This fascinating conversation with Anjali Rao reveals yoga's complex and often untold stories, challenging us to think beyond the simplified narratives we usually hear. Rather than viewing yoga as a static, ancient practice, Anjali shows us how it has always been shaped by social, political, and cultural forces. Her book "Yoga as Embodied Resistance" uncovers the voices of women and marginalised communities throughout history who used yoga as a tool for liberation and resistance, even when dominant power structures tried to exclude them.

One of the most compelling aspects of the discussion is how Anjali approaches her research. She describes it as "an embodied, intuitive process" - a non-linear journey of connecting stories and perspectives that might otherwise remain scattered. Through storytelling, she humanises history, making these forgotten narratives accessible and relatable. As she puts it, "Storytelling humanises. Everybody can relate to stories." This approach reveals remarkable individuals from different periods who challenged gender and caste norms, offering us alternative ways of understanding spirituality and personal transformation.

The conversation also dives into the political dimensions of language, particularly Sanskrit, which has historically been a tool of power and exclusion. Anjali explains how "only dominant caste men were permitted to use Sanskrit," and how colonial scholarship further amplified these dynamics. Yet she also shows us how language has always been fluid and dynamic, with Sanskrit itself absorbing influences from regional languages across India.

Perhaps most importantly, Anjali invites us to embrace complexity and reject binary thinking in our understanding of yoga and transformation. She emphasises the importance of "building capacity for ourselves and in our communities to hold multiplicities" - recognising that yoga's true power lies not in perfectionism or rigid adherence to tradition, but in its potential for ongoing personal and collective liberation. This perspective offers a refreshing alternative to the often commercialised and simplified version of yoga we encounter today.

Nada Todorovich's journey from feeling like the "weird and different" kid in central Victoria to becoming a passionate community builder is both heartwarming and inspiring. Growing up as the child of Bosnian immigrants, she experienced the challenge of straddling two cultures - from her mother's homemade crepes that she was initially embarrassed about to her father's eclectic collection of animals. This rich cultural foundation, though sometimes isolating in her Anglo community, would later become the cornerstone of her life's work.

The tragic loss of her parents in a sudden accident became an unexpected catalyst for creating something meaningful. Nada channeled her grief into establishing Dragonfly, a cafe and social enterprise that honours her family's legacy of hospitality and connection. As she beautifully puts it, "My mum's love language is food," and this philosophy permeates every aspect of her business.

What makes Dragonfly special is its role as a genuine community hub. From hosting political information sessions to offering traditional craft workshops like bobbin lace making and knitting groups, Nada has created something rare in today's world - a space for authentic dialogue and learning. She's particularly passionate about addressing social justice issues, believing that connection with each other is the antidote to the divisiveness we see rising in society.

Nada's commitment to sustainability runs deep, reflecting her belief that "the planet is the most important thing" and that we should be better custodians of our environment. Through Dragonfly, she works with local suppliers who share her values, creating a network of like-minded businesses focused on reducing waste and supporting their community. Her vision extends beyond just running a sustainable business - she's actively planning tree-planting initiatives and continuing to use her platform to foster understanding and compassion in an increasingly complex world.

Links

Website: https://dragonfly-cafe.com.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedragonflycafedeli

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_dragonfly_cafe

This episode of the Flow Artist Podcast is a casual, conversational catch-up between Jo and Rane, primarily focused on Jo's recent yoga retreat in Bali.

They discuss the retreat in great detail, sharing insights into its planning, challenges, highlights, and lessons learned.

Beyond the retreat, the conversation touches on several other topics, including Jo's book editing progress, upcoming sound meditation workshops, a new plant wave device in their studio, and a brief tribute to the Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast after the announcement that they are ending.

Links

Bali Retreat: https://gardenofyoga.com.au/bali-retreat-2026/

Floating Sound Sessions: https://gardenofyoga.com.au/workshops/floating-sound-sessions/

Plantwave: https://plantwave.com/en-au

The connected yoga teacher podcast: https://www.theconnectedyogateacher.com/

In this moving conversation, yoga teacher and activist Sasha Sigel shares her remarkable journey from theater student to dedicated advocate for reproductive rights and queer community building. Her story illustrates how a simple suggestion from a professor about feeling "ungrounded" led her to discover yoga's transformative power, ultimately shaping her life's mission of combining spiritual practice with social justice work.

Through her work as an abortion doula and founder of Be Queer Now, Sasha demonstrates the profound impact of creating inclusive, accessible spaces for healing and community support. Her approach to reproductive healthcare is particularly touching, as she works tirelessly to destigmatize abortion care while providing compassionate support to those in need. As she powerfully states, "We have the potential to make this not a traumatic experience... the stigma is all being placed from the outside."

Perhaps most inspiring is Sasha's candid discussion about navigating the emotional challenges of activism in today's political climate. She openly shares her struggles with feeling overwhelmed and sometimes numb in the face of constant attacks on reproductive rights and queer communities. Yet, through her daily meditation practice and by embracing emotions like anger as tools for change, she offers a powerful example of sustainable activism. Her perspective on anger is particularly enlightening, as she reminds us that "Anger can be incredibly helpful and useful, that it points to something is not right, something is being threatened that we care about."

Links

Sasha's Website: https://www.sashasigel.com/

Be Queer Now: https://www.bequeernowyoga.com/

The Turnaway Study: https://www.ansirh.org/research/ongoing/turnaway-study

Repro legal healthline: https://reprolegalhelpline.org/

Abortion Finder: https://www.abortionfinder.org/

Rane and Jo welcome Claire Holloway back for her second appearance on the Flow Artist Podcast, where she shares her evolving journey as a yoga teacher and activist in Perth, Western Australia.

Since her last visit, Claire has expanded her focus to include perinatal care, home birthing support, and community-based yoga programs. One of her notable achievements has been securing a local council grant to provide subsidised postpartum yoga, making her services more accessible to those who need them most.

The conversation takes a powerful turn when Claire discusses her recent activism work, particularly her involvement in organising "Mothering During a Genocide," an event that amplified Palestinian and Indigenous voices. Her approach to activism is deeply intertwined with her role as a mother, viewing it as a nurturing, long-term commitment to social justice. As she puts it, "Start with a willingness to learn" - a philosophy that guides both her teaching and activism.

The episode also delves into some sobering realities about birthing rights in Australia, with Claire sharing that "one in three people who birth in Australia are experiencing birth trauma." Her work in the home birth community and advocacy for birthing rights demonstrates her commitment to addressing these systemic issues. Throughout the conversation, Claire maintains a balance between acknowledging the gravity of social justice issues while offering hope and practical steps for creating change, emphasising that meaningful impact often starts with small, consistent actions rather than grand gestures.

Links

Website: https://www.yourbrightbeginning.com.au/

Instagram https://instagram.com/yourbrightbeginning

Yoga for Homebirth: https://www.yourbrightbeginning.com.au/yoga-for-homebirth

Homebirth Community Catchups: https://www.yourbrightbeginning.com.au/homebirth

From Mothering During a Genocide

Shifa Project: https://shifaproject.org.au/

Perth Mums for Palestine: https://www.instagram.com/perthmumsforpalestine

Louise O'Reilly: https://www.instagram.com/louise.oreilly.shieldandconch/

Dr Samah Jabr: https://www.instagram.com/jabrsamah

Grief, Healing, and Finding Light in the Darkness: A Conversation with Amy Pickett-Williams

In this moving conversation, psychotherapist and yoga teacher Amy Pickett-Williams shares her remarkable journey through personal tragedy to creating meaningful change in the grief support community. With 26 years of experience in therapy work, Amy's path took an unexpected turn during the COVID-19 pandemic when she lost her father in a tragic accident. As she navigated her own grief while supporting her mother and children, a hiking accident led to the discovery of kidney cancer - a moment she poignantly describes as being saved twice by a juniper tree.

Through her personal experiences of loss and healing, Amy founded the Light Movement, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to supporting those experiencing grief and trauma. The organisation's name beautifully captures its essence - "Love in Grief held together." Amy's approach combines traditional therapy with somatic practices, emphasising that healing through movement isn't limited to yoga but includes activities like singing, walking, swimming, and even gardening. As she puts it, "There are no words when someone grieves," highlighting the importance of being present and offering practical support rather than trying to fix the unfixable.

What makes Amy's work particularly impactful is her holistic approach to grief support. She emphasises the importance of community and practical assistance, suggesting simple yet meaningful ways to help those who are grieving, like providing meals or offering specific help rather than vague promises. The Light Movement has evolved to include innovative programs, including a unique 300-hour yoga teacher training focused on trauma and grief, creating a new generation of practitioners equipped to support others through their healing journeys. Through it all, Amy's message remains clear: healing from grief is a deeply personal journey that requires both individual attention and community support.

Links

Fundraiser Event - https://lightmvmt.com/summer-solstice-2025/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lightmvmt

Website - https://lightmvmt.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lightmvmt

In a deeply moving conversation, Utkarsh Narang shares his remarkable journey from being a physiotherapist in India to becoming an influential executive coach and TEDx speaker in Australia. His story resonates with anyone seeking meaningful change, as he describes how a LinkedIn message unexpectedly opened the door to a new life abroad, proving that sometimes the most significant opportunities arise when we least expect them. Through his personal experiences with fear and uncertainty, Utkarsh demonstrates that courage isn't about the absence of fear, but rather about taking small, intentional steps forward despite it.

The heart of Utkarsh's message lies in his unique perspective on leadership and purpose, beautifully illustrated through the story of a NASA janitor who saw his role not just as cleaning floors, but as contributing to putting a man on the moon. This powerful anecdote underscores his belief that true leadership is about becoming the best human being possible, creating safe spaces for others, and approaching challenges with empathy and authenticity. His insights remind us that every role, no matter how seemingly small, can contribute to something greater when viewed through the lens of purpose.

Drawing from the ancient wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and yogic philosophy, Utkarsh offers transformative insights about living in the present moment and embracing non-attachment. His message is both profound and practical: purpose doesn't need to be grandiose; it can be found in the simple act of doing our best and being fully present in each moment. Through his words, we learn that true fulfillment comes not from external achievements, but from stripping away societal expectations and connecting with our authentic selves. The conversation serves as a powerful reminder that in our quest for meaning and success, the most important journey is becoming the best version of ourselves while helping others do the same.

Links:

Website: https://www.ignitedneurons.me/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ignitedneurons

Patreon supporters get FREE access to Utkarsh's "Ignite your life in 7 days" program: https://www.patreon.com/posts/free-access-to-7-128099052

This conversation is a vibrant and candid exploration of sexuality, gender, consent, and social activism, centered around Eve X and Sai's work with the Australian School of Sexuality (ASS Fest).

The tone is playful, irreverent, and deeply intellectual, with the speakers using humor (particularly butt jokes) to disarm serious topics and create a sense of openness. They discuss complex themes including sacred sexuality, gender fluidity, disability, trauma-informed practices, and the challenges of running an educational platform about sexuality in a world of online censorship and conservative pushback. The discussion ranges widely from personal backgrounds and artistic projects to broader social and political issues, always underpinned by a core philosophy of love, consent, and breaking down barriers between different communities and approaches to sexuality.

Eve X and Sai are passionate activists committed to creating inclusive, safe spaces for exploring human sexuality, challenging normative ideas, and promoting understanding across different modalities of sexual and embodied experience.

Links

Website: https://www.australianschoolofsexuality.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/australianschoolofsexuality/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/australianschoolofsex

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ausschoolofsex.bsky.social

Substack: https://australianschoolofsexuality.substack.com/

A Journey Through Women's Health, Yoga, and Personal Transformation

Kate Payne's journey from corporate marketing to becoming a women's health yoga therapist is a compelling story of transformation and purpose. Starting with meditation at 16 to manage anxiety, she discovered yoga in her early twenties after recovering from a health challenge in Thailand. What began as a simple gym class recommendation blossomed into a life-changing path that would eventually become her professional calling.

Her work now extends far beyond traditional yoga teaching. Through her Holistic Woman Media project and podcast, Kate is challenging the one-size-fits-all approach that dominates women's health care and the wellness industry. As she powerfully states, "We're redefining what healthcare looks like for women... looking at it as individual." This perspective is particularly refreshing in a world where women's experiences are often dismissed or oversimplified.

What's particularly striking about Kate's approach is her emphasis on depth over breadth in learning and teaching. Rather than collecting numerous certifications, she advocates for truly embodying the teachings and applying them meaningfully to life. This philosophy carries through to her views on motherhood and personal practice, where she focuses on incorporating yogic principles into daily life and parenting. Her approach to supporting her children's emotional development using yoga philosophy shows how these ancient teachings can be practically applied in modern life.

The conversation between Kate and Jo Stewart delves into critical issues around women's health education and systemic challenges. They tackle problematic narratives about menstrual health and challenge the normalization of pain and shame in women's bodily experiences. Kate's message about "leaning into quiet" and respecting natural cycles resonates deeply, especially in our busy modern world where we're often pushed to constantly do more.

Links

Kates Website - https://higherstatesofyoga.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katepayneyoga/

Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/2zo8VJxyw9QtaCmivVFfpy?si=963bfa3a567549f6&utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree

It's already February, but we're here to take on 2025!

Welcome to a new year of The Flow Artists Podcast!

In this episode Jo and Rane answer questions for listeners, past guests and friends of the podcast including Ann Swanston, Claire Holloway, Divya Kohli, Kirrah Stewart, Justine Elizabeth, Kristin Mathiasson and Ambika Chadwick.

We cover our current projects, recent events at the studio and our upcoming Body Positive Bali Aerial Yoga Retreat.

We also answer (as well as we can!) bigger questions about the yoga world, how we are responding to world events and our thoughts for the future.

We really enjoyed answering these questions and we hope you enjoy listening!

Links

Bali retreat link: https://gardenofyoga.com.au/bali-retreat-2025/