certain products are detrimental to our hormones and health.
• How to become an informed consumer and reduce toxic exposure: women encounter an alarming average of 76 chemicals daily due to higher product usage than men.

• Why the ‘influencer diet culture’ is so pervasive and alarmingly common; How restrictive diets, excessive exercise and the endless pursuit of weight loss are damaging patterns and disruptive to hormonal health and self-worth.

• Why becoming aware of the phases of your cycle will give you permission to honour how you feel day by day without judgement.

• In holistic traditions like Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, menstruation is seen as a detox process, similar to sweating. It’s normal for periods to change after illness, medication, or childbirth and this is an opportunity to get curious and ask questions so you can start to connect the dots and understand your body.

• Birth control vs. natural fertility awareness method: we explore the nuances and risks of birth control while learning about the fertility awareness method as a natural, effective alternative when followed with diligence.

• Why it’s important to ovulate every month, common misconceptions and the shocking things we’ve been taught about birth control which are false!

• How to track your cycle and tune into your body by monitoring body temperature and cervical mucus.

Thank you for joining me on this journey to self-mastery!

Host: Anfisa Shimkevich

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Welcome to the Anfisa Shimkevich Podcast! Today, we are demystifying the concept of consistency; why is it so difficult? Why do we fail a lot? And how do you truly succeed at it? I’ll be sharing a unique perspective on consistency which I hope will inspire you to move with greater compassion and ease.

In this episode:

• We examine how consistency shows up in our daily lives, even as life itself is constantly changing. Clocks tick, light shifts, tides ebb and flow, temperatures rise and fall—nothing remains the same. With change all around us, how do we create consistency that endures over time?

• Many people think of consistency as ‘sameness’, something to rigidly uphold no matter what. They believe that maintaining this sameness for a long period of time is the only way to be truly consistent. But this strict approach can feel unrealistic and exhausting.

• Instead, what if we approached consistency in a way that feels good to the body and mind? By building it on a foundation of pleasure and ease, consistency can become sustainable—something we look forward to, not something driven by blood and sweat or sheer willpower.

• Human nature gravitates toward things that feel good. By applying this idea to consistency, you can reframe it as something enjoyable. This "trick" trains your mind to embrace regularity in a way that doesn’t feel like a chore.

• Consistency doesn’t require being perfect or giving 100% effort every single time. What matters is doing something regularly and recognizing that small missteps don’t undo your progress. Zooming out to see the bigger picture helps to keep you grounded.

• Rather than obsessing over weekly goals or a rigid to-do list, allow life’s natural flow to guide you. Unexpected challenges will arise—some beyond your control—and navigating them with flexibility is part of the process.

• Consistency isn’t about never falling off track. It’s about returning to your practice after a break. The real strength lies in showing up again and again, even when you’ve faltered.

• The rigid, modern ideal of consistency simply doesn’t align with how life works. When we fall short, self-shame often creeps in, making us feel like we’ve failed. But life isn’t linear, and it’s impossible to plan or control every moment. Recognizing this helps you give yourself grace and move forward.

• When you align with the reality of your life and challenge the critical voice in your head, you can create a version of consistency that works for you. This approach reduces stress, energises you, and becomes a source of motivation rather than pressure.

Thank you for joining me on this journey to self-mastery!

Host: Anfisa Shimkevich

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Welcome to the Anfisa Shimkevich Podcast! Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Skanda- a yogi, traveller and teacher. I recently embarked on a solo journey to Stockholm, where I deepened my path of self-exploration, this time through Tantra. During this workshop, I had the privilege of meeting Skanda, whose profound self-connection, warmth, passion and professionalism truly inspired me.

In this episode:

• Skanda shares his story: Originally from Warsaw, Poland, he let go of all his belongings at 29, bought a one-way ticket to Bangkok, and began a journey through Southeast Asia that lasted nine years. After a brief return to Berlin, he settled back in his hometown, now using it as a base for his travels.

• We explore how travel shapes and humbles us, teaching that happiness doesn’t come from material possessions but from within, from community, and from truly embracing where we are.

• Skanda introduces Tantra as a path to understanding reality and spirituality, explaining how it seeks liberation by connecting us with our bodies, emotions, breath, and sexuality to cultivate a pure state of consciousness, free from mental distortion and distraction.

• Skanda breaks down the history and essence of Tantra in bite-size pieces.

• Anfisa’s shares her personal transformation from the Tantra workshop, where through practices like yoni massage she was able to connect to a deeper sense of aliveness, awakening her personal power, sexuality, belonging and primal instincts

• The Law of Karma: Skanda discusses how Tantra and yoga can help us shed the inherited beliefs and fears that shape our actions and responses, allowing us to overcome limitations set by personal and cultural conditioning.

• How our minds create limiting perspectives of reality, though true existence is an infinite oneness. While we may intellectualize this, true perception requires techniques that transcend the rational mind.

• Sexuality as a transformative, bio-hacking tool: Skanda explains how we can harness sexual energy to access vitality, elevate our consciousness, shift our perception of reality, and move toward enlightenment.

Thank you for joining me on this journey to self-mastery!

Host: Anfisa Shimkevich

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Welcome to the Anfisa Shimkevich Podcast. Today, I'm excited to be joined by Nakis Shimkevich; my life partner, husband, the father of my child and long time best friend. After 10 years of being together on this soul journey, first as friends, then as partners, we’ve learnt how to repair issues and navigate challenges within our relationship in order to continue in a healthy way with love, trust and respect. No relationship is perfect and it’s a continual journey, however throughout our decade of knowing each other we've almost cracked the art of conflict resolution. We are here to share our tried and tested toolbox with you and first-hand advice and findings from our relationship.

In this episode:

• How to release expectations in partnership in order to enter relationships with an open-mind and allow space for authentic connection and growth.
• How to navigate the end of the ‘honeymoon’ phase; every relationship moves from the initial excitement to an adjustment phase - use this time to align values and set healthy boundaries

• Unconventional relationship beginnings; how Anfisa and Nakis evolved naturally from a friendship, to housemates, to intimacy and partnership.

• The power of entering a relationship with the commitment to making it work and solving challenges together, rather than just ‘seeing if it works’ and having an ‘exit strategy’

• Synchronising personal growth in relationships; uneven growth can be challenging so it’s important to respect each partner’s unique pace, find ways to evolve together and support each other’s transformations rather than resisting them.

• Individuality in relationships; how to celebrate individuality whilst holding a shared vision and mutual goals; how to transition from a solo mindset to a team mindset. Recognising that a partnership doesn’t mean sacrificing independence; how to cultivate a dynamic where each person’s growth and soul journey is valued.

• How to resolve conflict from a place of love and openness, by approaching it with empathy instead of defensiveness and begin on the road towards reconnecting.
• The energy behind conflict; it can supercharge you, encourage you to be independent, share raw direct thoughts and be fiery, but it’s at an energy that prevails. Over time, it can become uncomfortable, impact your mood and consume your mind. How to release this energy so you can direct your focus onto creating something sustaining, rather than draining.

• Recognizing fear in conflict; how to cultivate inner security so that you are able to reconnect, but also feel stable on your own without relying on the other person.

• The importance of seeking another point of view; fiends may have biases, so reaching out to mentors or experts can offer a balanced view, helping you gain clarity and wisdom.

• Navigating emotional zones in conflict; recognise when you or your partner are emotionally reactive and try to break the cycle. Coregulatio and shifting to a calm, grounded state prevents escalation and opens pathways to resolution.

Thank you for joining me on this journey to self-mastery!

Host: Anfisa Shimkevich

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Welcome to the Anfisa Shimkevich Podcast.

Today, I'm excited to be joined by Mattias Franzén. Recently I travelled solo to Sweden where I continued my journey of self-exploration, this time broadening my understanding of Tantra. On this retreat, I had the joy of meeting the inspiring human being, Mattias. I was mesmerised by his multi diverse nature, as a father of two children, pianist and singer, published author, public speaker, and business growth strategist. Mattias has spent years studying and working on personal development and in this enlightening conversation he shares all of his knowledge and embodied wisdom.

In this episode:

• The truth about Tantra; the common misconceptions about Tantra and why it’s actually a path to spiritual liberation that transcends purely sex and physical intimacy.

• The power and integrity and divinity of tantra can transform your life; how to use it as a tool for self development to set boundaries, develop self-respect and self-awareness, and learn to say "yes" or "no" authentically.

• We share our findings from the Tantra workshop; how practises like eye-gazing build vulnerability and self-connection, creating deep, transformative experiences.

• Have you ever heard of a spiritual makeover? You can use pleasure as a powerful tool for emotional healing. Sexual energy breeds and births life but it doesn’t have to stop there! We’re conscious beings can direct this energy toward personal development.

• How The ManKind Project and The New Warrior Training helps men, including Mattias, confront anger, face inner darkness, and transform it into light.

• Mattias’s experience with fatigue and depression helped him recognize that his old ways weren’t working; a Tony Robbins event shifted his mindset.

• How Tantra promotes self-love by encouraging you to listen to your pain and befriending your shadows as part of a journey toward self-acceptance.

• How to use unconventional holistic practices like breathwork, KAP (Kundalini Activation Process), anger workshops and yoni massage to shift and release blocked energy.

• Practical exercises to do with your partner that will help process emotions, improve communication and strengthen your relationship.

• How to create a structured container of safety and respect for open communication where both parties are heard.

• Why an imbalance of masculine and feminine energy in relationships can cause people to lose passion which can be detrimental.

• Question prompts to ask your partner in order to enhance your relationship, ensure both your needs are being met, and that you're both seen, heard and validated without judgement.

Thank you for joining me on this journey to self-mastery!

Host: Anfisa Shimkevich

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Welcome to the Anfisa Shimkevich Podcast.

Today, I'm excited to be joined by Irina Povetkina.

Creative Director, Projector Manager, Videomaker, Model, Editor, Content Creator, Social Media Marketing, Visual Storyteller, Digital Creator, Stories of nature, growth and meaning, inspiring deeper connections with life, bali based but the adventure is within

The camera has always been Irina’s personal affair, combined with her love of art, nature and storytelling. Irina draws on her inspiration from the world to create visuals that showcase the beauty of products, locations and experiences. She took a gap year to explore South East Asia solo, with just one backpack where she found endless inspiration and opportunities, proving that life is limitless.

In this episode:

• Irina shares how her dream of travel, sparked over six years, led her to Bali in search of freedom, adventure, and creativity, escaping the mundane routine of life.

• Despite having a seemingly perfect life with a cool job, stable income, and a relationship with a handsome Italian, she felt suffocated living at home and craved personal space and fulfilment.

• Irina reflects on being in love with the fantasy of her relationship and the excitement of potential, but realised the relationship and her life in Cyprus weren’t fully satisfying.

• How to uncover your true desires by reflecting on what you don’t like or want in your life and use this as motivation to escape the mundane and take bold action.
• How Irina began saving for travel by cutting out short-term fun like partying, festivals, and unnecessary spending, focusing instead on long-term goals and meaningful relationships that supported her vision.

• How to navigate losing friendships that no longer service you in order to make space for new friends on your journey.

• When you have an end goal, you have an unstoppable energy; why Irina juggled multiple jobs, including a casting agency, hotel work, bartending, modelling, and babysitting, to save 10K and pursue her vision.

• We discuss how the universe tests your resolve when you’re on the verge of achieving something you truly desire. Irina shares her experience of this ‘sphinx moment’ where news of her mothers breast cancer diagnosis almost derailed her travel dreams, but she persevered.

• Irina shares stories of travel through Bali, Thailand, and Cambodia, including her humbling experience teaching English at a rural school in Siem Reap. She reflects on how volunteering offers the opportunity to live multiple lives and recommends platforms like Worldpackers and Workaway.

• Irina shares her crazy, inspiring experiences as a solo female traveller and shares advice on how to dress appropriately for safety, reconnect with yourself, and overcome the "traveller blues" upon returning home.

• 3 actionable tips on how to feel alive and live a fulfilling, interesting life; Anfisa shares her inspiration that stemmed from a period of clarity following living a simplified life in nature.

Thank you for joining me on this journey to self-mastery!

Host: Anfisa Shimkevich

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Welcome to the Anfisa Shimkevich Podcast.

Today, I'm excited to be joined by Jasmine Virdi. Jazz is a writer and educator based in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. We crossed paths in Cyprus during our early school days and it’s been wonderful seeing Jazz grow through years in parallel life and reconnect today. Jazz has flourished to be a truly multi-passionate, diverse and beautiful being with a love of travel and a fascination with psychedelics. As an integration practitioner and writer, Jazz currently spends her time creating content for her Substack community sharing her embodied wisdom, and hosting study groups for Psychedelics Today, a year long training programme for individuals who want to learn about psychedelic facilitation, ethics, integration and harm reduction.

In this episode:

Navigating finding yourself and exploring self-identity when your family bloodline is rooted in multiple countries and cultures.

How travel broadens your perspective: Celebrating the wanderer’s spirit by exploring different cultures and cross pollinating, while being mindful of cultural appropriation and engaging with others respectfully and with deep reverence.

The balance between giving and receiving, and how the principle of reciprocity can be applied to various aspects of life.

How our treatment of nature reflects how we treat ourselves, emphasising the need to care for the world as we would our own home, recognizing our interconnectedness.

Reawakening child-like curiosity and wonder—rekindling fascination, awe, and the magic of the world around us.

The inevitable process of transformation: Jaz shares her experiences with change, discussing how to stay grounded during transitions and trust your own decisions.

Why making decisions from a sense of urgency can be detrimental, and how to choose from a place of calm and clarity. Understanding the difference between urgency and true importance, even if it requires sitting in discomfort briefly.

Thank you for joining me on this journey to self-mastery!

Host: Anfisa Shimkevich

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Guest: Jazz Virdi

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Welcome to the Anfisa Shimkevich Podcast.

Today, I'm excited to be joined by Antonio Newlove, the visionary founder of Urban Guru Coach. Antonio is a Fitness and Mindset Coach who empowers people to discover their "inner guru" by transforming unhealthy habits into high-performance living. She's a truly inspiring and motivational force, and my journey with her has been nothing short of life-changing. Over the past 8 months of consistent training together, Antonio has helped me embrace my post-baby body with self-love and strength. Thanks to her guidance, I've experienced a complete transformation in my body, mindset, and mental resilience.

In this episode:

• We explore how we're creatures of habit and the steps to break unhealthy patterns that may be holding you back from thriving

• Discover how your unhealthy habits not only affect your body but also influence your relationships, how you present yourself, your home environment, and how you treat yourself and those around you

• Learn the art of setting boundaries—how the power to say "no" grows with age, and how to recognize and avoid things that drain your energy while magnetising toward things that fuel you up

• Address the common pitfalls of falling into harmful habits like smoking, drinking, or overeating, and how excuses can take over your power to make conscious choices

• Gain a fresh perspective on using mind-altering substances in moderation as part of a reward system, turning them into tools for productivity and creativity, while maintaining control and knowing when to say no.

• Understand how addiction can manifest in various forms—whether through substances, food, relationships, emotions, or behaviors—and learn how to navigate when an addiction starts to dominate your life, limiting your freedom.
• Uncover strategies for breaking unhealthy patterns by cultivating awareness of how your body, mind, goals, and core values are misaligned—and how to bring them back into harmony

• Learn how to shift your focus from harmful obsessions to healthier alternatives, using self-love as a driving force for transformation.

• Hear Antonia’s life-changing experience in Africa at age 17, where she worked in Kenya to rehabilitate children affected by drugs and homelessness

• Follow Antonia’s journey through Southeast Asia, where she found a commune, became a science teacher in Thailand, and discovered a deeper connection to her spirituality

• Explore the concept of finding freedom—how to take charge of your life and turn it into a playground rather than a prison.

• Reflect on your relationship with alcohol—how freedom can be expressed but often lacks true presence when the mind is impaired. Discover how to achieve euphoria naturally through practices like ecstatic dance or sober raves.

• Learn how to push past mental barriers, align your mind and body, and realise your full potential in fitness, unlocking your ability to challenge yourself and achieve new levels of success.

Thank you for joining me on this journey to self-mastery!

Host: Anfisa Shimkevich

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Guest: Antonia Newlove

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Welcome to the Anfisa Shimkevich Podcast.

Today I am joined by Manuele Paradiso; conscious intimacy + manhood coach, and core organiser of the Ecstatic Dance Festival. It’s an absolute joy and honour to welcome my dear friend onto the podcast today; Manuele is an immensely deep and unique being and I can’t wait to share this conversation with you as we dive into all things love, relationships, life, intimacy, keeping faith and breaking the pattern.

In this episode:

• How to break the pattern and welcome new experiences. Money comes and goes, but love comes and grows; this is the ultimate and real capital in life

• How to wake your partner up in order to break patterns, work on your individual selves and improve your relationship

• Why the best way to break old patterns is by introducing presence and awareness to a situation, you don’t always need to do something different

• What happens when we get stuck in patterns and how novelty plays out in relationships; how to build intimacy and keep the beauty, awe, connection and attraction in a relationship alive

• How to wipe the slate clean, not keep score in your relationship and welcome honest communication so you keep seeing your love through the eyes of your first encounters

• Important questions to ask yourself to ensure you’re entering a cooperative relationship and not a codependent relationship; exploring the differences between the two

• How the masculine and feminine, leadership and polarity plays out in relationships; exploring roles in relationships and how to break patterns to fit needs and situations

• How to tap into your compassion and learn how to manage and consciously use your inner fire as a man as a man

• Trusting the process; the power of leaning into faith in order to achieve deep, sustainable fulfilment

• How to improve your relationships on a romantic, personal, money, sexual and collaborative level; the more you work to connect with yourself, the more your life will be aligned with your soul

Thank you for joining me on this journey to self-mastery!

Host: Anfisa Shimkevich

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Guest: Manuele Paradiso

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Welcome to the Anfisa Shimkevich Podcast.

Today I am joined by Alejjos, an out-of-the-ordinary producer and percussionist. We recently met at his gig in Cyprus and I was hugely inspired by his raw and moving self expression that is so thoughtfully translated through music. Alejjos is truly one of a kind and certainly not your everyday DJ; his music is filled with Cypriot influences and sound bites, and his ambition and authenticity is evident in everything he creates and shares with the world.

In this episode:

• Alejjos’ journey becoming a musician, from busking on the streets of London to a successful Producer, DJ and Percussionist

• How to navigate feeling lost, losing sight of your purpose and finding your soul aligned community

• How Alejjos’ struggled as an aspiring musician with limited opportunities in Cyprus and and his dreams subsequently fading

• How an opportunity led Alejos to India, where he found paradise on earth and a new wave community of spiritual and musical people

• Why meeting a diverse group of people in India with alternative ways of seeing the world changed Alejos as a person

• Why Alejos briefly chose to pivot and study a digital marketing course to pursue his dreams of working remotely and travelling, but his passion always guided him back to his soul purpose, music

• How Allejos uses innovative ways to express himself and be heard as a successful artist

• Alejos and I share stories and individual experiences of our time and travels in India as we explore the stark contrast between Asia and the western world
• Why you need to have a pure reason to pursue a dream in the music industry, because seeking external validation to qualify success and achieve happiness is not healthy or sustainable

• We discuss research on the concept that the highest vibration you can embody is authentic self expression

• Dealing with judgement, negativity and misinterpretation as a public facing creative

Thank you for joining me on this journey to self-mastery!

Host: Anfisa Shimkevich

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