The Unplug Podcast: Activated Living for Truth Seekers and Critical Thinkers in a Collapsing World

In this week’s Unplug podcast, I’m excited to introduce an inspirational friend who has accomplished incredible physical feats of athletic prowess that defy the realm of “normal”. Here’s the kicker – she has multiple sclerosis. Susan Simmons is an ultra-distance swimmer who crosses lakes, channels, and oceans with little fanfare save for a burning desire to finish – because she can. Her mission is to inspire others to believe in themselves as they move towards wholeness.

Susan and I met in 2006 when we both trained with the North Shore Masters swim club in Vancouver. I felt an instant connection. She’s warm, kind, funny, articulate, open-minded, and open-hearted. She’s also made for incredible endurance.

When we first met, Susan had recently returned to swimming after a 25 year hiatus. The MS diagnosis threw her into an emotional tailspin that caused her to believe that a bleak future was all there was. Fortunately she snapped out of the dark funk and reclaimed her life – through swimming.

She empowered herself with exercise, clean food, and lofty goals. With each step towards authenticity came great expansion – which brings us to the recent completion of a 70 km swimming marathon that proved that there are no limits.

We all have a life story. The question is, do we allow it to shape us or do we let it define us. There’s a big difference. In Susan’s case, she allowed the story to shape who she is today. This has empowered her to complete epic physical accomplishments that most people without a health disability would never consider.

This week we chat about:

• Moving from victim to powerhouse.

• How it’s when you don’t succeed that you learn the most.

• How your thoughts create your world. The power of belief.

• Letting the story shape you rather than define you.

• How the shift to a vegan lifestyle transformed her life – physically, mentally, and spiritually.

• You are what you eat.

• The power of service. Helping others is how we help ourselves.

Susan Simmons proves that you are only a victim to your beliefs, thoughts, and body if that’s the route you choose. If she can accomplish what she has with MS, imagine what you can accomplish without it. It all starts with faith, trust, and belief – in yourself.

I’m thrilled to share this inspiring conversation with my dear friend Susan Simmons with you today. Enjoy.

THIS WEEK’S INSPIRED QUESTION:

What personal goal can you move towards that expands your comfort zone and brings you closer to who you’ve always been meant to be? In other words, what have you always dreamed of but have always denied because of the excuses in your head?

SHOW NOTES:

• MS Athlete website.

• Susan on Facebook.

• Susan on Twitter.

• Swimmers conquer 70 km Cowichan Lake double Goldstream Gazette.

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Heart disease is the number one killer in the Western world. With all of the war and violence in today’s world, one would expect the number one killer to be linked to this stark reality. Instead, it’s directly related to the war we wage on ourselves through the beliefs we accept as true combined with the violence we inflict on others through the “foods” we choose for our plates.

I find it ironic that the heart – the place of spiritual unity, interconnection and love – is what fails us when we feed our bodies from the culturally conditioned mindset of separation. The heart is the spiritual center of unity. When we’re aligned with our deepest core values of compassion, we remember our connection with all life on planet Earth. We honor the place within ourselves that wishes no harm on anyone or anything. We are congruent with the truth of who we are as spiritual beings having a human experience.

When we support “the Matrix” with our choices and beliefs, we support the paradigm of separation. We short-circuit our core spiritual connection to everyone – including ourselves. We make choices that cause harm. We choose hand-me-down beliefs. We willfully ignore. We shut down our hearts. We forget who we truly are and believe that we are bodies meant to eat bodies.

Is it any wonder that heart disease is rampant in the paradigm of separation?

From a purely physical perspective, cholesterol is the well known culprit. Found only in animal-based foods, it’s blatantly obvious that we aren’t bodies meant to eat bodies, instead, we’ve been taught to eat bodies to our own detriment – and to the detriment of the entire planet. The voracious consumption of animal body parts and secretions is directly responsible for exorbitant animal suffering, climate change, world hunger, and total preventable maladies such as obesity, type-2 diabetes, cancers, strokes, and…heart disease.

Indeed, burgers are far more deadly than bullets.

This weeks Unplug podcast guest knows a thing or two about burgers and bullets. Deb Gleason is a former homicide detective turned vegan lifestyle coach with a mission to heal the world by empowering the masses to wake up to their inherent compassion for themselves and for all. She does this through delicious and nourishing food – from plants – the most powerful source of life. Deb also happens to be my wonderful life partner and I’m thrilled to share her meandering path towards purpose with everyone listening this week.

This week we discuss:

• How the truth sets you free – even when it hurts

• The vegan shift to authenticity.

• Putting passion into action for paradigm shifting transformation.

• When we align with our deepest core values, we become more whole.

• The transformative power of purpose.

• You’re vegan – the “where do you get your protein” myth.

• How critical thinking stops fear in its tracks.

• The world needs leaders with their lights turned on.

• Gluten-free – the latest cultural phobia.

• Eating from love, not fear.

• Every dollar is a vote. We continually vote for the kind of world we wish to see.

• How the fork can be the greatest weapon of mass destruction or a beautiful instrument of peace.

Deb Gleason is not only a paradigm shifting world changer with the work she does through her coaching, she’s also the compassionate heart behind the uber successful “Esther’s Kitchen” Facebook page – an offshoot of the wildly popular viral Facebook sensation known as Esther the Wonderpig.

Deb Gleason is passionate, compassionate, and driven with a deep desire to make the world a better...

Habitual patterns are a fact of life. Sometimes they serve us, sometimes, they don’t.

In his book “The Power of Habit”, Charles Duhigg writes that every habit begins with a three-part psychological process called a “habit loop”. This loop commences with a trigger that switches the automatic button on the brain so that a specific behavior is unleashed. Following the trigger is the routine, (also knows as the behavior itself). After the routine comes the reward – a little something that delights the brain so it anchors itself to the habit loop.

Neuroscientists have discovered that habitual behaviors reside in a part of the brain called the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia is a key player in the development of emotions, patterns, and memories.

In contrast, the prefrontal cortex is responsible for our decision making abilities. As habitual patterns embed themselves, the prefrontal cortex takes a hike.

“In fact, the brain starts working less and less,” says Duhigg. “The brain can almost completely shut down”. This works in our favor when we don’t have to consciously think about driving our car, riding our bike, or brushing our teeth. Not so good when we’re hooked on sugar, drinking too much, or prone to procrastination. Habits have the potential to bind us to behaviors that really suck. Habits keep us stuck.

So how do we bust loose? Consciousness my friend…consciousness. When we reach the Threshold of Change, we wake up.

Threshold begins with the awareness that something has to change. It’s followed by the acceptance that the “something” is reflected in your bathroom mirror (read: YOU!). And it’s ignited by the deep inner knowing that it must begin now. We cannot force threshold. Forced threshold amounts to an empty promise with the finite umph of willpower. When willpower fizzles, so does commitment and alas, the return of the same old, same old- only this time with the added burden of guilt.

Most of us identify with the rigidity of the intellect. But the intellect is limited and fearful of change which makes for inflexible thoughts, emotions, opinions, skepticism, and beliefs. We often feel a crippling sense of paralysis when our hearts yearn for expansion. The heart – the infinite reservoir of possibility – has a consciousness of its own that is well beyond cognitive comprehension. When we deny our heart, we deny ourselves.

How many times have you spoken to someone who is aware of the need for change and knows it’s their responsibility…but nothing ever happens. You see, the Threshold of Change is a complete three-part process – “something must change, it must be me, and it must be now”. “Now” is the key to our hearts. When “now” is missing, “change” becomes nothing more than lip service. No heart, no change.

Threshold is visceral. Threshold is powerful. We know it’s arrived when we’re either sick of ourselves or hungry for expansion. Threshold plus heart expands consciousness and opens our minds to transformative strategies – such as 30-day challenges to break free from old programming. And that my friends, is what this week’s Unplug Podcast is all about.

This week I speak with two unique people on parallel paths of transformation. Laurie McConnell is a solo entrepreneur from Sechelt, BC. Her struggles with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low HDL, difficulty sleeping, mid-day fatigue, excess weight, and sugar addiction brought her to the point of threshold where she was sick of herself and eager for change.

Len Goldsmith is a small business owner and regular Unplug podcast listener from the Gold Coast of Australia. Len is devoted to growth and hungry for expansion. Threshold is a frequent occurrence in this Aussie’s life.

The beauty of threshold is that there is no good or bad,

If you were to think of one powerful method to release old hurts, emotional baggage, future worries and outdated memories that keep you trapped in feelings of lack, limitation, and low self worth, what would it be?

For many people, the go-to answer is therapy or counseling – a typical response from the status quo bag of conditioned tricks. Traditional therapy evokes images of an ambient office, a cozy chair, and endless appointments with a kind stranger who profits from your pain. A stereotypical generalization but as “they” say, stereotypes exist for a reason.

I’m sure that therapy has its place, but I’ve always been someone who looks outside of the box for solid solutions far removed from the cultural norm. Therapy keeps us trapped within the limited realm of the mind which is why it is painfully slow and often offers few tangible benefits.

If there are any traditional therapists seething from my words, please hear me out – I’m not completely knocking what you do. What I am saying is that there are better methods, faster methods and more effective methods to expedite the healing journey in ways that completely bypass the cumbersome analysis of the intellect. When we get out of our heads, connect with our bodies, breathe and move, magic happens.

So what if I told you that there was a more effective way to turbo charge your healing journey and it has nothing to do with talking, nothing to do with thinking, and nothing to do with resurrecting old wounds into your conscious awareness. What if I told you that by losing your mind, getting your groove on, and fully connecting with your body, you can heal yourself in lightning speed revealing a more powerful, authentic, and loving you in the process.

**spoiler alert…dance. Read on…**

Here’s an interesting nugget of information; the body processes information at an unfathomable 3 trillion cellular interactions per second whereas the mind can only process 7 +/- 2 bits of information at any given time. That’s not even per second. This is why we need to make lists. For most people, lucky number seven of anything is all we can manage before the intellect craps out. The intellect makes a terrific servant but a lousy leader. Imagine if we had to think about every heartbeat and every breath; if we had to think about digesting our food, blinking our eyes, or growing our hair. The body is the magnificent gift that helps us move through the world without thought. It’s also a powerful energy processor (read emotions) when we mentally get out of the way and allow it to work its magic. The body is an amazing creation that is constantly processing the information and physical processes that bring us to life.

If we had to intellectually manage everything that the body does intuitively, we wouldn’t be long in this world. The intellect is often a serious deterrent to our personal growth with its sloth-like processing speed. This is why traditional talk therapy can drag on for years. It’s about remaining within the confines of the mind while talking circles around lifelong issues and long suppressed emotions which were never properly expressed.

Talk-based therapy models are all about what happened, how it happened, and why it happened – never really allowing what once was to just move through. When we lose the need to know and simply accept that sh*t happens, we expand our consciousness. With this expansion comes an openness for new possibilities to emerge.

When we have specific thoughts, an emotional circuit is triggered and numerous chemicals are released throughout our body in response. Here’s the deal, the body takes a mere 90 seconds to flush these chemicals until the emotional feeling passes. This is called the 90-second rule. So why then is it that some emotions continue to plague us? Well, at this point it’s no longer the original emotion, rather, it’s an emotional response triggered by a thought.

Welcome to Part 2 of my conversation with the amazing Sierra Bender!

To outline our chat from last week, Sierra is the Global Tribal Leader of Female Empowerment. She’s the best selling author of ‘Goddess to the Core’ and a devoted advocate for women and girls empowerment. Sierra is a true force of nature.

Her voice and mission spans around the globe from the United States, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, Costa Rica to South America; featured in media including Oprah Radio, CBS, Univision, USA Today, Marie Claire, Shape, Whole Living, Yoga Journal, Fit Yoga, Yoga International, and Natural Awakenings.

Sierra has been a leading pioneer in the women’s empowerment and leadership movement for more than 25 years. Her versatile teachings have been found in spiritual retreat centers and executive boardrooms. Sierra’s extensive clientele includes Olympic athletes, the Vanderbilt Cancer Center, and Country Music Television (CMT) to name but a few.

If you haven’t yet listened to Part 1 of our intensely passionate chat, check that out first before diving into this week’s interview.

This week we delve into the depths of topics such as:

• How purpose connects us to our higher self.

• The importance of feeling safe for personal transformation.

• How the body is the last frontier for transformational healing.

• What would it be like to think with your heart and feel with your mind?

• How every disease and illness has an emotional profile.

• Taking back the Goddess (and what exactly is the Goddess?).

• Opening your heart and trusting your intuition.

• Self love, self love, self love!

On the topic of self love, I feel moved to share a few words about the untimely death of a man loved by all – Robin Williams. I’ll admit that I find myself deeply affected by this tragic loss and its prompted the contemplation of my last two discussions with Sierra. In particular, I’m referencing the extensive discussions on love – specifically, self love.

Robin Williams was someone who suffered from the all too common affliction partnership of depression and addiction. Although he didn’t speak much of it, in a 2010 interview with the Guardian, he stated that he had anxiety and fear about everything. This alone is a profoundly disturbing statement.

Many of us knew Robin as a zany, manic, genius-level comic. But who was he really? Because he was always “on”, even friends acquainted with him for 35 years say they didn’t truly know him.

The work of Robin Williams touched millions of people around the globe – myself included. He was known for his generosity and kindness. His love, expressed freely made the world delight in pure joy. There was one caveat however. Robin was remiss with love for the one who mattered most – himself. This is an acutely piteous example of how fame, success, money, and love sourced from the external world are meaningless without a sense of love, connection, and self worth within oneself. Lack of self love provokes a profound sense of inner isolation. An isolation so vast that despite an immensely loving outer world, the mind is incapable of moving beyond its own perpetual darkness – a darkness we label depression.

Depression is a blanket term for unresolved emotions. It’s a complex composite of pain turned inwards in the desperate attempt for concealment. We live in the quick fix culture of perceptual distraction, where emotional energy leaks are numbed out by drugs, alcohol, pharmaceuticals and a plethora of limitless addictions to remove us from what we need to do most – feel. When we don’t feel, we don’t heal. When we don’t heal, we are never real. And when we are never real, we are empty inside. This is what creates the immense sense of isolation referenced in the previous paragraph. It’s tragic to think of anyone feeling so utterly helple...

Have you ever pondered the question, “what is love”?

We live in a world of heart-wrenching love songs and romantic Hollywood dreams. But is this really love or is this just cause for further discontent in a fantasy world of rainbows and kittens?

Love. A word so freely used and so greatly misunderstood. The “love” that drives our cultural paradigm is fluffy, sweet, passive…romantic. Hollywood love – fickle love – the emotion of love. But Hollywood love is romantic love is ego love. Ego love separates who and what is worthy – and when they are worthy. Ego love judges. Ego love falls in. Ego love falls out. Ego love bypasses those it perceives as “other”. Ego love conforms to a false definition created by a fantasy-driven culture. The foundation of ego love is separation. This is the illusory love of a spiritually vacant paradigm.

Jane Goodall once said that we only protect what we love. Collectively, we’ve fallen short in this area. With rampant obesity, addiction, anxiety, isolation, depression and a heavy reliance on pharmaceutical numbing agents, it’s blatantly obvious that the precarious state of today’s world is a direct reflection of the inner self-loathing projected by the masses. No self love = no love for what truly matters. Ultimately, we can only transcend conflict in the world by healing it first within ourselves. We can only create peace and compassion in the world by embracing it first within ourselves.

Ego love exists within the realm of the mind, for it is the mind that separates, judges, fears, and categorizes. Spiritual love exists within the heart, for it is the heart that knows no boundaries. The heart cannot be broken for it is omnipotent. The ego can be broken for it is an illusion. Love lives in the heart. Love is who we are.

Love is a powerful, expansive, all-encompassing force that transcends the limiting realm of the mind.

True essential love comes from deep within. It is not an emotion. It is all emotion. It’s who we are at our core.

Love is interconnection. Love is unity. Love is life. Love is higher consciousness. Love is action. Love is purpose. Love is selfless. Love is invincible. Love is passionate. Love is fierce. Love is tender. Love is forgiveness. Love is peace. Love is infinite. Love is compassionate. Love is fire. Love is grief. Love is joy. Love is courage. Love is a powerful feeling that transcends the culture of separation and connects us to life – all life.

Love. The most powerful force on earth grounded in action and responsibility. The wise words of Sierra Bender – this week’s Unplug podcast guest.

Sierra is a fiercely passionate activist in the women’s empowerment movement with a dedicated mission to lower the statistics of violence against woman and girls and to reconnect them to their core inner power – the goddess within.

In a recent email newsletter she very accurately wrote:

Our health, children, and relationships are suffering; how can we, as the wealthiest country in the world, have such a high percentage of sexual abuse and addiction issues? A recent study shows that the number of Americans using antidepressants doubled in only a decade.

Doctors are now medicating unhappiness. Too many people take drugs when they really need to be making changes in their lives. According to this government study, antidepressants have become the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States.

Depression is anger turned inwards. We have the right to be angry and sad because of the abuse of the feminine. There is relief if we choose to stand in our core female essence and fight from the place of self-love and self-worth. The true definition of female empowerment is what I call Fierce Love. “I will no longer allow my environment to dictate my future.”

This week we discuss fierce love in great depth. The powerful force that connects us to the truth of who we a...

If you’ve been listening to this podcast for any length of time, you know that I speak regularly about the vegan lifestyle. Although I don’t promote this podcast as a vegan podcast, I truly believe that the only way that we can live as the authentically selfless, caring, kind, and loving species that we are at our core, is by living compassionately from the interconnection that we share with all life. Making choices that contribute to violence towards any living being hurts us as it hurts them. Consuming the suffered flesh of a living being that valued its life as much as we do only creates suffering within ourselves. The physical manifestations of our separation-based choices are painfully obvious in today’s world. Obesity, heart disease, cancers, wars, depression, stress, and rampant violence.

What I’m getting at is that in order to live as the best version of who we’re meant to be in this lifetime, we need to reconnect to the essence of who we are at our core. We all share the same essential soul nature of compassion, courage, empathy, kindness, selflessness, joy, and love. When we remember that these are the authentic qualities that comprise the heart of humanity, we remember that we are not separate from any living being. Whether it’s another human being, a cat, dog, chicken, pig, cow, flower, or a tree. We’re all in this together. We all share life. We all live within an intricate web of life where too much or too little of anything can bring about massive collapse.

We all have the potential to be such incredible beings of compassion, kindness and love. We also have the potential to be such incredible beings of cruelty, violence, hatred, and fear. The only thing that differentiates one from the other is choice. Do we choose to live consciously, guided by the truth that lives inside of us – a truth that is connected to all life and unplugged from the archaic belief systems of an outdated separation-based cultural paradigm or do we choose to live unconsciously, plugged into the cultural matrix of separation, brainwashed by habits and unexamined hand-me-down belief systems created to ensure our compliance so that we remain small, separate, fearful, and stressed-out.

I don’t know about you, but for me, the choices is a no-brainer. I choose truth. End of story. With truth comes liberation. As the saying goes, the truth shall set you free. The truth can also painful, but beyond the pain, truth is actually comforting to those who do not wish to ignore it. Then, not only is truth comforting, it’s also inspiring. It is truth that mobilizes the soul for action. We can’t ever reach the true potential as our best selves if we selectively negate animals and the natural world on our path to wholeness.

Vegan, in its purest form, connects us to our essential nature. It’s about compassion and interconnection with all life. Non-harming choices towards others equals non-harming choices for ourselves. It’s that simple. Spiritual interconnection 101. Instant status quo crusher status.

Why is it that we’ve strayed so far from the core of who we are? The experts say that from ages of 0 to 6, we’re being programmed by those who care for us. In these first years of innocence, the belief systems of our parents and caretakers become firmly installed – that is, unless someone who has unplugged from the matrix comes along to teach us otherwise. It’s only then that we have a chance as children to maintain a connection to our core essential nature of compassion for all life. Otherwise, we’re indoctrinated into the willful ignorance and cognitive dissonance of the paradigm of separation that our parents have passed on, and their parents before that – and then we’re screwed for many years until we’re able to shake off the trance and explore kinder options that feel more authentic to who we’ve always been meant to be.

This week’s Unplug podcast guest is a true paradigm buster who has complete...

Imagine being born to parents who are fully awake and have unplugged from the matrix of cultural conditioning. Parents who have chosen to crush status quo in favor of a simpler life of meaning and purpose. Can you imagine the potential of who you could become from early on in life? Can you imagine what it would be like to never be indoctrinated into the cultural coma of conformity and separation? Can you imagine the liberation of a life where authentic expression was celebrated, selflessness was cultivated, simplicity trumped consumption, purpose was nurtured, and love for ALL living beings was the household modus operandi? Can you imagine being brought up in a household where you were taught about what really matters – leaving the world a better place because of how much you care?

Close your eyes, breathe deeply and imagine…

This week’s Unplug podcast guest is a truly special man who was born into such a household. Ocean Robbins, son of best-selling author John Robbins (Diet for a New America), is a beautiful man who has gifted his life to the world in a way that is not only leaving it a better place, but is also changing many lives along the way.

At the tender age of 15, he co-founded YES! – or Youth for Environmental Sanity. The organization has since grown into a powerful non-profit organization that connects, inspires and collaborates with young changemakers in building thriving, just and sustainable ways of life – for all life.

He’s spoken to hundreds of thousands of people, led hundreds of retreats, workshops and Jams for leaders in 65+ nations, written books, mentored (and learned from) changemakers, been a creative partner and lead editor for bestselling books.

He is now the CEO of the Food Revolution Network where 100,000 plus people have mobilized for healthy, sustainable, humane and delicious food and food systems. He is also an adjunct professor of Peace Studies at Chapman University, a blogger, a speaker, and a facilitator. He’s a man of many world changing accomplishments. No surprise considering his exceptional upbringing.

Despite being born into a status quo crushing household with a father who has transformed the lives of many, Ocean has not been exempt from hardship. He’s the father of two identical twins who spent the first six weeks of life in intensive care for their premature entrance into the world. Ongoing oxygen was a life-saving necessity to prevent their untimely deaths. The boys survived and live with autism under the loving care of Ocean and his wife Michele. They have been incredible teachers and, in Ocean’s own words, “to this day the boys struggle with numerous developmental delays and special needs. They are also incredible reminders to me, on a daily basis, of the power of play, of the simple healing beauty of love, and of what really matters most in life.”

In 2008, the bulk of the Robbins’ family life savings were wiped out in Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. As Ocean himself writes in his essay titled “My Learning Journey”:

For the past several years, I have offered the following prayer every morning, “may I be given everything I need to do what I am alive for.” In that light, the fact that my wife and I had lost our life savings and the safety net of my mom and dad’s earned wealth in one fell swoop had to hold a crucial lesson. I felt that in some way, I was being tested again, and that this profound loss must be a part of my ultimate purpose.

So we set about rethinking all of our expenses, and looking at what we could do ourselves, what we could make ourselves, what we could do without, and how we could live more simply, more healthfully – and more frugally.

What is clear to me is that we don’t get to choose most of what happens to us. In my twin’s premature birth, subsequent special needs,

How many people do you know who whine and complain their way through life refusing to take ownership for their circumstances? How many people do you know who adopt the victim identity for every little thing that isn’t just “right” about life? I’m sure we can all think of at least a few of these types. Perhaps a co-worker, acquaintance, family member – they’re everywhere. The energy sucking vampires with a perpetual case of what I call PMS – or Poor Me Syndrome.

I’ve reached a point in my life where I have limited bandwidth for this type of energy drain and refuse to enter what would become a life-sucking codependent relationship with a PMS victim. This is self love through self respect.

I’ve also learned to be very protective of my energy so that I can maintain laser focus on my purpose without the distraction of someone who refuses to take ownership for their life. This is what I call compassionate detachment. I energetically wish the person well on their journey with the detached hope that they’ll eventually wake up, take charge of their life and become the person that their soul is longing to be.

I love meeting people who inspire me. People who own their lives – everything – the awesome stuff as well as the messy stuff. People who don’t pretend to be something that they’re not. People who are as comfortable being open and vulnerable with their perceived weaknesses as they are with their successes. People who are loving, humble, honest, selfless, integrous, caring, passionate, inspiring, raw, and real. People who are open-hearted, awake, and who truly own their power. I feel deeply blessed that I have so many people like this in my life and that I continue to meet many more through this podcasting journey. Today’s Unplug podcast interviewee is no exception.

Brynn McLennan is an inspiring woman with a fierce passion for life and a powerful faith in the magnificence of the human heart. Brynn is also a determined woman who believes deeply in human potential. She was introduced to me by my inspiring friend Sylvie Gouin (who was interviewed last week in episode #37). Sylvie intuitively knew that Brynn and I were meant to connect and after snooping around her website, I agreed that it was destined to be. I was immediately inspired.

You see at age twelve Brynn was given a wheelchair sentence by doctors for a rare form of muscular dystrophy that stripped her of the ability to stand upright. Not one to be easily deterred, Brynn is still upright 20 years later and has built a rich life for herself despite the medical odds. The mind, when coupled with the heart, is powerful beyond cognitive comprehension.

Brynn is someone who could easily fall prey to Poor Me Syndrome with her physical reality, but instead, she refuses to define herself by the disease that has robbed her of what many people take for granted – the ability to move freely, uninhibited by the soul temple known as the physical body. Brynn’s soul is so vibrant that the body she inhabits doesn’t slow her down. She’s an upcoming author and a passionate crusader for stem cell therapy – an exciting advancement not only for human health but also for the elimination of archaic and cruel animal testing.

Brynn shares her deep wisdom on topics such as:

• Living intuitively to bypass the downward spiral of the story mind.

• How we are so much more than our physical body.

• How it’s ok to feel everything as long as we allow it to continually move through us.

• How everyone has the resources within to be able to handle anything that comes their way.

• How choosing the role of victim becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

• What is stem cell therapy and it’s exciting implications for all living beings.

What does it mean to have balance in your life?

Does it mean living in a state of perpetual zen-like bliss – clear headed, calm, grounded, and motivated? Even keeled and strong as the world crumbles around you? Or is it possible that it could mean something completely different?

Balance is one of the many pervasive buzz words in today’s culture that has been hijacked, watered down and distorted by the self-help movement. It’s become so cliché that for many of us, it’s lost its “oomph”. We recognize that the modern definition of a blissed out zen guru moving through the world in perfect balance is nothing more than another new age fantasy. In the end, “balance” has become yet another unattainable ploy to make us feel crappy about ourselves. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard a variation of “I just can’t get my act together to have more balance in my life”, I’d be a wealthy woman.

So what exactly is balance? Is it really something meant to cause more stress in our lives because we just can’t get our acts together or, heaven forbid, could it possibly mean something more realistic – anchored in a reality that we can all relate to?

This week’s Unplug podcast takes back the word in a way that not only makes sense, it empowers.

Sylvie Gouin is a dear friend and wise yogini who shares her deeply meaningful outlook on balance  – an outlook that really makes sense and offers fresh perspectives on non judgmental self awareness.

Today we discuss:

* What is yoga? How the purity of yoga helps us define balance in an attainable way.

* Are you a mechanical human doing or a mindful human being?

* Understanding why you believe what you believe and how this impacts your everyday life.

* The all encompassing non-violence of ahimsa.

* What does balance really mean?

* The difference between non-attachment and non-caring.

* How non-attachment helps us become more expansive within ourselves.

* How non-attachment is directly interconnected with love and how the only way to love is so that others feel free.

* How non-attachment is the key to balance.

* The three cycles of nature and how they influence our life (important and fascinating!).

* How balance is knowing what you need at all times.This week’s conversation is for everyone – whether you’re a practicing yogi or not. I invite you to enjoy today’s conversation with Sylvie Gouin who offers a flexible and attainable approach to balanced living.

THIS WEEK’S INSPIRED INVITATION:

This week I invite you to mindfully observe your patterns of action, inertia and containment to notice where you may need a little more TLC. You may surprise yourself!

SHOW NOTES:

• Sylvie Gouin’s website.

• Inspired Living: A Yoga Journal – Sylvie’s book on Amazon.

Are you inspired by this podcast? If so, here’s how you can fan the flame for the message:

1. Support the show!

Support the paradigm-altering Unplug movement on Patreon. Every little bit makes a difference!

2. Subscribe & Review the Show on iTunes:

Here’s a simple 5-step process to quickly rate, review and subscribe to the show.

You can also now subscribe to the show on Stitcher where the show will now be available all over the world on Stitcher mobile,