The School of Whispers Podcast

This week's episode is part 1 of a two-part series about the 5 spirits within Chinese medicine. In this medicine, there is no separation of mind, body, spirit, and emotions in diagnosis and treatment. It's why this medicine is extremely effective in treating nearly any ailment one could experience.

Working with the spirits of Chinese Medicine is another one of the many ways that we can improve our health, remember why we came here, and find fulfillment and liberation within this life.

Within this episode, we dive into the Shen, also known as the spirit of the Heart and the fire element, the spirit of the Hun, aka spirit of the Liver and the wood element, and the spirit of the Spleen/Stomach and the earth element.

We discuss what it feels and looks like when these spirits are in harmony or in disturbance and well as the different seasons, movements, colors, emotions, acupuncture points and characters or spirit guides associated with each spirit.

Show Notes:

Whispers of Sleep from a Chinese Medicine Perspective #81

Whispers of Wisdom from My Recent Iboga Journeys #64

Whispers of Clarity p 1: Dynamic Meditation #54

Whispers of Clarity p 2: Qi Gong #56

Whispers of Esoteric Acupuncture (& Qi Gong) p 2 with Dr. Adamson

More about Sanpaku eyes

More about Five Element Theory

If you’d like to connect or work with Stephanie, you can find her here:

Instagram-

@schoolofwhispers

@__steef___

email-

[email protected]

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

If you’re on Instagram, you may have come across Brian’s work before. His grounded, relatable approach helps people deepen their relationship with themselves and others. He’s developed a system called SIBS—Somatic Work, Inner Child Work, Breathwork, and Support—which has guided his clients through what might be the most challenging spiritual path there is: the yoga of relationships.

While we don’t use that term on the show, it kept coming to mind as I re-listened to Brian’s story and insights. In traditional yoga, we unite body, breath, and mind to return to the Self. In the yoga of relationships, we do the same—but with other humans. Our partners become mirrors, and pretty much every emotion becomes an invitation to see where we’re still attached, defended, or separate from love. In this way, our partners, friends, and family become our greatest teachers—not because they’re perfect, but because they reveal the parts of us that are not yet free.

It’s confronting, profound work, and it’s the path Brian has committed himself to and has helped countless others within.

Highlights from this episode:

- His transformative initiation with Iboga and the Bwiti tradition, and how working with plant medicine refined his understanding of healing

- The breakup that became a breakthrough — how his wife, Hope, leaving deepened their love, marriage, and spiritual growth

- Simple, powerful tools to regulate your nervous system and support the vagus nerve when conflict or triggers arise

- A mysterious recurring illness that finally shifted when Brian faced his buried shame and let go of his “hero” complex within his coaching business

Connect with Brian:

https://awakeningwithbrian.com/

https://www.instagram.com/awakeningwithbrian/

Related Episodes:

Whispers of Letting Go of Who You Thought You Were with Hope Yang

Whispers of Owning Your Light (Language) with Hope Yang

Whispers of Breakups, Heartache, and the Greatest Love Story of All Time

Whispers of Gabon and My Initiation with the Bwiti

If you’d like to connect with Stephanie, you can find her here:

Instagram-

@schoolofwhispers

@__steef___

email-

[email protected]

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

This week on the show, I’m joined by conscious fashion stylist and thinker, Taylor Nevin. Taylor holds a degree in Merchandising of Apparel and Textiles with a minor in Theatrical Costume Design, as well as a master’s in Material Culture and Textile Studies. She lives and breathes fashion—and brings a sharp, grounded perspective on how we can create personal style with more integrity, creativity, and awareness of ethics and safety in the industry.

For me, clothing has always been a form of self-expression. If you know me, you know I love adding that “Stephanie flair.” But after my divorce, I found myself shedding over half my wardrobe as my sense of identity shifted.This conversation with Taylor, which we hd back in March, helped me realize I get the chance to create an entirely new character through my clothes, which has become a fun way to meet new versions of myself through what I choose to wear.

Highlights from this episode:

- Taylor’s honest take on the fashion industry’s ties to fast fashion and modern slavery

- The subconscious processes behind shopping, and how “creative theory” shows that having less can actually spark more creativity

- The psychology behind personal style and how Taylor helps clients reimagine their “costume”

- Practical steps we can take toward a more ethical, sustainable fashion future

- How the male vs. female gaze shapes both fashion and wellness

Connect with Taylor:

https://www.instagram.com/thefashiondiaryofmoi/

If you’d like to connect with Stephanie, you can find her here:

Instagram-

@schoolofwhispers

@__steef___

email-

[email protected]

If you would like to schedule an acupuncture appointment with Stephanie at her current clinic, Balance Point Acupuncture, you can either visit ⁠⁠www.balancepointacu.com⁠ ⁠or call 561-615-4535 to schedule your appointment today

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

Are you having a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep, experiencing crazy dreams, or not feeling well rested despite a full night’s sleep? Is it your mind, your body, or both that are keeping you awake?

These are the questions we’re going to dive into on this week’s episode, which unpacks sleep from a Chinese Medicine perspective. Chinese Medicine (CM) is an ancient, indigenous system of healing that developed through the study of the body’s energy systems. I’ve personally found this lens of seeing the body to be both enlightening and clarifying—it just makes sense.

It’s safe to say that all forms of medicine—whether Eastern, Western, holistic, or allopathic—agree that sleep is one of the most important functions of the human body. If you’re not sleeping, your body will struggle and eventually fail to function fully. CM is particularly effective for treating sleep disorders because its system of pattern diagnosis and treatment is entirely unique to each individual.

On this episode, we dive into the roots, branches, and varied patterns of sleep disorders.

Highlights from this episode:

• I unpack the role of the main organ-energy pathways (meridians) involved in sleep: the Heart, Liver, and Kidneys.

• The perspective CM has toward the soul/spirit, how it divides it into five aspects, and how they contribute to sleep quality and dreams.

• The unique system of the CM body clock and how it can help you get better sleep.

This week on the show, we’ve got my girl Chrystee. She teaches yoga and vocal activation teacher, singer-songwriter, a hype coach, a true girl’s girl, a space-holder for magical retreats, and a devoted student of Ayurveda. On her Instagram, you’ll catch her bridging the worlds of eastern philosophy and western science, singing her big little heart out, and throwing that a$$ back as a reminder that you don’t need to edit or hide yourself to feel true acceptance.

But Chrystee wasn’t always this way. Like many women, she once conditioned herself to fit into a smaller, more traditional role—chasing the career, making the money, and then asking, now what? In this episode, she shares her journey of breaking free, leaving corporate life in the States, and fully stepping into her dharma in Guatemala.

- From rock bottom to radiant freedom—her journey of turning being in deep pain and suicidal ideation into art and passion.

- How leaving corporate sales unlocked her true dharma and purpose.

- Embodied practices—twerking, vocal activation, and body wisdom—as tools for liberation.

- Bridging health, spirituality, and indigenous traditions to create heaven on earth.

Connect with Chrystee:

Instagram : @chrysteeeee

Spotify : Chrystee

Youtube: @chrystee

If you’d like to connect with Stephanie, you can find her here:

Instagram-

@schoolofwhispers

@__steef___

email-

[email protected]

If you would like to schedule an acupuncture appointment with Stephanie at her current clinic, Balance Point Acupuncture, you can either visit ⁠⁠www.balancepointacu.com⁠ ⁠or call 561-615-4535 to schedule your appointment today

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

This week on the show, I’m sharing my recent journey of initiation into the spiritual tradition of the Bwiti in Gabon, Africa.

What is the Bwiti?

Why Gabon?
Why did I choose to do this—and what did I gain from it?

All of these questions (and more) are answered in this episode. For 17 days, I stayed in village and underwent three initiatory ceremonies into the Bwiti tradition. Out of respect, many details remain held in my heart, but here I’ll paint the picture: the wisdom and lessons, the trials and tribulations, and the otherworldly moments in between.

Some Highlights:

- Lessons in community, passion, and living fully in the moment from my time with the Gabonese people

- Reflections on what is truly worthy of being held as precious in my life and spirituality

- Wisdom from my big iboga initiation ceremony, and how it has inspired me to move forward in my life

- A pivotal moment of choice: to descend into darkness, or to reclaim my source of radiance

This episode is both a glimpse into a sacred path and an invitation to reflect on your own journey of growth, resilience, and radiance.

Youtube video: Iboga & the Brain, TBI, PTSD, and the Science of Healing with Root and Wisdom

If you’d like to connect with me, you can contact me here:

Instagram-

@schoolofwhispers

@__steef___

email-

[email protected]

If you would like to schedule an acupuncture appointment with me at my current clinic, Balance Point Acupuncture, you can either visit ⁠⁠www.balancepointacu.com⁠ ⁠or call 561-615-4535 to schedule your appointment today

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

This week’s episode is an interview with returning guest, Bonnie Biagioli. She’s a somatic breathwork practitioner, certified sound healer, Functional Medicine Health Coach, and yoga teacher who has dedicated years to deep personal work.

She shares her powerful journey of breast explant surgery after realizing her implants, which she had gotten over two decades ago, no longer resonated with who she had become. After making the decision to have the surgery, she realized they might have been contributing to health issues such as brain fog, heart palpitations, hair loss, and dark circles under her eyes.

She has felt profound changes since day one without them. Most transformative of all, Bonnie has experienced a shift in her heart space — breathing deeper, feeling lighter, and coming home to herself. This conversation is a raw and inspiring reminder of the remembering that comes from listening to your body and embracing it — scars and all.

Highlights

- Her experience growing up in a cult — and the courage it took to leave at 17

- What led her to choose breast implants

- How her body and energy transformed after explant surgery

- Her journey from seeking love, acceptance, and beauty externally to cultivating them from within

Connect with Bonnie:

https://www.withbonnie.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bonniebiagioli/

Related Episode:

Whispers of Trusting the Medicine with Bonnie #13

If you’d like to connect with Stephanie, you can find her here:

Instagram-

@schoolofwhispers

@__steef___/

email-

[email protected]

If you would like to schedule an acupuncture appointment with Stephanie at her current clinic, Balance Point Acupuncture, you can either visit ⁠www.balancepointacu.com⁠ or call 561-615-4535 to schedule your appointment today.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

This week we have returning guest, Troy Valencia, on the show to share about his recent book: “Living Beyond the Mind: The End of Personal Suffering”.

Troy does a lot of things- he's an author, a dad, cofounder of Iboga retreat center, Root and Wisdom, and nonprofit, Sacred Roots Foundation, he's a spiritual teacher, mentor, and coach, and he's at the tail end of his doctoral program in clinical psychology.

Through Troy’s life experiences and studies, he realized that not only was suffering optional, but it was a product of the mind. In this book, he blends modern psychology, Indigenous wisdom, Eastern philosophy, and direct spiritual insight to help his reader break free from suffering at its root.

In a lot of ways, this interview is a continuation of Troy’s first interview on the show, #59 Whispers of Liberation from Suffering, so if you want more on this topic, click here.

Highlights from this Episode:

- An initiation experience in Africa with the Bwiti tradition that sparked the beginning of Living Beyond the Mind

- The ways in which modern psychology often falls short when it comes to helping people integrate spiritual experiences- brushing them off as depression or psychosis or other diagnoses

- An exploration of practices and principles such as “mind transcendence” and “the Middle Way”

- Troy’s perspective on parenting rooted in spiritual awareness

"Living Beyond the Mind: The End of Personal Suffering" on Amazon

If you’d like to work with Troy, you can find his information at ⁠www. rootandwisdom.com⁠  ⁠

You can also learn more about his non-profit at ⁠www.sacredrootsfoundation.com

If you’d like to connect with Troy on Instagram, you can find him ⁠@troyvalencia_ ⁠

If you’d like to connect with me, you can find me here:

Instagram-

@schoolofwhispers

@__steef___

email-

[email protected]

If you would like to schedule an acupuncture appointment with me, my current home office is called Balance Point Acupuncture. Visit ⁠www.balancepointacu.com⁠ or call 561-615-4535 to schedule your appointment today.

Tantra is an ancient tradition and tool for expansion and liberation. To break it down to its Sanskrit roots, "tan" means to stretch or expand, and "tra" translates to instrument or technique. While your host, Stephanie, is a very fresh student in this world, the practices and tools she's learned from her studies have had her wondering, "Why isn't everyone doing this??"

So on this episode Stephanie shares her walk into this tantric path, which unsurprisingly, started with a plant medicine ceremony, and launched her into the hardest breakup of her life. Practicing tantra has been the game changer, transforming her feelings of being a complete sad sack in this divorce into feeling like a thriving, radiant human.

Highlights from this episode:

- Stephanie's experience working on a 6- week course on left-handed tantric practices, called O-Bliss by Layla Martin, which has turned into a life-changing 6-month process

- Lessons on accessing turn on and radiance, regardless of what we’re moving through in life

- History of Goddess worship and the difference between a matrilineal society vs a matriarchal vs patriarchal society

- The left-handed path of tantra vs the right-handed path and why understanding this difference has helped Stephanie understand her own life

Show Notes:

Layla Martin and Mama Gena Podcast episode

O-Bliss Course by Layla Martin

Courses by Sally Kempton

Related Episode:

Whispers of Service and Iboga with Joaly Trinidad

If you’d like to connect with Stephanie, you can find her here:

Instagram-

@schoolofwhispers

@__steef___

[email protected]

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

This week's guest is Jonas Kilker, philosopher, actor, and avid student of spirituality and mysticism. Jonas' work and content, which you can find in the links below, go into rabbit holes that will have your questioning what you think you know about life and history.

This conversation between your host, Stephaine, a student of indigenous medicine, Goddess worship, and a spiritual woman of the 21st century, with Jonas, a Christian who questions everything, weaves through all sorts of topics which will leave you wishing there was a part 2.

Highlights from this episode:

- The difference between being religious and being spiritual

- The question of reincarnation and how it may be connected to our recurring dreams and daydreams

- spiritual concepts Jonas resonates with, which contradict traditional Christian beliefs

- The concept of blood memory

- How in 6 weeks of somatic coaching, Jonas completely eradicated debilitating pain

Connect with Jonas:

Instagram @jonaskilker

Youtube @jonaskilker

X @jonaskilker

If you’d like to connect with Stephanie, you can find her here:

Instagram-

@schoolofwhispers

@__steef___

email-

[email protected]

If you would like to schedule an acupuncture appointment with Stephanie at Balance Point Acupuncture, you can either visit ⁠www.balancepointacu.com⁠ or call 561-615-4535 to schedule your appointment today.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.