I had the pleasure of sitting down with THE Tomas J Stanton, author of Wolves Don’t Perform in The Circus, A collection of poetry in which encapsulates much of life experience and legacy - from his work as an educator, community organizer, and entrepreneur, but also as a human,  husband and father. 

In this episode: 

If you are local to Phoenix, you are NOT going to want to miss the event he is putting on this Saturday! 

Get tickets for the INDIE - UP Festival:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indie-up-festival-tickets-877061212697?aff=

Connect with Tomas J Stanton:

https://linktr.ee/tomas.j.stanton?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabWhbYCKk9Nrp38LpJyWTsljJPEbjxWTtBBxQ694pE3ifJGX8BKdgnfEXk_aem_AULuGPelkBS68FUSyWmVTHlZt-9Urq3VbLGf8j5WQ96EwMbMvbdAZXgg2hq5dhK8FzOrrOwKxjh-kMao5SMuIY41

If we haven't yet, lets connect: 

visit https://www.candywheelerofficial.com 

https://www.instagram.com/candy_wheeler/ 

https://www.facebook.com/candywheelerofficial

The mastermind behind the BOPPIN record, "Isyo Day" - which is currently streaming on all major platforms, visual + music artist, designer, and creative genius Shereene Manimala joins me on the podcast to share some BIG inspiration and encouragement

If we haven't yet, lets connect: 

When Heidi said yes to coming on the podcast to share her story - I immediately did a happy dance while bumping Madre Creator - her beloved hit song thats empowering women and mothers around the world!

Heidi Rojas is a #1 hit songwriter, artist, proud first generation Latina, and Millennial mama of two. She is sharing songs from the most vulnerable corners of her heart, that she has written after nearly 10 years of therapy and healing and 5 years of motherhood to empower women, Latines, and madres to pursue their passions and support each other. With a published bilingual children's book on the way, and several other song releases and projects in the works, Heidi is a voice for women and mothers pursuing their passions at any age.

After her many years of writing hit songs for major artists + a transition into motherhood, and a profound healing journey as a woman - Heidi found a new level of inspiration and creativity that’s currently breaking the internet. From her single Madre Creator and its online video clip reaching nearly 7 million people world wide, to The Feelings Song reaching nearly 8 million - Heidi is on fire with an incredibly inspiring movement offering anthems of empowerment to everyday people.

On this podcast episode Heidi shares:

I am so beyond inspired by this woman and I left this podcast episode feeling like anything is possible which I imagine is how you will feel when you tap in and listen to both the episode and her music which is streaming on all major platforms 

It really takes a village to succeed as an independent artist and I encourage anyone who finds inspiration & joy from her art to visit her shop online and grab some of her beautiful merchandise as well as download and bump her empowering music! 

Website + Merch Shop:

https://www.heidirojas.com/shop

Follow Heidi for more empowering content + updates on live shows and new music via:

Instagram.com/heidirojasmusic

TikTok.com/heidirojasmusic 

If we haven't yet, lets connect: 

Meet my friend Emma Castellanos, a teaching artist, painter, musician, birth doula, mental health advocate and so much more!

Emma is one of the most kind, generous and expressive humans that I know and right when I met her - I knew she was a soul sister. She's never been one for small talk which I ADORE so much. Our conversations are always so meaningful and full of depth and this podcast episode is nothing short of that.

In it you will hear:

- Emma share some of the deeper parts of her personal story that have contributed to who she is + inspired her healing and mental health journey including the loss of a few of her loved ones and family members early on in life, struggles with anxiety, depression and developing a drug dependency, suicidal ideations, PTSD from s3xual assault and more.

- A discussion around some different forms of therapy that Emma has found incredibly supportive and effective like EMDR, talk therapy, poetry, journaling, tantra & body painting

- Emma speak about the importance of taking radical responsibility for your healing and mental health

- Modern day issues around dealing with death and the impact that occurs from a lack of guidance around how to handle the shock, grief and tragedy it brings plus a cultural experience I had in Bali that had me ponder how we can start a conversation about recreating our relationship to death & transition of loved ones

- The impact we are all making for the next generation of artists by taking the initiative to care for our mental health and sharing the therapeutic modalities that have helped us!

- plus so much more

Phoenix Familia! Save the date for Sunday May 19th from 10AM - 12PM at Abundant Space in Scottsdale - Join Emma and I for a VERY special women's workshop experience for your next level liberation, glowing confidence, and self expression. We will have a cacao circle + a body painting workshop + improv photoshoot! DM me for details!

You can connect with Emma via her instagram:

instagram.com/emma_isabella_c

& check out her artwork via her website:

www.emmacastellanosart.com

If we haven't yet, lets connect: 

I’ve never smiled so hard while recording a podcast episode! Jaslean is the incredibly sweet, loving woman running the page Instagram: instagram.com/curatingcures - which is centered around generously offering a range of holistic health and wellness tips originally inspired by ancient Ayurvedic remedies taught to her by her mom. 

What I love most about this page there how practical AND accessible the practices are as well as how it is SO encouraging around self care offering all these amazing at home remedies

The other aspect I love is the holistic approach she takes, not only considering physical health, but also mental, emotional and spiritual as well. 

I also LOVE it when she shares her thoughts and perspectives from her own personal journey because I find it all SO relatable. 

On this episode, we dove into so many beautiful topics:

There is SO MUCH GOLD within this one episode! 

You can connect with Jaslean via:

Instagram: instagram.com/curatingcures

Website: www.curatingcures.com

Email: [email protected]

Helpful links we mentioned:

Artist date ideas: https://theartistswayblog.wordpress.com/2010/10/17/101-artists-date-ideas/

Shower filter: https://a.co/d/dpmcm8v

If we haven't yet, lets connect: 

The first time I heard Tomi Simmons perform I CRIED. This slam poet and yoga teacher is one of the best in the game. Her writing skills + performance delivery is literally some of the best I've ever seen and she inspires me SO much.

If you are ever lucky enough to see her perform LIVE then you will totally see what I mean!

In this episode:

Tomi and I sit down 1:1 for the very first time and talk about our relationship to poetry + the performance aspect of it

She shares all about how she started and fell in love with it at a very young age, plus how it's helped her process trauma and communicate some really difficult things with her family that she may not have been able to otherwise.

AND she was sweet enough to bless our ears with two of her beautiful poetry pieces and her inspiration behind them

After hearing her share her love for this art, its almost as if poetry won my heart all over again. I am always so amazed at hearing just how much its helped others not only cope with difficulties of life, but also meet and connect with community and close friends.

Tomi is now starting her very own poetry slam in the OC area and creating a space for more poets to come together and share their art. You can follow and keep up with upcoming events via instagram at: @ocpoetryslam

And connect with Tomi directly via:

Her website: https://www.tomisimmonspoetry.com/

Her instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomisimmonspoetry/

You can purchase her merchandise and also book her for upcoming poetry events, open mics etc!

If we haven't yet, lets connect: 

I could spend hours on end listening to Shokouh tell her brave story of becoming a hypnotherapist and inspirational speaker. This is a woman who has been so courageous as to leap out of the modern corporate 9-5 lifestyle and start her business, Healing Activated, which is centered around a meaningful and fulfilling purpose to help others.

Not before traversing an incredibly difficult path as an immigrant not just in one country, but two and facing all the challenges and adversities that came from fleeting her country during an intense political revolution.

In this episode Shokouh dives in generously sharing:

- Her story including all that she's overcome and how she managed to do so - From navigating a CPTSD diagnosis, to courageously sharing her voice on stage in front of hundreds of people, to boldly using her poetry and art as a tool for her activism

- How the recent revolution in Iran had inspired her even more so to change the narrative and see things from a new lens

- Her journey in becoming a hypnotherapist + a deep dive into the modality she's using to help others with stress and anxiety relief, inner-child healing, and even past life regression

- The power of the subconsious mind and what happens when we tap into it

+ so much more

Listen in for one of the most inspiring episodes yet!

You can connect with Shokouh via:

www.healingactivated.com

and on instagram via:

www.instagram.com/healingactivated

You can also attend one of Shokouhs FREE group hypnosis sessions via: https://healingactivated.myflodesk.com/group-hypnosis. 

AND she's even been so generous to offer 50% off of a private session SPECIFICALLY for Words of a Warrior Podcast listeners - just mention you heard this episode upon booking with her :)

I cannot recommend this woman enough! She is AMAZING, trustworthy, and a true warrior!

If we haven't yet, lets connect: 

I was so excited to finally bring my sweet friends / local up & coming band Galactic Harmony to the podcast

It’s been nothing short of epic witnessing these 4 immensely talented singer, songwriter & multi-instrumentalists come together to create music and community centered around consciousness & connection 

In this episode we deep dive into:

PLUS, they shared some exclusive live performances including their NEWEST single “Selfless” which will be streaming on all major platforms on 12/22/23 

You can learn more about Galactic Harmony via:

https://campsite.bio/galacticharmony

Instagram.com/galacticharmony

https://m.youtube.com/@galacticharmony

Facebook.com/galacticharmonymusic 

Stream their latest EP & upcoming single on Spotify, Apple Music, or other major streaming platforms:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/62lU7voy58QM1HazXpMlPN?si=J4tzoRIkQECfMYkROkmnXQ

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/galactic-harmony/1699787701

+ follow the band members individually on IG via: 

https://www.instagram.com/torikristine.music

https://www.instagram.com/rymo.now

https://www.instagram.com/jabotanicals

https://www.instagram.com/kenrexer

Special thanks to our team for bringing together this episode:

Podcast Audio: Recorded & engineered by Kenny Rexer 

Video, BTS, Day of recording catering: Lys 

(https://www.instagram.com/evolvebylys)

Video edited by: Zack Roundy

https://youtube.com/@Strawbawii?si=t4hDErcrmera-mMX

If we haven't yet, lets connect: