More than a handshake

Beyond the Uniform: Combat, courage and comraderie

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this conversation, Justin describes himself as a team-oriented person with strong work ethic who tries to “leave things better” than he found them, a value shaped by time attached to Marines as a Navy corpsman. He recounts joining the military after childhood fascination, attempting SEAL training, then serving five years as a medic primarily with 1/9 Marines and deploying to Afghanistan. He discusses difficult reintegration—fireworks triggering cover-seeking, and hesitation to seek formal help due to career impact. Justin traces a “windy road” through college, contracting overseas including Kabul, an MBA, and becoming an EMS/fire supplies sales rep, while emphasizing using VA benefits despite red tape. Justin and Sheena discuss the ways we need to help veterans, and how mental health is served by the buddy system.

Who Am I? Yoga, Dharma, and Identity

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this conversation, Sheena and Megan explore the question “Who am I?” through yoga philosophy, ego, identity, and self-trust. Megan shares her path from early yoga practice to teaching, living in Japan and Bali, running a yoga school, and then losing that identity during the pandemic. She discusses rebuilding through teaching opportunities and then eventually taking over Niantic Yoga Studio after a healer’s prediction and a symbolic owl sighting. They contrast purpose (dharma) with job, emphasizing creating, and what it’s really like to serve without attachment to outcomes. Megan’s shares her daily practice as meditation with alternate-nostril breathing and the Gayatri Mantra. The episode closes with yoga’s guidance for the world: compassion, keeping the heart open, and yoga as accessible to everyone.

Megan can be found at @yogatrotteracademy and @nianticyoga and of course, in person at Niantic Yoga Studio.

00:17 Who Am I Really

04:34 Masks and Self Trust

09:47 Ego and Curiosity

12:34 Japan and Bali Journey

15:53 Pandemic Identity Collapse

21:31 Finding Purpose and Dharma

31:25 Co Regulation and Death Work

34:04 Generational Gifts

35:16 Leaving Bali

35:44 Healer Prediction Comes True

39:52 Owl Sign and Move

41:17 Finding the Yoga Shala

45:54 Ankle Injury Podcast Birth

47:33 Hard Times Become Beauty

49:05 Personal Yoga Practice

50:18 Gayatri Mantra Meditation

56:23 Focus Shapes Your Mind

59:27 Observing Thoughts Power

01:02:49 Origin Story with Yoga

01:03:51 Priest Teacher at Villanova

01:07:14 Embodied Poses Change Mind

01:08:13 What Yoga Pose Are You

01:14:16 Yoga Becomes Lifeline

01:15:37 Mindful Movement Community

01:19:01 Dharma Over Dollars

01:21:45 Create Without Attachment

01:27:41 Heart Led Business Balance

01:38:49 Yoga Is For Everyone

I like myself: Black excellence and World travel

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0500

This week, Sheena sits down with Malcolm Archibald, who describes himself as grounded in legacy while aiming to create more love and happiness. He discusses navigating cultural noise, defining manhood as intentional pursuit paired with character, and adopting a growth mindset focused on getting 1% better every day. Malcolm shares childhood anger and reframes happiness as a decision. He explains resilience as built through repeated risk-taking and major life moves, and recounts being drugged in college as a pivotal moment that shifted him away from self-centeredness. He details his journey healing self-hatred tied to Black identity through mentors and Black Men’s safe spaces. He credits restaurant bartending for access to transformative networks, and explains how travel fuels self-discovery. Malcolm shares his Instagram and his community dinner series, Dinner And Discourse.

Malcolm’s Instragram: @whereismalcolmat

00:12 Legacy and Love

02:19 What Makes a Man

06:00 Happiness Is a Choice

09:17 Anxiety and Resilience

12:32 Leaps Build Confidence

15:53 Chasing Greatness

22:10 Drugged in College

23:36 Owning Past Anger

25:47 The Angry Truth Seeker

28:39 From Black Sheep to Lighthouse

29:48 Pivotal Moments Behind the Bar

31:45 Healing Black Identity

34:16 Mentors and Men's Circles

35:27 Chasing Money to Self Worth

39:01 Travel as Self Reflection

40:39 Mexico Reset and Alone Time

46:18 Remote Work and Simple Living

49:24 Redefining Success and Family

52:56 Growth Mindset and Closing

Owning Audacity: Yes, I Am Too Much

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this conversation, Sheena talks to Allison Guillbault, a trauma therapist who now also coaches, speaks, and hosts retreats. She shares how embracing being “too much” became a turning point after years of shrinking herself, and reframes “too much” as confidence, vulnerability, discernment, and reciprocity. She discusses cycle-breaking around guilt, perfectionism, and wealth, arguing women should pursue money and talk about it. Allison describes leaving a corporate career to become a therapist, trusting intuition amid uncertainty. She offers retreats in Bali and New Orleans, a 12-week group program “Uncaged,” and the “Woke Bitch” rage room. She also recounts her atypical IVF journey, its cost, and how becoming a mom added new values to her life.

Show notes:

00:00 Meet Alison

01:12 Owning Her Height

02:17 Yes I Am Too Much

03:52 A Moment of rising up

07:28 Confidence Without Armor

10:16 Healing And Uncertainty

13:50 Origin Story Too Much

15:52 Career Leap To Therapy

21:10 Mom Guilt

24:53 Childhood Roots Of Independence

33:38 Cycle Breaker Money Talk

42:08 Breaking Generational Cycles

42:59 Raising a Bold Daughter

43:47 Therapy and Retreat Offerings

46:25 Uncaged and Somatic Audacity

52:35 Betting on Yourself

53:40 Woke Bitch Screamy Calls

57:55 Rage as Regulation

01:02:26 IVF Journey

01:12:07 Motherhood and Slower Living

01:18:28 Permission to Define Yourself

01:21:37 Where to Find Allison

Sex Therapy: Shame, the why and LTRs

Thu, 28 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this conversation, Sheena sits down with Georgina “Gigi” Vass, about identity, inspiration, and the pivotal life events that shaped her path into becoming a sex therapist. Gigi describes meaning and purpose as rooted in loved ones, humor, and balancing family needs with self-care. She explains what sex therapy is and clears misconceptions about physical contact. They discuss career origins, training differences, changes in the field (holistic approaches, porn/tech, visibility, neurodivergence), current topics, and why people may be having less sex. They cover BDSM, kink vs fetish, shame and self-compassion, and creativity in sex. Gigi also has great insight about sustaining intimacy in long-term relationships, and the harms of avoidance in communication.

Georgina Vass can be found on instagram and tiktok as @georginavasstherapist and by email at georginasvass@gmail.com

00:00 Meet Gigi

01:49 Roots And Family

03:14 What Inspires You

05:45 Defining Life Moments

11:19 Meaning And Purpose

13:56 Finding Balance

17:19 What Is Sex Therapy

18:56 Why Sex Therapy

27:06 Trends In Sex Therapy

32:38 Why Less Sex

37:04 BDSM Basics

40:19 Taboo Kinks and Labels

42:31 Do You Need a Why

46:09 Fetish Versus Kink

47:18 Misconceptions and Education

49:33 How to Explore Safely

54:50 Sex as Creativity

01:01:10 Keeping Desire Alive

01:06:39 Repair and Consistency

01:11:10 Working Through Sexual Shame

01:14:15 Avoidance and Hard Talks

Nourish Yourself: Human Design, Wholeness, and Breaking the Cycle

Thu, 21 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Sheena sits down with holistic health coach and yoga teacher Bethany for a rich conversation about healing, self-discovery, and what it truly means to thrive. Bethany shares her journey from witnessing eating disorders in high school to building a multidimensional practice rooted in nutrition, human design, yoga philosophy, and ceremony work. Together they explore the power of following inspiration, the importance of foundational self-care, and the beauty and complexity of being a cycle breaker, all while weaving in the deeper truth that real healing happens not in isolation, but in connection with others.

Bethany can be found at @bethanykovo and @empowercollective

00:00 Purpose

02:17 Early Eating Disorder Awakening

03:53 From Clinic to Collective

07:17 Yoga as North Star

16:08 Coaching Clients and Tools

20:59 Nourish Method Explained

25:47 Human Design Basics

36:35 Human Design vs Astrology

45:07 Belonging as a Need

46:15 Soul Lessons and Co-Creation

49:42 Healing Through Relationships

52:39 Disconnection and Basic Needs

55:56 Cycle Breakers and Conforming

01:03:14 Breaking Family Patterns

01:11:05 Future Work and Community

01:16:28 You Are Already Whole

01:20:16 Holding Two Truths

01:28:08 Final Wrap

Tuning In: Sound, Intuition, and Creative Alchemy

Thu, 14 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Sheena sits down with Kat Burns for an honest and inspiring conversation about healing, self-discovery, and the power of creativity. Kat is a creative alchemist and spiritual practitioner, using sound healing, Reiki and tarot, based in Lisbon, Portugal. Kat opens up about her journey from struggling with profound self-worth issues to healing her limiting beliefs through somatic work and energy practices. Together they explore the science and spirituality behind sound as a healing modality, what it means to follow your intuition when the world has been drowning it out, and how stepping away from burnout culture ultimately led Kat to build a life and thriving practice abroad. If you're a creative who feels stuck on their own journey of growth, this one is for you.

Kat can be found at https://iamkatburns.com/ and @iamkatburns

00:00 Creative Identity

01:44 Fulfillment Through Service

05:03 From Self Hate to Hope

09:35 Faith as Catalyst

11:32 Tools That Changed Everything

19:11 Somatics and Nervous System

23:10 Becoming Who You Needed

25:14 Sound Healing for Creativity

27:57 Creative Blocks Explained

34:55 Frequencies and Brainwaves

44:04 Reclaiming Intuition

50:54 From LA to Remote Year

56:11 Why Lisbon Stayed

01:00:12 Building Community Abroad

01:02:45 Sound Healing Origins

01:04:23 Family Support and Identity

01:09:55 Business Ease and Flow

01:14:57 Returning to Creative Love

01:22:48 Creative Alchemy Invitation

Making meaning: Love, Weed and Grief

Thu, 07 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In this conversation, Sheena and Daniel sit down to reflect on identity. Daniel explains why he now specializes in grief counseling—personal losses and years supporting caregivers. He emphasizes using direct language about death, the emotional weight and rewards of connection, and the use of rituals to honor loss. They discuss grief beyond death, stigma, trauma, and meaning-making. The conversation turns to his love story: meeting his South African partner online, sustaining years of communication before meeting in person, and shifting from scarcity mindset to investing in happiness. Daniel shares his plans to move to SA, and navigating fears about politics and adjustment. He closes with his best advice.

00:00 Meet the Guest

00:39 Identity Beyond Work

03:18 Rethinking Work Ethic

06:21 Why Grief Counseling

12:47 Talking About Death

16:13 Grief Beyond Death

19:55 Stages and Meaning

24:56 Trauma and Stigma

30:01 Regrets and Relationships

35:54 Heavy Days and Burnout

37:32 Human Connection in Care

38:26 Grief and Joy Together

39:06 Rituals to Honor Loss

42:29 Meeting Love During COVID

45:41 Long Distance to First Visit

48:08 Chemistry and Travel Lessons

52:15 Attachment Identity and Partnership

57:42 Moving Plans and Marriage Talk

01:04:58 Fears Excitement and Gratitude

01:10:47 Closing Advice

End With Ease: A Death Guide's Secret

Thu, 07 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Sarah, an RN and death guide, shares her background as a longtime bartender who became a nurse out of necessity, and how she sits with discomfort. She explains how she supports end-of-life autonomy, and how her nursing experience and spirituality inform her work. She outlines her business, End With Ease, including guidance on medical aid in dying (not legal in Connecticut) and voluntary stopping eating and drinking (VSED). Sarah recounts early experiences with death, loneliness in the work, self-care amid stress, and how her own cervical cancer led her to slow down and deepen her connection to spirit.

Sarah can be found @good_death_nurse and sarahsparen@yahoo.com

00:00 Meet Sarah

00:55 From Bars to Nursing

04:20 What Is a Death Guide

13:13 Hospice Misconceptions

14:54 Spiritual Side of Dying

17:14 First Death Experience

24:00 Embracing Death Guide Role

28:24 Loneliness and Self Care

33:19 Palliative to Hospice Process

39:55 Private Client Planning

42:05 Dying at Home Explained

50:30 VSED Basics Legality

52:42 Hard Reality Timeline

53:23 Body Natural Dying Process

54:49 Letting Go Not Forcing

55:58 Learning Sharing Evidence

59:24 Hardest Part Family Resistance

01:00:13 Young Fighter Breakthrough

01:06:51 Death Is Beautiful Now

01:12:35 How To Get Curious

01:15:30 Hospice Morphine Myths

01:17:02 Spirit And Body Explained

01:21:22 Cancer Changed Everything

01:26:32 Body As Gift On Loan

01:34:54 Closing Contact Info

Sheena on Identity, Purpose, and Going First

Thu, 07 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Sheena Knight introduces her unfiltered podcast on identity and purpose, explaining why she’s stepping into vulnerability after years of being more comfortable asking others hard questions. She shares her own identity as a sensitive, risk-taking artist and idea-lover who has long navigated masking and dysfunction. She reflects on choosing a bold, unconventional life. After a recent cancer experience and a period of grief, she commits to rejecting small talk in favor of raw conversations about what’s underneath people’s stories. This show is for those seeking realness, connection, and courage.

Sheena can be found at @thesheenaknight or @morethanahandshake

00:00 Why I Went First

00:29 Who I Am

02:38 Masks and Code Switching

03:25 Family Roots and Survival

04:16 Choosing a Bold Life

05:42 Cancer and the Cave

06:18 No More Small Talk

07:17 Who This Show Is For

07:49 In Motion and Next Episode