Witchy Shit by Design with Michaela Gaffen Stone

Guest: Dan Liss

What if the signs, synchronicities, and unexpected turns in your life aren't random—but invitations to see things differently?

Michaela sits down with Dan Liss of Magical Awakenings to explore a spiritual journey that began with a tarot deck in the 1970s and grew to include Reiki, dream interpretation, past-life work, numerology, shamanic journeying, and sound healing. Dan never planned on becoming a reader or healer—he planned on becoming a writer. Following his curiosity, however, opened one door after another.

Together, they explore how spiritual tools can help us recognize patterns, see new possibilities, reconnect with parts of ourselves we've been taught to dismiss, and remember that we're ultimately the ones with the power to create change.

• How Dan's career as a professional writer unexpectedly led him into the metaphysical world and eventually became his life's work.
• Tarot, numerology, dreams, past-life work, Reiki, sound healing, and shamanic journeying—and how different tools can offer different ways of seeing what's happening in your life.
• Why readings don't have to tell you what to do; sometimes they simply help you see another option or confirm something you already know.
• How childhood conditioning can close the door on talents and instincts that were already ours—and what happens when we give ourselves permission to reopen it.
• Why growth isn't “one and done,” and how stopping after one breakthrough can mean sitting down at the first bench instead of continuing down the path.
• The power of sound, listening, language, drumming, chanting, and the idea that “words are spells.”
• Why thinking outside the box can help you recognize that you have more choices—and more power to change your life—than you realized.

• “I think we're always students and teachers.” - Dan Liss
• “I didn't say I wanted to grow up to be a reader or a healer. I said I want to grow up to be a writer. And I was, but then it led me here.” - Dan Liss
• “You have the power to make things happen.” - Dan Liss
• “Words are spells. Spells are words.” - Michaela Gaffen Stone

Dan Liss is the practitioner behind Magical Awakenings in Longmont, Colorado. His work includes tarot and other readings, Reiki and sound healing, dream interpretation, past-life work, numerology, and shamanic journeying. He also offers an apprenticeship program for those interested in developing their own professional healing or reading practice.

Website: MagicalAwakenings.com
Email: [email protected]

To connect with Michaela and learn what discovering self trust can do for you: Witchyshitbydesign.com [email protected]
Michaela is also the co-host of the Journey Into The Heart Of The Primordial podcast.

What happens when you stop looking outside yourself for permission to be who you are?

Michaela welcomes Lady Sapphira and Lorna Gale for an unapologetic conversation about sexuality, embodiment, identity, judgment, feminine power, and finding your way back to yourself. From BDSM and somatic work to sexual awakening, gender, spirituality, and the roles we're taught to play, they explore what becomes possible when shame and expectation stop running the show.

• Sexuality, embodiment & power: How reconnecting with the body—including the parts we've been taught to hide or feel shame about—can become a path toward greater self-knowledge and empowerment.
• Identity beyond the labels: Exploring gender, sexuality, motherhood, professional titles, and the other roles we mistake for who we actually are.
• Creating a path back to self: Lady Sapphira and Lorna discuss Conscious Coven, feminine and masculine energies, ritual, BDSM, somatic practices, and their evolving work helping women reclaim their power.

• Your roles aren't your identity. Mother, wife, professional, man, woman, caregiver—these may describe pieces of your human experience, but they don't capture the entirety of who you are.
• Embodiment goes beyond talking about change. Somatic practices, breathwork, ritual, consent work, and other physical experiences can help us connect what we intellectually understand with what we actually feel in our bodies.
• There isn't one path to becoming yourself. The path can move, change direction, branch off, or reveal something completely unexpected. The goal isn't fitting yourself into another container—it's developing the awareness to choose your own way forward.

• “We are here in the physical on Earth to have a human experience. And we are very much spiritual beings.” - Lady Sapphira
• “It’s a coming back, a remembering to self.” - Lady Sapphira
• “That which is hidden is actually often where our truth and where our power is really hidden.” - Lorna Gale
• “You are more than what you see.” - Michaela Gaffen Stone

Lady Sapphira is a Dominatrix, somatic educator, and speaker whose work explores feminine power, embodiment, consent, ritual, and energetic leadership. Through conversations around desire, boundaries, surrender, and authentic expression, she encourages a deeper and more grounded understanding of power, trust, and feminine sovereignty beyond stereotypes or performance.

Lorna Gale Lorna Gale is a somatic sexologist, spiritual mentor, energy healer, and Sex and Spirit Alchemist of the Feminine-Led Life. She supports women in reclaiming their bodies, voices, desire, power, and inner authority through embodiment, consent, sexuality, trauma healing, and spiritual awakening. Her work invites women to stop exiling the parts of themselves they were taught to shame or fear, and instead return to the wholeness, truth, and sacred leadership already living within them.

Conscious Coven: [email protected]
Lady Sapphira: LadySapphira.com
In-Person Training: ClandestineChambers.com

What if the difficult seasons of your life aren't obstacles to escape—but invitations to discover what else is possible?

Michaela sits down with naturopathic doctor, energy healer, and Medicine Wheel facilitator Dr. Ivory Raye for a conversation about healing beyond the physical body. They explore our disconnection from nature, the stories we create from past experiences, learning to receive support, trusting your own internal guidance, and why true healing often requires looking beneath the symptom.

• Healing beyond the physical: Why physical symptoms may be only one piece of the puzzle and how emotions, beliefs, stress, connection, and personal history can influence our experience of health.
• Curiosity, connection & self-trust: Moving from “Why is this happening to me?” toward “What else is possible?” and learning to listen to your own internal guidance.
• The Medicine Wheel: Ivory explains the journey through the South, West, and North and how the work can help release old stories, explore identity, heal past wounds, and reconnect with the present moment.

• Curiosity creates possibilities. When we stop immediately judging difficult experiences and become curious about them instead, we create space to see choices and opportunities we couldn't see before.
• Healing requires both giving and receiving. Being the strong, capable person who takes care of everyone else can become its own imbalance. Support, community, and allowing yourself to receive are part of healing too.
• Your story isn't your identity. The things that happened to you, the roles you hold, and the labels you've collected may be part of your experience—but they don't define the totality of who you are.
• Your internal guidance matters. Ivory encourages people to listen to outside information without automatically surrendering their authority to it. Healing can involve learning to trust what your own body and inner navigation system are telling you.

• “True healing is being supported and held.” - Dr. Ivory Raye
• “We forget that we are a part of nature.” - Dr. Ivory Raye
• “Your story can simply be something that happened.” - Dr. Ivory Raye
• “If you are curious, you cannot be judgmental at the same time.” - Michaela Gaffen Stone

Dr. Ivory Raye is a naturopathic doctor, energy healer, and Medicine Wheel facilitator whose work brings together physical health, emotional and energetic healing, connection, and personal transformation.

After beginning her career in international business and accounting, the loss of her younger sister and her own unanswered health challenges eventually led Ivory toward naturopathic medicine. Her path later expanded into energy work and Medicine Wheel practices, which she now incorporates into her work with individuals and groups.

Phone: 719-201-5589

What if getting healthier didn't require an extreme diet, expensive wellness gadgets, or changing everything overnight?

Michaela sits down with integrative and functional nutrition PhD Dr. Sarah Khan to talk about finding the root causes behind autoimmune disease, gut issues, hormonal imbalances, fatigue, and other persistent symptoms. Drawing from both her professional work and her own experience with Hashimoto's, Sarah explains why small, sustainable changes can often be more powerful than intense protocols you can't maintain.

From advocating for better blood work to “exercise snacks,” cholesterol, GLP-1 medications, and accessible nutrition, this conversation is about taking charge of your health without making wellness another full-time job.

• Root-cause health & self-advocacy: Why symptoms like fatigue and brain fog deserve a closer look, the importance of blood work, and advocating for yourself when you know something isn't right.
• Small changes that actually stick: From 10-minute walks and “exercise snacks” to affordable foods and simple nutrition swaps, Sarah explains why consistency beats intensity.
• Food, cholesterol & GLP-1s: Sarah discusses balanced nutrition, cholesterol, statins, sustainable weight loss, and her nuanced approach to GLP-1 medications.

• Consistency beats intensity. Small changes you can actually maintain can compound over time. A simple habit like walking after meals may be more sustainable than trying to overhaul your entire life at once.
• Health doesn't have to be an elite luxury. Movement, sunlight, hydration, stretching, canned beans, frozen vegetables, and other accessible options can still support better health—even when money or food access is limited.
• Focus on feeling better, not just weighing less. Sustainable nutrition supports energy, brain function, metabolic health, and overall well-being. Weight loss may become a secondary effect rather than the only goal.

• “Consistency will outweigh intensity every single time." - Dr. Sarah Khan
• “Health seems so elite—like it's only something that if you have a lot of money and resources, you can access. And that's not what it is at all.” - Dr. Sarah Khan
• “Exercise is just movement, and it's accessible and it's free.” - Dr. Sarah Khan
• “We have to take charge of our own health.” - Michaela Gaffen Stone

Dr. Sarah Khan is an integrative and functional nutrition PhD whose work focuses on helping people struggling with autoimmune disease, gut health issues, and hormonal imbalances identify potential root causes and build sustainable plans for long-term health.

Website: SarahFunctionalNutritionist.com

Women were told we could “have it all.” Somehow, that turned into being expected to do it all.

Michaela sits down with life mastery consultant and keynote speaker Kelly McCool for a fiery conversation about the invisible rules women are still expected to follow—from carrying the mental load at home to navigating workplaces built around masculine expectations.

They dig into partnership, leadership, bodily autonomy, competition between women, authenticity, resilience, and even the rapidly changing role of AI. At the center of it all is one question: How much of the life you're living did you actually choose—and how much did you simply inherit?

• Why “having it all” often means women are expected to do it all.
• Breaking away from gender roles, competition, and other people's definitions of success.
• Using AI as a tool without outsourcing human creativity, wisdom, resilience, and connection.

• It's not “helping” when it's your responsibility too. True partnership includes sharing the physical work and the mental load.
• You don't have to perform someone else's version of success. Kelly encourages women to show up authentically instead of trying to fit into systems that weren't designed for them.
• Collaboration beats competition. Someone else's success doesn't diminish your own; different people need different voices and approaches.
• Adaptability is essential. Whether navigating business, technology, or personal change, growth requires the ability to pivot rather than cling to what used to work.

“Having it all is a lot of work.” - Kelly McCool

“It is not us against them. It is not men against women or women against men. It's all of us together.” - Kelly McCool

“It's not helping. It's doing your part.” - Michaela Gaffen Stone

Kelly McCool is a certified Life Mastery Consultant, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and mom of two. Her work centers on living an aligned life, letting go of the roles and “masks” we're taught to wear, and creating a life that reflects who you actually are.

Business: Anam Cuspoir — “The Purposeful Soul”
Website: AnamCuspoir.com
Email: [email protected]

Hello and Welcome!

In this special episode Michaela and Sally Morgan explore the power of voice as a superpower and the importance of vocal training. It delves into the impact of vocal training on confidence and articulation, highlighting the significance of building confidence through action. Additionally, it discusses voice training for transgender individuals, emphasizing the role of voice in communication and presentation. The conversation delves into the themes of empowerment through voice and presence, the influence of body language and confidence, and the importance of direct communication and language use. It explores the impact of these themes on personal and professional interactions, emphasizing the significance of self-expression and effective communication.

Sally can be found at https://www.commandtheroompro.com, https://singlikeyouspeak.com/contact/, and https://www.youtube.com/@SingLikeYouSpeak

To connect with Michaela and learn what discovering self trust can do for you, Witchyshitbydesign.com [email protected] Instagram @mikkigaffenstone, Facebook Michaela Gaffen Stone.

Michaela is the host of Witchy Shit by Design Podcast and co-host of the Journey Into The Heart Of The Primordial podcast.

Hello and Welcome!

In this episode Michaela and Kelly McCool delve into the impact of patriarchy on women's roles, highlighting historical shifts and the need for gender equality. It also explores gender bias in medicine, particularly in the context of women's health, and emphasizes the importance of choice and autonomy in decision-making. The conversation delves into the impact of AI on human development, highlighting the need for adaptability in a changing world. It also explores the challenges of navigating gender dynamics in keynote speaking and the pitfalls of over-reliance on AI, emphasizing the importance of human wisdom and resilience.

You can find Kelly McCool at https://anamcuspoir.com

To connect with Michaela and learn what discovering self trust can do for you, Witchyshitbydesign.com [email protected] Instagram @mikkigaffenstone, Facebook Michaela Gaffen Stone.

Michaela is the host of Witchy Shit by Design Podcast and co-host of the Journey Into The Heart Of The Primordial podcast.

Hello and Welcome!

In this episode Michaela and Mark H. Williams explore the wisdom and symbolism of Inanna, Hekate, and Sekhmet, delving into their relevance in modern times and their role in guiding individuals through transformation and uncertainty. The discussion also touches on the themes of shadow work, contradiction, and the significance of crossroads in life. The conversation explores the multifaceted nature of goddesses such as Sekhmet, Lilith, Inanna, and Hecate, delving into their roles, attributes, and the misconceptions surrounding them. It also discusses the themes of sacred anger, feminine power, compassion, and the invisible rules that govern our lives.

Mark can be reached at https://www.circulos-matrem.com, at https://www.youtube.com/@CircleDarkMother and at [email protected]

To connect with Michaela and learn what discovering self trust can do for you, Witchyshitbydesign.com [email protected] Instagram @mikkigaffenstone, Facebook Michaela Gaffen Stone.

Michaela is the host of Witchy Shit by Design Podcast and co-host of the Journey Into The Heart Of The Primordial podcast.

Hello and Welcome!

In this episode Michaela delves into the good and bad of AI with some thoughts on its impact on teenagers.

To connect with Michaela and learn what discovering self trust can do for you, Witchyshitbydesign.com [email protected] Instagram @mikkigaffenstone, Facebook Michaela Gaffen Stone.

Michaela is the host of Witchy Shit by Design Podcast and co-host of the Journey Into The Heart Of The Primordial podcast.

Hello and Welcome!

In this episode Michaela and Chavisa Horemans delve into the topic of 'Ramping Up the Matriarchy' and the importance of empowering women in leadership roles. It then transitions to 'Supporting Women Through Trauma' and the work of The Mother Corp in helping women navigate through traumatic experiences. The discussion further explores 'Gender-Based Violence and Systemic Change', shedding light on the prevalence of gender-based violence and the need for systemic change. Finally, the conversation touches on 'Virtual Support and Political Context', highlighting the significance of virtual support and the impact of political context on relationships and support needs. The conversation explores the themes of unleashing the matriarchy, rebirth and growth, women's expression and rage, channeling rage into action, creating safe spaces for expression, healing in collective spaces, myth of isolation and witnessing, finding words for experience, power of witnessing and expression, radical act of love and accompaniment, balancing rage and directed action, and transformation from competitiveness to collaboration. The key takeaway is to trust intuition and seek support.

Chavisa can be found at https://www.themothercorp.com/ and can be also be reached by email at [email protected]

To connect with Michaela and learn what discovering self trust can do for you, Witchyshitbydesign.com [email protected] Instagram @mikkigaffenstone, Facebook Michaela Gaffen Stone.

Michaela is the host of Witchy Shit by Design Podcast and co-host of the Journey Into The Heart Of The Primordial podcast.