Podcasts about free your inner guru

Kathleen Oh is a rare breed: a wellness coach who is cynical about wellness and the coaching industry. She works with clients across integration and psychedelics education. Kathleen is trained in Internal Family Systems (also known as IFS Informed or IFSCA), which is a trauma-informed approach, and comes from a background of trauma herself. Kathleen was once an anti-vaxxer, and her community embraced all kinds of magical thinking and conspiracy theories. Over time, she realised that her own coaching may have involved undue influence, and through the words of a dear friend she recognised that a lot of her perspectives were rooted in white privilege.You can support us on Patreon or Acast+, with a one-off donation, or grab some merch. Sarah Steel's debut book Do As I Say is available on audiobook now. With thanks to Audio-Technica, presenting partner for season 5 of Let's Talk About Sects. Use promo code LTAS10 for 10% off their Australian store, and to support the show. Links:Coach Kathleen Oh — Kathleen's websiteOh My Heart — Kathleen's Substack (we spoke about her Psychedelics, Cults and Predators article in particular, from 13 July 2022)The Real Coach Oh — Kathleen's InstagramPsychedelics, Politics and Predators with Kathleen Oh — Free Your Inner Guru podcast episode, 28 March 2022Cover Story: Power Trip — New York Magazine podcast series from Lily Kay Ross and David Nickles about the psychedelic underground, November 2021Dr Janja Lalich's websiteTake Back Your Life Recovery — Dr Janja Lalich's courses that Kathleen mentionedGerette Buglion's website#igotout — Gerette Buglion and Lisa (anonymous activist)'s movement for cult survivorsLaura Tucker's website — host of the Free Your Inner Guru podcast Subscribe and support the production of this independent podcast, and you can access early + ad-free episodes at https://plus.acast.com/s/lets-talk-about-sects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Edmondson and Nippy Ames are subjects of HBO's documentary series The Vow, a story of indoctrination and exposing the NXIVM cult, and hosts of the podcast A Little Bit Culty. I am delighted to have Sarah and Nippy join me for a "part 2" conversation that begins on A Little Bit Culty today! One of my goals is that both of our extreme experiences be relatable to new age and self help consumers.  Take away the branding and sex trafficking of NXIVM, and the head shaving and fatal sweat lodge of my experience, and what remains is a seemingly regular self help organization. Maybe it is. Maybe it's a cult. Maybe it's both. One thing is certain: Our hindsight can become your foresight. Listen as we explore sales and recruitment tactics, coercion, the mind-fuck of "at-causedness," and "the NXIVM flip," which you'll find everywhere in new age and self help circles, masquerading as personal responsibility and looking to yourself as the creator of everything in your life, including narcissistic and cult abuse. Sarah Edmondson is a Canadian actress who has stared in the CBS series Salvation and more than twelve films for the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime. In 2019, Sarah published Scarred: The True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult that Bound My Life. Nippy Ames has come full circle back to what he was born to do: performing, creating, and truth telling. He's proving to be an emerging voice in the conversation around what it means to be an upstanding man, husband, and father in 2021. Sarah and Nippy discuss their healing process with the help of experts and fellow survivors on their podcast A Little Bit Culty. Mentioned in this episode: 2 ways to win Sarah's memoir: Write a review of Free Your Inner Guru - quick links here: freeyourinnerguru.com/reviewBecome a Patreon supporter at patreon.com/freeyourinnerguru Draw to be held on Instagram Live - December 30 at noon ET Books: Scarred: The True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult that Bound My Life, Sarah EdmondsonTake Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships, Janja LalichDon't Call It a Cult, Sarah Berman Connect with Sarah and Nippy online: Podcast & website: A Little Bit CultyInstagram - @alittlebitculty @sarahedmondson @anthonyames11 Connect with Free Your Inner Guru: Become a Patreon Supporter – patreon.com/freeyourinnerguruJoin the Leadership Community – freeyourinnerguru.com/communityShop the merchandise – freeyourinnerguru.com/shop

A Little Bit Culty –In 2009, Laura Tucker attended a Sedona spiritual retreat and sweat lodge hosted by charismatic spiritual teacher James Arthur Ray. It all went tragically wrong, resulting in the deaths of fellow attendees Liz Neuman, Kirby Brown and James Shore. On this episode, Laura chats with Sarah and Nippy about her experience, what it means to practice safe spiritual seeking, and the dark side of self help.More about today's guest: Laura Tucker is the host of the Free Your Inner Guru® Podcast, a photographer, writer, and a self-described ‘recovering coach.' A creative at heart, Laura likes to explore, figure things out, create stunning visuals, and nuanced conversations. As an insight provoking leader and speaker, Laura has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and business leaders become more self aware so they can lead more intuitively. She is a former high school teacher, trainer, sales professional, multi entrepreneur, consultant and leadership coach. She survived the 2009 fatal “sweat lodge” at a self help retreat in Sedona. You may recognize her from Enlighten Us, a CNN Films/Netflix documentary about the self help industry and the Wondery Podcast Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment. She has also appeared on CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin and William Shatner's The UnXplained. Laura shares personal writing and nature inspired photography at lauratucker.com. Free Your Inner Guru® podcast episodes are released bi-weekly at freeyourinnerguru.com.~The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.~A Little Bit Culty is proud to support the #IGOTOUT project, which empowers survivors of cultic abuse to share their stories online as a catalyst for education, prevention, and healing. Learn more at igotout.org~For more information on A Little Bit Culty and co-hosts Sarah Edmondson and Nippy “Anthony” Ames, visit our official website at alittlebitculty.com. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter @alittlebitculty~CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of Sound Producer: Will RetherfordAssociate Producer: Jess TardyTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinAdditional Music Score by Will Retherford See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Laura Tucker is a writer, photographer, podcaster, and recovering coach. She and I connected a while back, and in discussing our ideas about personal growth, coaching, gurus, and more, came up with the idea of a podcast swap … and then took it to another level by swapping the guest & host roles. So, in this episode, Laura took the host chair and interviewed me!Here's some of what we talked about: How I accidentally became a professional artistMy journey from IT to therapy and coaching Differences between therapy and coachingWhat I'm rebelling against The ‘big why' behind my coaching work What's a Sensitive rebel, anyway?What's an HSP?How sensitivity can be a strength. My Instagram ‘strategy'Why I started a podcast, and some of my favorite ones to listen toThe power of music, and some of my favorite music. The importance of one's physical environmentDefinitely check out Laura's Free Your Inner Guru podcast … a good place to start would be the ‘companion' interview to this one - my interview of her, which is episode 93 of the Free Your Inner Guru podcast. We had a great conversation about her story, her experience with James Arthur Ray, and how the Sedona sweat lodge incident in 2009 which she was a part of affected her and informed her journey. Connect with Laura:Web - https://lauratucker.comPodcast- https://freeyourinnerguru.comInstagram -  https://instagram.com/freeyourinnerguru (podcast)Instagram - https://instagram.com/thatlauratucker (photography)Connect with Steve:Email - steve@sensitiverebel.comWeb - https://sensitiverebel.comYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk7zd5kba1SQZOyM5sKKiVAInstagram - https://instagram.com/thesensitiverebel

#igotout is a hashtag, website and movement to make abuses of power unacceptable in all kinds of groups, not just cults. Gerette Buglion and Lisa are two of the founders of #igotout. They believe now is the time for survivors of cult dynamics to share their stories with unflinching honesty. Every story matters, and the ripple effect of speaking up can make a difference. Survivors of cultic abuse can raise awareness of undue influence and coercive control. The goal is to change the cultural acceptance of abuse of power in all kinds of groups, not just cults. Gerette and Lisa join me to share the story of how #igotout was formed, characteristics of cult dynamics in today's society, and how survivors can find support at igotout.org. Gerette Buglion, B.A. in Elementary and Special Ed, is the author of An Everyday Cult. She earned her ‘Masters Degree' in Cult Awareness Education from the school of life. Gerette co-manages operations and communications of igotout.org, is a spokeswoman and activist for the movement and hosts Writing to Reckon, an online workshop where survivors of cultic abuse write their I got out statement. Lisa owns, designs, and manages the igotout.org website intended to support the #igotout movement, as well as makes most of the material and posts for the social media accounts. She is the main point of contact for #igotout communications through email and messaging on the #igotout social platforms. Connect with igotout.org online: WebsiteInstagram - @igotout_orgFacebook Mentioned in this episode: Article: Elsevier - Aggression and Violent Behavior: Sexual abuse and charismatic cults Books: Gerette Buglion - An Everyday CultSteve Hassan - The Cult of Trump Podcasts: Jen Kiaba - Lessons on LeavingKaila Tova - Your Body, Your Brand Support Free Your Inner Guru: Become a Patreon – patreon.com/freeyourinnerguruShop the merchandise – freeyourinnerguru.com/shop Stay in touch: Subscribe to the Free Your Inner Guru newsletter

Host Laura Tucker is a survivor of the fatal 2009 sweat lodge at a self help retreat in Sedona in 2009. Laura shares her response to the line five minutes in to the first episode of Nine Perfect Strangers: "Remember those people who died in that sweat lodge? They thought they were being enlightened, but in reality they were being cooked." This episode includes the article Nine Perfect Strangers Made Me a Punch Line and Now I'm Punching Back - Survivor of That Sweat Lodge Stands Up For Survivors of All Bad Gurus and the conversation that has come to life as a result. Mentioned in this episode: Article: Nine Perfect Strangers Made Me a Punch Line and Now I'm Punching Back Episode 87 - Dr Janja Lalich: When Self Help Turns Cult Ways to support Free Your Inner Guru: Become a Patreon - patreon.com/freeyourinnerguru Shop the merchandise - freeyourinnerguru.com/shop Shop Laura's fine art photography gallery - lauratuckerphotography.com Stay in touch: Subscribe to the Free Your Inner Guru newsletter

You are going to love this conversation with Regina Louise, author of Permission Granted: Kick-Ass Strategies to Bootstrap Your Way to Unconditional Self Love. Regina Louise is a remarkable human being who engages in this conversation with grace, intelligence, empathy and generosity. Before Regina wrote her latest book Permission Granted, she authored two bestselling memoirs: Somebody's Someone and Someone Has Led This Child to Believe in which she shares her journey that included being in thirty foster homes as a child. Her memoirs became the award-winning Lifetime movie I Am Somebody's Child: The Regina Louise Story. Regina joins me to explore topics of the day, including racism, privilege, being a social agent, COVID19, and how writing her 2 memoirs prepared her to write to Permission Granted, her first non-fiction self help book. Conversation Highlights: How Regina learned the value of her own permission when her fighting spirit was seen as troublesome.How women and historically underrepresented folks must give ourselves permission to be bigger than a suppressive society wants us to be.The truth of racism in a constructed, hegemonic society.Moving into the world from the place "where spirit meets bone."Nexting: always imagining the highest order of possibility.Liminal space: feeling moored in the "time in between," and at the threshold where change is afoot.Regina shares her decision to be double vaccinated and wear a mask, despite her prior skepticism based on having pharmaceutical drugs forced on her as a child of the system. Mentioned in this episode: Regina's books: Permission Granted: Kick-Ass Strategies to Bootstrap Your Way to Unconditional Self-Love Somebody's Someone: A MemoirSomeone Has Led This Child to Believe Regina: Website - iamreginalouise.comInstagram - @therealreginalouise Become a Free Your Inner Guru® supporter: Become a patron on Patreon – https://patreon.com/freeyourinnerguruPurchase a fun new hoodie, t-shirt and/or sustainably printed notebooks. (Use LAUNCH15 at checkout for 15% savings.) – https://freeyourinnerguru.com/shop Connect with Free Your Inner Guru®: Website – freeyourinnerguru.comInstagram – instagram.com/freeyourinnerguruJoin our Leadership Community! Live conversation twice a month on Zoom, and full access to our Discourse community. freeyourinnerguru.com/community

In 2008, at the height of the ‘great recession', Laura was at a personal and professional cross-roads. She became involved in the self-help industry, first as a client, then as a coach. Her path took a tragic turn. On October 8, 2009, she was present at what became know as the fatal “sweat lodge incident” near Sedona run by James Arthur Ray. Three fellow workshop participants, James Shore, Kirby Brown and Liz Neuman lost their lives, and dozens more were injured. She was asked to relive it through the criminal trial, CNN's Enlighten Us documentary and Wondery's podcast series, “Guru - The Dark Side of Enlightenment”, exploring that fateful night. In 2017 she created Free Your Inner Guru®, a podcast for ethical leaders and discerning seekers. Links: Podcast: https://www.freeyourinnerguru.com/ (https://www.freeyourinnerguru.com) And Laura's Leadership Community: https://freeyourinnerguru.com/leadership-community/ (https://freeyourinnerguru.com/leadership-community/) Website: https://www.lauratucker.com/ (https://www.lauratucker.com) - where you'll find her blog and photography Insta: @freeyourinnerguru and @lauraatucker ____ And host Linda McLachlan can be found via: www.thearena-podcast.com or on her coaching website: www.lindamclachlan.com You can follow her on Instagram & Facebook @arenalivcourage or on Twitter: @Arena_LivCour Leave a rating or review at: https://www.lovethepodcast.com/thearena This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Today on Sense of Soul Podcast we welcomed Laura Tucker. Years ago Laura was searching for a new way to support her clients during the age of the popular movie and book “The Secret”.  She like many others embarked on a personal growth journey under the leadership of one of the “Secret” stars, James Arthur Ray.  In 2009 at James Ray’s infamous ‘Sweat Lodge’, Laura had a front row seat to tragedy where sadly three of her peers died as a result of the events that day and over a dozen hospitalized. Her journey back to wholeness began in 2015 when she decided to trust herself again and agreed to participate in the documentary ‘Enlighten Us’. Wondery's podcast Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment was released in July 2020, which also highlights this tragedy and Laura’s story. After years of overcoming the challenges from that painful experience, Laura kept going and persevered, finding her light again. She is a photographer, writer and today inspires and empowers many hosting the Free Your Inner Guru® Podcast, where she talks about leadership, self growth, creativity and spirituality. Find Laura here at her website www.freeyourinnerguru.com www.lauratucker.com Download for FREE “ The Free Your Inner Guru® Guidebook” Listen to the episode on her podcast with the amazing author of “The meaning of life”,  Nathanael Novosel at this Link Check out Nathanael’s  book: The Meaning of Life: A guide to finding your life's purpose. AND of course don’t forget to Rate, Review and Subscribe and visit www.mysenseofsoul.com!

Suzanne Wylde is the author of The Art of Coming Home - Common sense self-development exercises to educate, inspire, and empower you. Suzanne is an acupuncturist, holistic coach, and alternative therapist. She and I met online a number of months ago. Her pragmatic straightforward approach led to an invitation to come on Free Your Inner Guru for a deep dive. We get into her varied experience and education, and the conversation lands on processing emotions. It's fitting. Emotions are running all over the place. They always are, but the COVID-19 roller ride coaster keeps going. Suzanne has given me a link to share with you: an online version of chapter 9 in her book, Processing Our Emotions. The focus on emotion raises the question - and creates an opportunity to begin to unpack an important question - How are we to discern what we pay attention to, and allow to influence our thoughts and behavior so that we don't become vulnerable to undue influence? I was asked yesterday and started writing a list based on my past experience. The first thing I wrote was “be able to identify when your emotions are being activated - by external events, past triggers, or manipulative tactics.” So here we are with an episode that touches on staying grounded, accepting what's going on around us, even when we don't like it, and processing emotion. Suzanne shares some tools that may be helpful as we each navigate our way forward. If you're struggling, I encourage you to connect with a professional - coach, therapist, doctor, and resist the temptation to isolate. We're all human, after all. We need support and connection to help us through. Conversation highlights: What Suzanne means by “coming home,” and why she calls it an art.The advantages and disadvantages of being “highly sensitive.”Positivity and shadow work - the paradox of self help.The problem of prescriptive leadership, and prescriptive coaching.How empathy does not always lead to helping others.Grounding, acceptance and processing emotion: topics from The Art of Coming Home that are relevant today. Mentioned in this episode: Preview chapter from The Art of Coming Home: Chapter 9 - Processing Our Emotions Book - The Art of Coming Home: Common-sense self-development exercises to educate, inspire and empower you. Science Direct article - Empathy and compassion Connect with Suzanne online Website - Instagram - Facebook Connect with Free Your Inner Guru Support on Patreon Instagram - Facebook Join the conversation – Check out the Free Your Inner Guru Leadership Community Support the podcast on Patreon or shop the fun new hoodies, t-shirts and sustainably printed notebooks. (Use LAUNCH15 at checkout for 15% savings.)

Louise Karch is a name whisperer and the author of the multi-award-winning book Word Glue: Find your Million Dollar Brand Name. Louise Karch has been naming things all her life. She believes that naming and conscious leadership go hand in hand. Word Glue is like having an award-winning naming agency in your pocket. It’s a beautifully designed handbook that contains all of Louise’s naming secrets. Conversation highlights: • Louise shares how she realized that naming is her superpower.• Louise breaks down how the name Free Your Inner Guru® didn’t simply come from the ethers.• The relationship between conscious leadership and the names you create.• Self care: Rituals and practices that keep you in the best place to show up and serve with empathy, especially in turbulent times.• Why Louise is giving away her secrets.• Once you’ve got a name: Why a strong brand is not just a logo.• It’s a small world after all: Louise and Laura’s common connection to Wade Gilpin of Sherpa Creative.• The journey to become an author: Why Louise believes writing a book will change your life. Mentioned in this episode: Connect with Louise Karch online: wordglue.co LinkedIn Word Glue cover design: Wade Gilpin, Sherpa Creative Word Glue internal design: Julia Afflekt, Apexiva Seth Godin's The Marketing Seminar Want more conscious conversations in your life? Support the podcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru® Leadership Community at freeyourinnerguru.com/leadership-community

John Larson wants to transform coaching from "all conversation" to something more tangible and meaningful in the world.  John Larson is the founder of CoachAccountable, a powerful tool designed to make coaching better, and bring it to the mainstream. In this high energy conversation, John shares how his own personal development journey led him to create CoachAccountable, a platform that turns coaching into documented wisdom.  John's enthusiasm for his work is unparalleled, and he's got an inspiring entrepreneurial journey to share. Conversation highlights John Larson shares his introduction to the self help industry through Landmark Forum and his subsequent desire to make coaching more reliable and tangible. How that desire led to creating CoachAccountable to bridge the gap in between powerful coaching conversations. The entrepreneurial journey between the 2009 launch of version 1 to crickets, to the successful launch of version 2 in 2012. How Laura found CoachAccountable and it became her main business tool. Laura and John on why people think self help programs are “cult-y”. Why Facebook Groups are a terrible business tool for coaching. Why being oblivious to your competitors makes for doing your best work. Memorable quote “As a culture, coaching’s not a known quantity. If we can get to the point to where the most hard-nosed bean counter can look at the outcomes of any given coaching engagement and think that just makes sense, then we’re in a good place.” Mentioned in this episode: Visit CoachAccountable online *Links in this episode are affiliate links.  There is a 30 day free trial. If you're a coach and register for CoachAccountable through this link, a portion of your investment will go producing Free Your Inner Guru®. Free Your Inner Guru on social: Instagram Facebook Laura Tucker on social: Instagram Facebook Want more big conversations in your life? Support the podcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru® Leadership Community at patreon.com/freeyourinnerguru (Coaches are most welcome!)  

Welcome to Calm After The Storm, this is your host Amy Syed. I am Founder and CEO of FindyourHCP, 15minuteaday.ca and an activist. I am a survivor of domestic violence, terminal cancer and Grief. Thanks for joining us on this journey through other’s declarations. In this episode of Calm After The Storm: Survivorship and Other Stories with Amy Syed, we speak with Laura Tucker, Leadership Coach at Free Your Inner Guru.Tune in as we tackle topics like:2:01 - Laura’s background4:08 - Being the eldest and the only daughter7:26 - Becoming rebellious outside her home11:20 - College life15:56 - Embarking on her mental health journey20:22 - Reflecting on what life is “supposed to look like”21:36 - The difficulty of pursuing a teaching career28:49 - Training, Sales and Antidepressants32:46 - Getting a morality check36:16 - Life in Kelowna, BC40:25 - The Secret45:26 - “From peak to pit”1:00:12 - Life after Sedona1:04:10 - Discovering new therapeutic methods1:13:59 - The biggest lesson she learned1:18:22 - Laura’s dedicationSupport the show (https://www.amysyed.ca/calmafterthestormpodcast)

Psychic and spiritual advisor Julie Min is back for a deep dive into the role of personal responsibility in our healing journey. Julie Min is a psychic, spiritual counselor, and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and the fatal sweat lodge led by James Arthur Ray. It's hard to believe it's been three years since Julie's first visit to Free Your Inner Guru. She is back to share wisdom gained from her life experience and commitment to the healing journey.  In this deep dive, Julie shares her backstory and throws the doors open on the life and thoughts of someone who has psychic ability. Conversation highlights: Julie's opinion of the Wondery podcast Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment. Why the being labeled a victim can be uncomfortable and unhelpful. What it means to "willingly give your power away." How personal responsibility is a key strategy in Julie's response to childhood sexual abuse. Red flags and psychic warnings leading up to the tragedy of the Sedona sweat lodge. Julie's key strategy to connect to your inner wisdom. Choose love now:  Julie's tribute to Kirby Brown, James Shore, and Liz Neuman. Memorable quotes from Julie Min: "Part of the conscious path, the spiritual path, is recognizing where other people have responsibility and where we have responsibility in the choices we’ve made." "If I could take personal responsibility, then I had an action plan. Even though it was going to be hard, there was something I could do." "The only way we can trust ourselves is to actually trust ourselves. We have to act on the knowledge we have been given." Mentioned in this episode Julie's first visit to Free Your Inner Guru - Episode 20 - Julie Min:  From Tragedy and Survivor's Guilt to Forgiveness, Happiness, and Love Julie Min on Facebook Want more big conversations in your life? Support the podcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru® Leadership Community at patreon.com/freeyourinnerguru

Laura Richards, Jim Clemente and Lisa Zambetti interview Laura Tucker who attended the New Age "Spiritual Warrior" Retreat led by JAR in Sedona Arizona.Laura entered the so-called sweat lodge with her friend Liz Neuman and they sat together. Liz Neuman was taken to hospital and was in intensive care for a week before she died.Laura takes us behind the scenes of that catastrophic "retreat". Listen to Laura's podcast "Free Your Inner Guru" https://lauratucker.com/ #HerNameWasKirbyBrown#HerNameWasLizNeuman#HisNameWasJamesShoreTHANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORSINTELLIWHITEGet $50 off the new INDIGLOW Teeth Whitening System by going to TryIndiglow.com and use the promo code REALCRIME

Brad Warner and Free Your Inner Guru host Laura Tucker talk about Letters to a Dead Friend About Zen and the dangers of pushing for a spiritual breakthrough before you are ready. Brad Warner is a Soto Zen priest, bass guitarist for the punk band Zero Defex and the author of Letters to a Dead Friend About Zen. In his most recent book, Brad Warner introduces us to Zen Buddhism through the perspective of letters he writes to his friend Marky, who has died of cancer. But he’s not just talking to Marky, he’s talking to you in the frank tone and language of telling it like it is, to a close friend on borrowed time. First, I loved this book and highly recommend it.  Second, I've been saving this interview for just the right time. We recorded this interview three days after I sat for my interview for the just-released Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment podcast by Wondery. After speaking about Zen Buddhism and Letters to a Dead Friend About Zen, Brad and I get going about some of the issues in the spirituality and self help circles that have become important to me based on lived experience.   It was reassuring to speak to a spiritual leader about why all things don't work for all people, and the dangers of inducing altered states in the pursuit of spiritual growth. Enjoy this big conversation with someone who doesn't shy away from going counter to the status quo. Conversation highlights: Why Brad started writing letters to his dead friend Marky. How Brad became a Zen monk, without setting off to be a monk. Is Zen Buddhism a religion, or a lifestyle? Sitting Zazen without a goal to be mindful or a better person. Re-thinking detachment: The Sanskrit word that’s usually translated as attachment has a double meaning of fuel. Laura on how meditation is like running: Even my worst run was better than the run I didn’t take. Brad on how Zen practice is like playing music, especially in front of a group. The dark side of meditation and the pitfalls that can happen when you extract mindfulness from the ethics and culture surrounding it. The down side of using drugs and altered states to push for spiritual experiences.   Mentioned in this episode: Book - Letters to a Dead Friend About Zen Brad's Blog - hardcorezen.info Hardcore Zen Youtube Channel Want to have big conversations in your life? Support the podcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru® Leadership Community at patreon.com/freeyourinnerguru

Jill Castle says every child, from toddler to teen, wants some level of autonomy and agency. She says it’s all very normal, but it can throw parents for a loop.  It’s difficult for parents to know in their heart that they are struggling, and not know where to get help. In this episode, Jill Castle and Free Your Inner Guru® host Laura Tucker talk about the dance between getting what you need as a parent, raising an independent, autonomous child, and how systemic change is needed to raise more physically and psychologically empowered humans. Meet Jill Castle: Jill is one of North America’s premier child nutrition experts. Known as a paradigm shifter who blends current research, practical application and common sense, Jill inspires audiences to think differently about child nutrition and feeding kids. A sought-after speaker, advisor, and media contributor, Jill has inspired TEDx, government, medical and parent audiences. She serves on the Board of Advisors of Parents Magazine, and a handful of privately held child nutrition companies. Jill is the author of Try New Food, The Smart Mom’s Guide to Starting Solids, Eat Like a Champion, and co-author of Fearless Feeding. She pens The Nourished Child® blog, is the voice behind a popular podcast of the same name, and regularly contributes to US News & World Report’s For Parents. Conversation highlights: Jill shares how she became a pediatric nutritionist and her subsequent challenge of having a child who was not interested in eating. The powerful impact media and marketing has on children and their parents. The role of a parent's intuition in guiding your child's nutrition. Jill’s biggest frustration about nutrition. Avoiding overwhelm: why the breaking it down into what you CAN do works. Changes Jill would like to see in the North American nutrition culture. How Jill works with nutritionists and dietitians to have a broader impact as a leader. Memorable quotes from Jill Castle: “You have to know your child. I ate my humble pie and learned a lot. I had seven years of education and training in my field, and I struggled. What is it like for parents with no education, training and experience feeding children?” “I have great compassion and experience for parents who are struggling.” “I would like to see companies and corporations offering this kind of education to their employees. They are working parents. They don’t have the time to go see a nutritionist if they have a problem.” Mentioned in this episode: Jill Castle's website The Nourished Child® Podcast More information on the Free Your Inner Guru® Community Free Community, Connection & Coaching Zoom Calls Support the podcast or join the members only Patreon community

Have you been feeling disconnected in this time of physical isolation? We can be physically isolated and still use one of our superpowers - creativity - to connect with others in new ways.  In this unprecedented time of physical isolation, Free Your Inner Guru host Laura Tucker explores the importance of community and connection. Mentioned in this episode: Want something to make you smile?  Here's Laura's family singing Happy Birthday on Zoom Want an opportunity to connect with others?  You're invited to the Free Community, Connection and Coaching Calls  

Today on SheRises, Giovanna welcomes Laura Tucker, leadership coach, transformational speaker, and the host of the Free Your Inner Guru® Podcast. As a survivor of the fatal 2009 Sedona Sweat Lodge, Laura is committed to transforming the self-help industry and to ensure that self-help is conducted in a truly safe and empowering way.  the good and bad of the self-help industry  the importance of going within for answers and trusting yourself  how your inner wisdom is not always easy or simple to access  the value of sharing your own words instead of those of others  the love/hate relationship with self-help in the coaching industry  the search for your own inner guru  the value of conscious active self-care versus passive self-care  the importance of being a healthy sceptic  recognising when your intuition is operating through a filter  how what you respond to in someone else is a reflection of yourself, good or bad  how there is no cookie-cutter shortcut or magic bullet and that life is about the experience To access Laura's Free Your Inner Guru Guidebook, go to:https://lauratucker.com/guidebook You can learn more about Laura Tucker at:https://lauratucker.com/ Free Your Inner Guru® episodes are released bi-weekly at http://bit.ly/fyigpodcast

"I want you to think of listening to Free Your Inner Guru as an act of self care in increasingly intense times." Listen to this first episode of 2020 for a preview of what you can expect in the coming weeks and months on Free Your Inner Guru. Mentioned in this episode: Want daily inspiration delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Laura's Daily Letters Episode 32:  Jessica Tracy - The Impact of Pride on Success and Authentic Leadership Episode 36:  Karen Haycox - Take the Next Right Step  

Robyn Spizman wants you to share the love in your heart out loud. In these times where there’s so much divisiveness and division, New York Times bestselling author and media personality Robyn Spizman is on a mission to inspire us to share the love in our heart out loud. In her book Loving Out Loud: The Power of a Kind Word, Robyn shares specific ways you can strengthen the bonds with the people you care about, guide you to connect with the world around you in a more meaningful way, and what you can do today to jump start a more loving life now. In this heartwarming conversation, Robyn shares her wisdom as she and Laura trade stories of simple kindness in every day life. Conversation highlights Closing the gaps in our kindness without feeling inadequate. Things you can do today by developing habits of kindness. Why you should stop being interesting and try being interested instead Why Vanessa Redgrave kissed Laura on the cheek, and other stories of spontaneous kindness that show the power of human connection. How to be open to relationships that serve and support you. Creating a Loving Out Loud legacy.   Memorable quotes “Kindness has prevailed. Civil society is not what we all should be doing. It’s because it’s the right thing to do to sit on the side of kindness. Sitting on the side of kindness is the only thing to do.” "When we give without a selfish motive, expecting someone to be just like us, guess what happens - our hearts are pure. That’s where integrity comes in, the human value of being kind because it’s the right thing to do." “You can leave behind a trail of light.”   Mentioned in this episode Robyn Spizman's book - Loving Out Loud:  The Power of a Kind Word Visit Robyn's website Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

Dr Adit Margaliot's journey as a medical doctor has been about questioning dogma, breaking away from stale patterns of thinking, and listening to one's inner wisdom. Dr Adit Margaliot is an MD who specialized in neurology and neuromuscular disorders. After years of listening to her patients struggle with their neurological conditions, and their sleep, she wanted to better understand this problem and how to help them manage it. She went on to study sleep medicine and obtain her designation as a specialist in the field. This was a start to her exploration of how lifestyle impacts health and disease. More recently she has been formally studying functional medicine, an approach that seeks to identify the core triggers and contributors to ill health on a systems-based approach, and how to allow the body to heal through nutrition, lifestyle, sleep, stress management etc. Incorporating these principles into her practice, and emphasizing a collaborative relationship with her patients, has brought a deep sense of energy and joy to her work. In the process of building a practice that aligns with her values and goals, Dr Margaliot has learned the importance of questioning dogma, breaking away from stale patterns of thinking, and listening to one’s inner wisdom. Conversation highlights: I love this conversation because A) I learned a ton, and B) as an avid pursuer of all things alternative therapy, everything seems to be coming together to form a picture of why proactive maintenance can make a very real, quantifiable difference in how we experience our body - and consequently life - over the long term. As I was listening and preparing this episode, I was reminded of an anti drug ad campaign that ran in the 1980s. At the beginning of the ad, a whole egg is held up to “This is your brain.”, Then it’s cracked into a hot frying pan to “This is your brain on drugs.” If I were to summarize today’s episode it would be to show the egg in the frying pan as “This is your brain.” And then roll it in reverse, back up into the whole egg while saying “This is your brain on self care.” I don't know about you, but I'd rather my brain be the whole egg. As Dr Margaliot says at the very end, it’s important to get the message out! Mentioned in this episode: Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Study Upcoming Winter of Self Care - 10 week live online coaching program with Free Your Inner Guru host Laura Tucker   Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

CEO Marc Lesser is on a mission to make mindfulness an essential practice of leadership. Marc Lesser is a speaker, workshop leader, and executive coach. Marc is known for his engaging, experiential presentations that integrate mindfulness and emotional intelligence practices and training. He is the author of 4 books, including Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader: Lessons from Google and a Zen Monastery Kitchen, and CEO of ZBA Associates, an executive development and leadership consulting company. Marc helped develop the world-renowned Search Inside Yourself (SIY) leadership program within Google – a mindfulness-based emotional intelligence training for leaders which teaches the art of integrating mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and business savvy for creating great corporate cultures and a better world. He founded and was CEO of 3 companies, and has an MBA degree from New York University. Marc was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years, and director of Tassajara, Zen Mountain Center, the first Zen monastery in the western world. Memorable quotes: "Leadership is essentially about integrity. Integrating a vision, sense of urgency with heart, morals, sense of ethics." "I identify myself as a social entrepreneur - business as a force for solving problems and doing things that matter. Whether I’m in Google or a large company, many people are identifying as a social entrepreneur." "Part of my mission in life is to ground mindfulness. To show what I think the depth and breadth of it. On one hand to demystify it, and on the other to show the mystery." "I’m more and more up front that so many people who want to have a meditation practice struggle with it. My response is try sitting with others. I don’t think that meditation was meant to be an individual sport. I think it was meant to be a group sport." "We’ve become separate from nature, and therefore separate from ourselves." I just thought I was going to be practicing meditation and then found myself working with other people and leading. I thought, "This is the real thing, this is the practice." Mentioned in this episode Marc Lesser's book -  7 Practices of a Mindful Leader: Lessons from Google and a Zen Monastery Kitchen Free Your Inner Guru Episode 49 with meditation teacher Mark Coleman Connect with Marc Lesser online: website Twitter - @marclesser Facebook Connect with Laura and #FYIGPodcast online: website Facebook Instagram Twitter Become a supporting member and join the Free Your Inner Guru® listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

Martha Henderson is an Olympian, keynote speaker, and host of the Rising Tides Speaker Series. Martha Henderson represented Canada with her sailing team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. As an Olympian, the pursuit of excellence is in her blood. She is known for inspiring beliefs that you can achieve outcomes beyond your expectations. In this conversation with Free Your Inner Guru host Laura Tucker, Martha shares her roller coaster ride to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, including what happened when her worst nightmare came true! Martha also shares why she used to suppress her Olympic experience, and why she speaks about her story with people today. Memorable quotes: "When I started to explore all the elements that went into the Olympic journey, I started to realize that it’s a relatable story for people in any situation who have to reinvent themselves." "Your worst nightmare can come true. And you can still make your dream come true. I fell out of the boat!" “Olympian is another word for expert. Someone who has dedicated time and effort to a singular thing.” Mentioned in this episode Upcoming Rising Tides Speaker Series in Toronto on Tuesday, October 22nd - Click here and use code EARLYBIRD on or before September 30 to deduct $10 off your ticket. Find Martha Henderson online: risingtides.ca Facebook Instagram Rising Tides Events website Facebook Curious about coaching with Laura?  Visit lauratucker.com/leadership-coaching for more information. Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

Lisa Mattam is the CEO of Sahajan, an evidence-based natural skin care line based on the 5000 year old science of Ayurveda. In this interview, Lisa shares the milestones and the challenges of her journey from strategic consulting in the pharmaceutical industry to founding her own skin care line that reaches back to her family’s roots in southern India. Moments before this interview, Lisa Mattam and Laura Tucker discovered they went to the same grade school in Toronto. This surprising common ground laid the foundation for a big conversation about doing your best to do life and business in alignment with your values. Named by Profit Magazine as one of the Top Ten Emerging Women Entrepreneurs in Canada and recognized by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce as Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Lisa has become a thought leader in the areas of entrepreneurship, resilience, the advancement of women, and diversity. Conversation highlights How growing up as the lone Indian girl in school shaped Lisa's sense of culture and tradition. Lisa explains how Ayurveda helps you proactively manage your life's path. The story of how Lisa decided to integrate Ayurveda into her business. The three surprising challenges Lisa Mattam faced in the three years since she launched Sahajan.  (The third one is shocking!) Integrity, values and ethics in Sahajan’s business culture. The heartbreak of realizing not everyone shares the same values as you, and what you can do about it. The role of intuition in refining business and leadership skills. Prioritizing purpose over profit:  How Lisa and Sahajan give back in partnership with Plan International's Because I am a Girl Initiative. Your purchase of Lip Karma gives a girl in a developing country a day of school.   Mentioned in this episode Book - The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz Find Lisa Mattam and Sahajan online: Sahajan.com Instagram - @sahajanskincare Facebook - click here Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com Connect on social: Free Your Inner Guru Facebook Group Instagram - @freeyourinnerguru and @lauraatucker Twitter - @fyigpodcast and @lauraatucker

Sonya Cote wants you to own your body and connect with others. On this week's episode of Free Your Inner Guru, Laura is joined by Sonya Cote.  Sonya is an actress, singer, speaker and author of I’m Not Naked (Anymore): Memoirs of a Contemporary Jezebel. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse, the stories of Sonya’s life center around creative self expression, and fully owning her body, while having fun in the process.  She is a vivacious and tenacious woman who embraces her journey and the wisdom she has accumulated along the way. Sonya continues to work full time in the entertainment industry, teaching workshops and speaking to share the wisdom she has gained from her life experience. Conversation highlights Why Sonya calls herself a Contemporary Jezebel There is always a path, even though we can’t always see it at the time Perspective on sharing stories and the difference it makes in the world Post #metoo - what has changed in relationships, the acting industry? The real point of sharing your story. How Sonya’s relationship with her mother was affected by the publishing of her book The power of forgiveness Taking responsibility, admitting mistakes and move forward anyway The importance of human connection and community Sonya’s current fitness competition - the next step in Sonya’s journey of the body The role of discipline and how it spills into other areas of your life Menopause and Sonya’s moment of “I’ve got to reinvent myself!” Mentioned in this episode Sonya's Book - I’m Not Naked (Anymore): Memoirs of a Contemporary Jezebel Website - sonyacote.com 14th Annual Patsy Cline Birthday Show - Sept 5, 2019 - Tickets here Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

In her book Feed Your Soul, Carly Pollack combines practical guidance on what to eat with timeless wisdom. Being a conscious leader requires focus, clarity, and energy. In this episode, Carly Pollack and Free Your Inner Guru host Laura Tucker explore why many people experience wellness as a battle between two voices - our compassionate Higher Self and our obsessive, punishing lower self - and why our relationship with food is a mirror for where we are on our spiritual path. Carly Pollack is the founder of Nutritional Wisdom, a thriving private practice based in Austin, Texas. A Certified Clinical Nutritionist with a master’s degree in holistic nutrition, Carly has been awarded Best Nutritionist in Austin five years running and has helped over 10,000 people achieve their health and happiness goals. “Instead of someone outside of you - or a book or a person…Feed Your Soul is really a book about teaching you how to find your own boundaries. It’s not ‘Hey, I’ve never met you in my whole life, but I’m going to write a book telling you how I think you need to eat.’ It’s different for everyone, and different at different seasons of their life.” - Carly Pollack Conversation highlights -Carly shares her experience of being at war with her body, a constant chaotic battle with 2 sides. -The role of awareness in guiding your health. Why focussing on the food and the movement is ineffective. -When you feel like your emotional wellness is easily being tripped up by external triggers, you need to look at your spiritual practice and strengthen it. -The difference between judgment and holding yourself to a high standard -Where Carly stands on the two opposing camps in woman’s wellness -Simple but impactful guidance on what to eat: foods that rot. -Why the white potato is a victim of dogma. -How to apply the 80/20 rule to nutrition. -What it was like to approach publishers with a book that contains no hook or quick fix. Carly Pollack’s Memorable Quotes “Obsessiveness and awareness cannot coexist.” “I can’t influence myself if I’m judging myself.” “I don’t want to take the life out of food, I want to take the power out of food.” “To demonize the banana, we are missing the point. We are doing this a lot to distract ourselves from the bigger picture of doing the deeper work.” Mentioned in this episode Carly Pollack's book - Feed Your Soul -Nutritional Wisdom to Lose Weight Permanently and Live Fulfilled Website - carlypollack.com Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

Mark Coleman is a mindfulness teacher, wilderness guide, and author. Mark Coleman is the author of From Suffering to Peace, Make Peace with Your Mind, and Awake in the Wild.  As a rebelious young man living in London, Mark stumbled upon a meditation centre at the height of the punk era. His discovery began a lifelong journey of exploring the mind, meditation, and causes of suffering and happiness. Mark is the founder of the Mindfulness Institute and has an MA in clinical psychology.  Mark has guided students on five continents as a corporate consultant, counselor, meditation teacher, and wilderness guide. Conversation highlights: Concern that mindfulness is being touted as a panacea and reduced to bite size parts Mindfulness as a way to gain understanding, insight and inner freedom. How Mark found mindfulness in the midst of the London punk era. Don't have time to meditate? Mark shares practical ways you can choose mindfulness over numbing in the midst of a busy life. Our default node network and negativity bias:  the physiological and psychological reason we are wired to be slightly negative with a meandering mind. The body as the best way to train to be present. Kindness as an important element of finding capacity to hold an experience and not suffer with it. Fairy tale spiritual mythology is not the path to awakening. The shift from self centredness to service. Despite a general feeling of powerlessness, serving the people around us has the power to ripple out and create influence. Mark Coleman's Memorable Quotes: "You may not have time to meditate for half an hour, but you have time to be present to a whole host of activities including driving, conversations, cooking, cleaning." "We all want the happily ever after story; the fairy tale spiritual mythology.  I thought that too. I wanted to get enlightened so I wouldn’t have to feel and deal with the messiness and painfulness of life." "Remember that mindfulness, which is awareness, is a quality within us all.  Awareness is our birthright." "Since we are an interconnected web of life, influencing one small thread of that weave influences the whole tapestry." Mentioned in this episode Mark Coleman's book, From Suffering to Peace:  The True Promise of Mindfulness Website - markcoleman.org Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

Happy Summer of Self Care! Shaun Proulx:  What is the number one thing you did to get to the place you're at now since we last saw you? Laura Tucker:  I think it's really been letting go of the idea of wanting to be who I was. In this episode: updates on the Free Your Inner Guru Podcast the upcoming Summer of Self Care Shaun Proulx interviews Laura and we uncover why “self care has been the ultimate answer for you.” Shaun Proulx hosts Shaun hosts the glittery, thoughtful, weekly SiriusXM talk show, The Shaun Proulx Show, on CanadaTalks channel 167, a hotbed of ideas, thoughtful discussion, transformational entertainment, cheeky commentary and a magnet for celebrities and thought leaders including Bo Derek, Gayle King, Jann Arden, Betty DeGeneres, Tony Robbins, Melissa Etheridge, Rosie Perez, Gabrielle Bernstein, Mastin Kipp, Panache Desai, and more. Key points How repetition and practice increase your capacity for difficult emotions over time The role of intentional self care in the journey to reclaim your voice Learning to be resourceful and advocate for yourself as a form of self care. The number one thing I did to get to the place I am now. Why an integrated life is the best life. Mentioned in this episode For more information about the Free Your Inner Guru Summer of Self Care - lauratucker.com/sos Connect with Shaun Proulx online: at shaunproulx.ca Summer of Yes Facebook Page More Free Your Inner Guru online: Facebook Group Laura on Instagram Free Your Inner Guru Podcast on Instagram Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

Avra Fainer is a performance and presentation coach who knows first hand the importance of becoming more self aware and sharing your story. When Avra Fainer was at the peak of achievement in both acting and business, she experienced a severe challenge in the form of mental illness. In this compelling conversation, Avra shares how her diagnosis with Bipolar 2 was an important step towards authentic self expression and healthy success. Listen as Avra Fainer shares her perspective on: Her love of performance as a child actor. How acting became the foundation of her work as a performance and presentation coach. What it’s like to watch someone go from shy and quiet to being able to use their voice and body to influence, and make a difference in other people’s lives. The impact of performance and influence in everyday moments. From driving force to mental illness, Avra shares the impact her mental illness had on her ability to function. Her experience and symptoms of Bipolar 2 Disorder. How today’s culture encourages grandiosity The role self awareness played in becoming the healthy, functional, amazing person you can be. The power of environment: the role relationships played in navigating back to wellness. The power of storytelling: Why sharing your story makes you more memorable Why “authentic” and “vulnerable” are more than buzzwords Her response to people who think their story is not significant. Two practical techniques and tools that will help you become more energized, present and confident. Mentioned in this episode Find and follow Avra online: website - avrafainer.com Facebook Instagram Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

Ivanka Siolkowsky, The Tidy Moose, shares her journey from the classroom into closets in this compelling conversation about the power of your physical environment. Ivanka Siolkowsky is a former elementary school teacher whose life was transformed when she began learning the many benefits of minimalism and organization. "I had to control my surroundings to bring myself peace." At a time when she was struggling with her mental health, Ivanka was given Marie Kondo's book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up as a joke gift.  Reading it led her on a journey of exploration of the correlation between having a decluttered space and her mental health. Ivanka is now a Kon-Mari certified professional organizer who brings compassion and insight into her clients' homes. Listen to hear Ivanka Siolkowsky's perspective on these big ideas: The correlation between organization and developmental growth. Looking back at rock bottom, Ivanka ..... The consequences of being "hammered with consumerism". How Ivanka uses the Kon-Mari Method™ in her work and the most mind-blowing thing she learned from it. The change in mindset from "what should I get rid of" to "what should I keep?". Why Ivanka created The Moose Method to work with children. The one thing you must do when you de-clutter. Why sentimental items are the last place to start when you organize. Gratitude as part of the de-cluttering process The energy of your "spark joy" items.  Hint - it's different for everyone! When teachers become a commodity: Laura and Ivanka discuss their respective departures from teaching. Mentioned in this episode: Marie Kondo's book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Ivanka Siolkowsky, Declutter Your Way to Health, Wealth, and Freedom Ivanka Siolkowsky, The Tidy Moose (children's book) If you need immediate help: SuicidePrevention.ca CAMH Crisis Resources Page - Toronto and Surrounding Area CTV News - Mental Health in Canada - Where to get help Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

What happens when you return to the mat after a 10 year hiatus from yoga? Free Your Inner Guru™ host Laura Tucker shares five life lessons from fifty returns to the mat. What happens when you return to the mat in the middle of a bout of vertigo? It wasn't easy. Or painless. Or pretty! But it was worth it. Mind, body, and spirit, yoga is an integrative practice. It aligns you with a holistic approach to living, working, and being. The more integrative we can be with our life.  The more generous we can be with ourselves and others. "There is no such thing as life and work balance.  There is only life." - Seth Godin In this podcast, I share five stories and lessons that can be applied to every area of life.   Fifty plus sessions later, it's turns out it was a good thing I stuck with it, and that I can laugh at myself. En-joy the episode! Mentioned in this episode: Free Your Inner Guru™ Facebook Group Get on the (e)mailing list --> click here Free Your Inner Guru™ Leadership Workshop Big things are coming! Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

Laura Tucker started her professional life as a school teacher before transitioning to the private sector working in training, sales, and coaching. Always wanting to make a difference in people’s lives, from the time she started coaching baseball as a teenager, Laura’s leadership and communication skills helped her succeed throughout her career and in her consulting work serving the automotive industry. Until she reached a place where she observed a big disconnect between her successful professional life and her relationally-strained private life. Around the same time, the financial crisis of 2008 was negatively impacting the success of her work. Searching for a new way to support her clients and to deepen her own spiritual and personal growth she embarked on a journey of self-development under the leadership of rising star, James Arthur Ray. During a 2009 ‘Sweat Lodge’ led by Ray, three of Laura’s peers died. One of the victims, Liz Neuman, was seated next to Laura. Overcome with grief and shaken to the core, Laura recounts, “what followed was a very difficult struggle, as I shrank under the weight of guilt, shame, and my self-assigned burden of responsibility.” This was a tragic end to a supportive community of inquisitive and dedicated students, led by a charismatic leader. Years of not trusting herself and quieting her voice followed that trauma. Until Laura found her voice again by contributing to the documentary Enlighten Us. Out of great tragedy and a slow and painful healing process Laura has gained confidence to speak her truth. Having learned the hard way what can happen when people’s inner wisdom is silenced by following a dynamic and compelling leader. Laura’s work as a coach, transformational speaker and host of Free Your Inner Guru podcast is born from that tragedy, everything that came before, and everything that has come since. Join me in this interview with Laura Tucker where we talk about the journey of self-discovery through tragedy and trauma; the strengths and weaknesses of community and leaders in our personal development; and how the path to success and spirituality is rooted in the practices of responsibility, alignment, and discernment. Resources mentioned in this episode: Free Your Inner Guru Podcast with Laura Tucker Free Your Inner Guru™ Guidebook 7 Day Comfort Zone Challenge Enlighten Us Trailer, Documentary on Netflix Music by Aslever Lake. Show notes, links, and other resources at Brad Toews. 

What does empathy have to do with accessing your inner wisdom? Like many big lessons, this one begins with a book.  In his new release This is Marketing, Seth Godin makes the case that good marketing requires empathy for the people you seek to serve.  I've been looking for a different way to show up and serve for some time now.  Based the visceral "Yes!" I experienced with every concept in the book,  I enrolled in The Marketing Seminar, the course on which This Is Marketing is based. Be careful what you wish for, they say. In comparison to the course, the book is a lie-down at the beach.  The Marketing Seminar a mental agility course on how you communicate about your business.  It requires both introspection and endurance.  Not that I'm complaining! It's easy to have empathy for someone who is like you.  It bends the mind to have empathy for someone you perceive as an "other". In one of the lessons, Seth Godin asks us to exercise our empathy muscle by imagining what it's like to be in someone else's shoes. Someone who is not like us.  I had a tough time choosing, so I tasked myself with writing about the first person I perceived as an "other" the next day. I spotted him on my way to yoga the next morning. Three cafes that cater to the older men in the neighborhood line the street. The cafe patrons stand outside smoking.  They take up the entire sidewalk and leave behind cigarette butts by the hundreds. It. Makes. Me. Crazy. When I felt the sting of revulsion rise in my throat, I knew I had found my subject.  When I sat down at my computer that afternoon, I took a deep breath to quell my judgment and began to write. Listen to the story of "Empathy for the Old Man at the Cafe".  Getting into his skin taught me that empathy isn't just an access point to your intuition. It might be a gateway to higher perception. What do you think?  Should we embrace a practice of building our empathy muscle? I'd love to hear your thoughts at lauratucker.com/episode44 or on social media.  (links below) Mentioned in this episode: Book, Seth Godin - This is Marketing Online course, Seth Godin - The Marketing Seminar Free Your Inner Guru on social media: Join the Free Your Inner Guru Podcast Facebook Group @freeyourinnerguru and @lauraatucker on Instagram Free Your Inner Guru Facebook Page Big things are coming! Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

Compassion is your superpower for transformation. The new year brings a familiar season of resolutions, intention setting and renewed focus on change. It got me thinking of something I read at just the right time a couple of years ago: “The key to joy is unconditional kindness to all life, including one’s own, which we refer to as compassion. Without compassion, little of any significance is ever accomplished in human endeavor.” David R. Hawkins, Power vs Force He goes on to write "Simple kindness to one's self and all that lives is the most powerful transformational force of all. It produces no backlash, has no downside, and never leads to loss or despair. It increases one's own true power without exacting any toll." Listen to this first podcast of 2019 to hear stories of two people I met several years ago who decided it was time to be compassionate towards themselves and the remarkable change it produced in their life and everyone around them. Highlights: Two stories that illustrate reasons people make change in their life. You can choose any moment to make a transformation The power of taking responsibility for the truth of your results Feel good now. Why it’s important to stop keeping good feelings away until after your result has arrived Hard on yourself? Why we punish ourselves - and get caught in a loop of shame and blame Allow yourself to feel good in our culture of distraction, comparison, manipulation and tactic. How being compassionate to yourself aligns you with what you truly desire and deserve. Mentioned in this episode Book: Dr David R Hawkins,  Power vs Force Helpful resource Free video series for navigating change:  7 Day Comfort Zone Challenge For more Free Your Inner Guru: Facebook:  https://facebook.com/freeyourinnerguru Instagram:  https://instagram.com/freeyourinnerguru Support the #FYIGPodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru listener forum at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

"Intention can turn a simple activity like going for a walk - or stopping to smell lavender - into an act of self-care." This week on the Free Your Inner Guru podcast it's all about summer, self-care and mindfulness. Because the thoughts you have in your mind are the difference between true self care and just another thing you have to do. Trust me, if anyone knows how to take something that is meant to be restorative and turn it into a chore, historically it's been me! When I let myself get caught up in the doing, instead of enjoying the process, I become impatient and frayed at the edges. Less connected, and ultimately less of who I really am. Can you identify with this? Intention and a little self awareness makes can change that downward spiral. It's been fun to shift the rhythm of my routine towards less screen time and more time to tune in to what restores my energy. Listen to this week's (12 minute) episode to get in the summer of self-care vibe and find out a powerful question you can ask yourself to guide you on your self care journey. Mentioned in this episode Experience the Summer of Self-Care in the Free Your Inner Guru Facebook Group Download the Free Your Inner Guru Guidebook Laura and the Free Your Inner Guru Podcast on Instagram and Facebook   Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

It's fun and it's free!  Join Free Your Inner Guru Podcast host Laura Tucker on an 8-week Summer of Self-Care journey. My "inner guru" had a message for me this morning.  It was a little crude, but I got her meaning.  What followed was an honest look at where I can take some action and create connection within the Free Your Inner Guru tribe at the same time.  If you're like me, you could use a little tender loving care.  So take a listen and if it feels right, let's find out what 8 weeks of Summer Self Care will bring! Mentioned in this episode: Article:  How to Review a Podcast on Apple Podcasts From Your iPhone or Computer Join the Summer of Selfcare at lauratucker.com/sos Experience the Summer of Self Care in the Free Your Inner Guru Facebook Group Follow the Free Your Inner Guru Podcast on Instagram and Facebook   Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

Media personality and talk radio show host Shaun Proulx has a great big heart – and he shares a piece of it with us in this episode of the Free Your Inner Guru Podcast. When Shaun Proulx and I sat down to record this interview, we had a list of topics and found that neither one of us felt like speaking about anything other than our thoughts and feelings about current events this week with the loss of two highly talented creatives like Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Shaun opens up about own his experience of living a public life and what led him to create a "Thought Revolution."  Shaun believes it is time that we stop stigmatizing our humanity.  The words Thought Revolution came out of his mouth during a CBC interview.  After the strength of the audience's response, Shaun knew that a Thought Revolution was needed  – not just for himself.  He has dedicated his life and his work to sharing the power of living consciously with others. "I know that the only thing I've done that has proven to be consistently successful is that the thoughts I think on the subjects that are important to me create my reality... The thoughts we have in our heads are the only things we can control." Listen to this episode to hear Shaun Proulx share his perspective on: Why success is not doing what other people thing you should be doing. What we can learn from our shock when people who appear to have it all - like Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain - commit suicide. The things people give up when they have a public life. How Shaun's journey living with HIV taught him that something you try to keep private begins to carry the weight of a secret. The best part of making your dreams come true. How he deals with fear. Why we have to take the things we don't like and appreciate them. The 3 things Shaun does each day to cultivate to "tune my dial" and align himself with joy. Why he is a little bit jealous of you if you're just starting out. :) Shaun Proulx is one of the most versatile talents in media and entertainment with credits as a television personality and host, producer, radio host, motivational speaker, columnist, author, publisher, actor, live event host, spokesperson, life coach, and activist for the issues of mental health, animal rights, and HIV stigma.  Shaun hosts the weekly SiriusXM talk show, The Shaun Proulx Show, on Canada Talks channel 167. Mentioned in this episode: Shaun's heartfelt article What Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain Teach Us If you need immediate help: SuicidePrevention.ca CAMH Crisis Resources Page - Toronto and Surrounding Area CTV News - Mental Health in Canada - Where to get help   Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com --------------- The post Shaun Proulx:  Feeling Happier is a Thought Revolution Away first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

Jessica Tracy, author of Pride: The Secret of Success shares her perspective on the impact of pride on success, leadership and why all leaders are vulnerable to the darker side of pride. Pride: The Secret of Success is a must-read for new, emerging and established leaders, and anyone in a position to choose a leader, whether it’s in corporate, community, political or the self help world. Conversation highlights: The two types of pride: authentic and hubristic pride How the self-conscious emotions of pride, shame, embarrassment and guilt influence our identity. The difference between authentic pride and hubristic pride. Pride is not just one thing. How the two types of pride create two different types of leadership. Is pride a sin, or is it healthy and adaptive? Jessica Tracy’s scientific view of the two conflicting types pride: It’s OK to feel pride, but it’s important to monitor which type of pride you feel. Why having a healthy sense of pride makes it easier to be successful. How “faking it until you make it” can lead to self-doubt and be a recipe for more hubris. Why praise can be addictive. Pride and Leadership Why it’s difficult to discern the difference between an authentic prestigious leader and a dominant narcissistic leader without contextual information. Donald Trump as a fantastic example of someone who regularly conveys hubristic pride and grandiosity. The surprising truth about dominant leaders and uncertainty vs prestigious leaders and how people feel in their environment. Pride and Narcissism The relationship between pride and narcissistic behavior. The grandiose charmers and the malignant entitled: two very different kinds of narcissism The role of shame in narcissism. The Hubris Trap: Narcissism is a continuum. Everyone varies in how narcissistic they are as a character trait. Pride and Success Pride is essential to success. Why human nature includes this emotion that makes us feel good about our identity. Dean Carnazes as an example of life change motivated by noticing a lack of pride. Dr Jessica Tracy’s advice for new, emerging, and established leaders Let’s get rid of the stigma surrounding pride. The idea that we should avoid feeling pride is not right. Think about and understand the difference between authentic and hubristic pride. Authentic pride is about finding something that is meaningful to you and then working hard to attain that thing. If you want to continue feeling authentic pride, keep earning it. Find ways to contribute. If we’re doing something that makes us feel good about ourselves, chances are it’s contributing to society. Dr Jessica Tracy, PhD is a Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia where she is the Director of the UBC Emotion and Self Lab. The research at the Lab is focused on the place where self and emotions meet – the self-conscious emotions of pride, shame, embarrassment and guilt. I first became aware of Jessica and her work when I chanced upon a live interview she did during the hardcover launch of her ground-breaking book Take Pride: Why the Deadliest Sin Holds the Secret to Human Success. It was literally a “stop the car!” moment, as I pulled over to take notes. Take Pride has just been re-released in paperback with the new title Pride: The Secret of Success. Mentioned in this episode: Dr Jessica Tracy’s book Pride: The Secret of Success Follow @ProfJessTracy on Twitter Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com ------------- The post Jessica Tracy: The Impact of Pride on Success and Authentic Leadership first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

In this First Anniversary Edition of the Free Your Inner Guru Podcast, host Laura Tucker takes a look back at the year that was, the current state of FYIG Radio, and the exciting future that lies ahead. This episode of the Free Your Inner Guru Podcast has special significance.  It was recorded and released on the one year anniversary of the very first episode on April 6, 2017.  When I look back over the course of the last year, the growth of Free Your Inner Guru - and, who am I kidding, my growth - has been significant. In this anniversary episode, we take a walk down memory lane and revisit some of the most popular, and my favourite episodes.  Then we look at the present state of the podcast and where we are headed in the very near future. Stay tuned for the next episode with Dr Jessica Tracy, author of Pride: The Secret of Success.  If you've been listening for a while, or read my blog over the past couple of years, you will recognize her name and the book title will be familiar because I refer to it all the time in my ruminations on leadership and the relationship between authentic healthy pride, and the darker side of pride displayed by narcissists.  I literally fan-girled Dr Tracy on Twitter at just the right time.  So stay tuned! In the meantime, here are your links! Mentioned in this episode: Highlights of the first year Interview with Kelly Greer: Women Get Results When They Look After Their Mind, Body and Spirit Interview with Julie Min: From Tragedy and Survivor's Guilt to Forgiveness, Happiness and Love Interview with Raana Zia: Create Your Desired Life With Your Hidden Light Connect with Laura and the Free Your Inner Guru Podcast on Social Media Facebook Page:  Laura Tucker - Free Your Inner Guru™ Facebook Group:  Free Your Inner Guru™ Community Instagram:  Laura Tucker main account @LauraATucker Instagram:  Free Your Inner Guru™ Podcast @freeyourinnerguru Twitter:  Laura Tucker @LauraATucker The Free Your Inner Guru Guidebook & Mini Course Download on or before April 30 for a chance to win Dr Jessica Tracy's book Pride: The Secret of Success - lauratucker.com/guidebook Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com --------- The post The Free Your Inner Guru™ Podcast First Anniversary Edition first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

When I think of the difference between Outcomes and Goals, I think of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon did not happen overnight. It is the outcome of accumulation of the forces of water and erosion. Created layer upon layer, year upon year the Grand Canyon became bigger than the sum of its parts - just like you. Goals are time-bound and task oriented. Outcomes are more expansive and inspiring than goals. They reveal a bigger picture and tap into the energy of your emotions.  We tend to make change when one of two things happen: their fear of staying the same -  or their desire for something different - becomes greater than their resistance. Listen to today’s Free Your Inner Guru podcast to find out why outcomes get better results than goals when it comes to creating a meaningful life. Mentioned in this episode Download the Free Your Inner Guru Guidebook Schedule a Free 45 Minute Discovery Call with Laura Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post 3 Reason Outcomes Get Better Results Than Goals first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru

The core of the self-sovereignty journey is a shift in how you see the world. Becoming self-sovereign doesn’t mean you have to buy an island and set up your own republic. You are the republic and its authority. Claiming your authority means becoming sovereign in your consciousness, and not going along with things - including your own thoughts -that are harmful to you. The process of reclaiming your personal power and becoming self-determined is for the strong of heart. It requires stripping everything away, right down to your core. In this podcast, we explore: the relationship between self control, locus of control and happiness how to reclaim your personal power by taking responsibility the good, the bad and the ugly of personal responsibility discernment as the key to self-sovereignty causes of disconnection from your inner wisdom how to reconnect with your inner guru I know you’re probably listening to this podcast on the go, so what I’ve done is create the Free Your Inner Guru Guidebook, a free downloadable which will help you apply everything I’m sharing with you in a practical way. The guidebook includes a • A 9 step process to Define Your Why • 2 ways to identify where you're giving your energy away • 2 tools to reclaim your power • 5 ways you can connect to your inner guru • An action plan so you can apply your wisdom Before you forget, go ahead and get your downloadable at lauratucker.com/guidebook Mentioned in this episode: Download your Free Your Inner Guru Guidebook - Click here Study “The relationship between happiness, self-control and locus of control” Ramezani and Gholtash (2015)  - Click here Book The Sovereign Individual by William Rees-Mogg and James Dale Davidson on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca Articles on rising levels of depression and suicide in teens Business Insider - The Number of Depressed Teens is Soaring and all Signs Point to the Smartphone - click here New York Times - How Evil is Technology? click here Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com ------------- The post Self Sovereignty: A Journey for the Strong of Heart first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.  

This podcast thing is all right, but I found out this week “in real life” is better. As I was collecting my thoughts before sitting down to record, I happened to glance up at the time and date on my computer screen.  In that moment I realized that it’s 7 months to the day since the release of the first Free Your Inner Guru episode. Last week, I sponsored an event in Ottawa, Ontario called Money, Mindset and Marketing. Ottawa is a 4-5 hour drive or one hour flight from Toronto, where I live. Part of being a sponsor is having a booth, which meant I had to do something with an 8x10 space to represent the podcast. My intention for the event was that in the room of about 350 people, I would connect with people who would resonate with the podcast. I was looking forward to seeing friends and contacts who I have existing relationships with - from attending the event in previous years. And I was super excited to see online friends “in real life”. And then, something unexpected happened. One by one, people I have never met ,but who have been listening to the podcast approached me at the booth. They told me they were listening to the podcast. I listened as they shared what they like and even love about it. They spoke about the impact it is having in their lives, and that they look forward to new episodes.  One woman had a poignant observation about me personally. I was utterly astonished. Podcasting is a funny medium. Most listeners receive the episodes on a mobile device and listen from the privacy of their life, at a time and place that suits them.  I listen to most of my podcasts while I’m doing my hair and makeup! Unless listeners click over to the website to leave a comment, send in an email or interact in our Facebook Group, the only built-in feedback mechanism is iTunes reviews. Listen to this week’s episode, or download the transcript to find out what is in store - in real life - for Free Your Inner Guru in the near future. Mentioned in this episode Join the Free Your Inner Guru Facebook Group - click here Get on our email list - click here Download the transcript - click here Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com ------------- The post This Podcast Thing is All Right, But In Real Life is Better first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

Do you need solutions to help you attract clients who appreciate and compensate the quality of your work? It could be that you are a Big Fish, but you’re swimming in the wrong pond. If you listened to last week's episode, I spoke about a phenomena that happens when people are growing in their business and stretching into new territory. I compared it to being a small fish trying to swim or have an impact in a big pond. There’s another dynamic that I think is worth exploring. It's when somebody really is a big fish, but their results are limited because they're trying to swim in the wrong environment. The solution to this challenge can mean the difference between merely surviving and thriving. When you are in survival mode, it becomes more difficult to uphold the quality of your work and find joy in your experience. If what is your unique “big fish” talent is turned into a commodity, your positive feelings around your business and its contribution are diminished. Over time, your confidence is also diminished. What if both the challenge and the solution are found in your environment? Success does not happen in a vacuum. It's an exchange of time, money and sometimes time and money for something of perceived value. If you or your business is a big fish and the pond is either too small or not fertile, listen to this episode for six potential solutions that will help you return your business to the state it was intended – a means of bringing your majestic talent into the world. Mentioned in this episode: Article - How to Review a Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or Computer Download the transcript – click here Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com ------------- The post Six Solutions for Big Fish Swimming in the Wrong Pond first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

What if the discomfort of feeling like a small fish in a big pond is a normal part of the growth process? If you’re playing big in life or business, you may find yourself feeling like a small fish in a big pond. This week I’ve had three separate conversations with people who were each experiencing frustration because of the amount of time, effort and energy it is taking to create a new result.  And that's not including a number of conversations I've had about the exact same thing with myself! I noticed there was a pattern to these conversations.  Each of us were experiencing frustration in the course of playing big. When you're the small fish in a big pond, it’s time to be your own leader. Listen to this week’s episode of Free Your Inner Guru to find out why there’s always a bigger pond – and what you can do about it. Mentioned in this episode: The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results, Gary Keller Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Request a Discovery Call with Laura Download transcript - click here So, can this small fish ask you for something? How to Review a Podcast on iTunes from your iPhone or Computer Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com ------------- The post Feeling Like a Small Fish in a Big Pond? first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

Survivor’s guilt causes an endless loop of questions: What is the meaning of all this? What is good and what is evil? Did I do - or say - enough? Why am I here? Or why am I still here? It’s Thanksgiving this weekend in Canada, and that means it’s also the anniversary of the event that introduced survivor’s guilt into my life. In this week’s podcast, I felt compelled to share with you what that journey has been like in the context of reconciling my difficult emotions with giving thanks and gratitude each year. "Survivor's guilt, like all grief, is like an old coat.  It always stays in your closet.  It's the one that you can't quite get rid of.  You can't throw it away because every time you pull it out, you look at it, you touch it, you feel it, and it's associated with your memories of something or someone that you loved or believed in that's now gone. And sometimes you pick up that coat and put it back on and you allow it to cloak you in those feelings so that you can be connected to them. And then other days, and as time goes on, more frequently you'll leave that coat in the closet knowing that it's there and it's not going anywhere, but being okay with carrying on, knowing that you were transformed by that experience." It might not be you. But I guarantee that you know someone who lives with survivor's guilt. The thing is, they don't talk about it. It sets them apart. Leaves them feeling marginalized. Unworthy. This is no way to live. Sadder yet, if you haven't experienced it, there is nothing you can say to someone with survivor's guilt that will make them feel better. But it's possible that I can. Please share this podcast if you know someone who might need to hear it. I've included a downloadable transcript for people who prefer reading to listening. Mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to receive notification of the next Free Your Inner Guru podcast with Julie Min here. Download transcript here Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post Surviving Survivor's Guilt - What I Find Gratitude For? first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

Have you ever experienced overwhelm while making an important decision? Or that you were more resilient and less reactive when you’re stressed? This week’s episode of Free Your Inner Guru is a powerful conversation with one of the most heart-warming people I know, Barb Fletcher. Barb is a life coach and Heart Math Specialist who loves to help you make sense of your emotions in times of change. I know you will find great value in listening to what she has to share about building healthy emotional resilience by connecting to the power and wisdom of your heart. Barb’s life experience that led her to find a way to develop resilience. (2:30) The difference between healthy resilience and the unsustainable practice of powering through (3:36) How a pattern in your body can inform you about a pattern in your life. (8:23) How Barb uses feedback from your heart rate variance to access your truth and build emotional resilience. (11:24) Why we unlearn the emotional “bounce-ability” we have as children. (14:23) The 3 pillars of Barb’s method: understanding, releasing and building resilience. (17:20) Barb takes us through a resilience-building technique. (19:18) How to pay attention to frustration, bitterness and anger to learn about your true self. (24:40) Your heart as an intelligent source of biofeedback. (27:07) The importance of being fully present for yourself and others. (35:20) Mentioned in this episode: Book - Brene Brown, Braving the Wilderness Visit Barb Fletcher’s website at barb-fletcher.com Follow Barb on Facebook Instagram The Power of Three Summit – Fredericton, NB – October 19, 2017 Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com ------------- The post Barb Fletcher: How To Build Resilience With The Truth Of Your Heart first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

Welcome to the first episode of the fall season of Free Your Inner Guru! Today we are launching our new brand, and I have a ton to share from an event I attended recently where I heard Simon Sinek – one of my favourite authors and speakers - share his wisdom at a live event in Toronto. Simon Sinek is the author of Start With Why Start With Why is a perennial bestseller that I recommend to each of my clients when they start their journey with me. His work has influenced my life and my work. I walked away with a deeper understanding of why your why is important. Key points in this episode: Introducing the new Free Your Inner Guru brand: What's the meaning behind the new brand? The heart is for love, leadership and the courage it takes to live an open-hearted way. The spiral is for the journey of life - it's not a linear path.  We keep coming back to the same lessons and events with new understanding. Kudos to the designer - Sherpa Creative Simon Sinek and Your WHY (5:15) is who you are at your natural best. doesn’t change. is your origin story. is the thing you are responsible to share with everybody else.   The role tragedy plays in your WHY (8:19) Knowing your WHY helps you become a better leader. helps you scale so you can serve more people (10:40) How do you get to your WHY?  (11:30) He shared "a fun way to get to your WHY" that I, in turn, share with you in this podcast. Mentioned in this episode: Simon Sinek's TED Talk – How Great Leaders Inspire Action Simon Sinek's Book – Start With Why Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post Going Deeper Into Your WHY – Simon Sinek first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

Resistance is a part of the personal growth process. It’s not just you. Have you ever noticed that just as you are about to take action towards a bigger better result, you are often met with uncanny amounts of resistance? If you caught last week’s episode, I invited you to join me in an experiment designed to bring more joy into your life. You always have a choice: Succumb to it – because it’s just easier that way, or Ignore (aka power through) your resistance, which is not sustainable, or Recognize it for what it is, detach, and consciously move forward. When you are faced with resistance, do you react in frustration, anger, and feel sorry for yourself? Or, do you remind yourself that discomfort is a necessary and natural part of the game. Your resistance has a purpose it’s there to ask you, "How badly do you want it?" When you choose to respond consciously, you remain open to new opportunities. Do you Charge full steam ahead with blinders on? Throw yourself a pity party? Consciously remain open and receptive? Talk is cheap. The only way to know for sure how you deal with your resistance is to practice.  I encourage you to listen to this week’s episode, design your own consciousness-raising experiment, and see for yourself what happens. Mentioned in this episode: Last week’s FYIG podcast – How to Bring More Joy Into Your Life Download Transcript Click here. Related Articles Get to know your Play Safe Team – Like it or not, we all have one! 5 Myths About Your Comfort Zone Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post How Badly Do You Want It? Dealing With Resistance to Change first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

What is the Summer of Yes? Every day you are presented with countless decisions.  What do you say "yes" to? I was introduced to the Summer of Yes by Shaun Proulx.  Shaun hosts The Shaun Proulx Show on  Sirius XM Channel 167, Canada Talks.  Summer of Yes is the theme of his show throughout this summer. According to Shaun, “Summer Of Yes isn't about saying yes to everything, nor is it to appease other people's agendas. It's about you.  Saying yes to possibilities begins with your realigning yourself. To do so, you must leave your comfort zone and jump off the cliff.  Put yourself first and dive into a Summer of Yes.”** Alignment is a guiding principle of living a conscious, fulfilling life. Saying Yes to a bigger life is playful. Yes means taking risks. Yes means being open. Yes means not holding back. Yes means getting out of your comfort zone. In today's episode, you'll find out the one big question to ask yourself when you dive into your Summer of Yes. PS.  Want to get out of your comfort zone so you can say "Yes?" Here's a link so you can enter the free 7 Day Comfort Zone Challenge - a video series designed to help you get out there and say Yes :)  lauratucker.com/comfort-zone-challenge Mentioned in this episode: **Shaun Proulx article: You’ll love a #SummerOfYes - 24 Hours Toronto, Tuesday, July 11, 2017 Full length interview with Laura and Shaun available on demand - The Shaun Proulx Show on Sirius 167 – www.siriusxm.ca and Soundcloud Related FYIG podcast episode - Want to Create Winning Results? Live in Alignment with Feeling Good Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post Summer of YES: The One Word That Will Change Your Life first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

How can you create a Plan B that lets you relax, enjoy your summer, and set yourself free? The best thing about summer can be the worst thing for your results. Have you been there? Have you been at the point where even the things you enjoy the most become overwhelming?  At the point where you're wondering how you're going to sustain this? Welcome to my world this week – playing catch-up after a wonderful week in New York City and Niagara on the Lake. Today’s Free Your Inner Guru episode is for you if you find summer disrupts your routines in your life or business.   Who am I kidding – it doesn’t have to be summer for routine and structure to be thrown by the wayside.  It's for you if you are overwhelmed by your To Do List on a regular basis. Constantly playing catch-up is overwhelming. Listen now to hear the story of how one of my clients had a breakthrough when we shifted her priorities by creating a Plan B. Mentioned in this episode: Saint Joan at The Shaw Festival – Niagara-on-the Lake –  Click here Article 'How to Leave a Review on iTunes' - click here ***Note – it’s a good idea to pre-write your title text and content in the Notes app first and copy/paste. Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post When You Have the Right Plan B, It Will Set You Free first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru  

Are you celebrating the birthday of your country? A country is much more than its politics and government. A country is defined by its people. This week – July 1st - was Canada’s 150th birthday, and now Americans are celebrating Independence Day. It’s never been more clear to me, as I watched Canada’s 150th celebration, that the world needs powerful authentic leadership NOW. Will Canada rise to the occasion and become a leader on the world stage?  I hope so. As I watched the Canada 150 celebrations over the weekend, foot in cast, resting up for our trip this week to New York City, I realized that my country finally has an identity and is about to come of age. That's what we're talking about in this episode of Free Your Inner Guru - what it takes to be an authentic leader and how each and every one of us has a role to play. Mentioned in this Episode: Blog article – Why Terry Fox’s Legacy Represents the Best of Canada at 150 Jessica Tracy, Take Pride: Why the Deadliest Sin Holds the Secret to Human Success - Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post The World Needs Powerful Authentic Leadership Now first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.  

Have you ever felt burned out because you’ve been powering through? Just do it. Feel the fear and do it anyways. Pretty much every marketing message in the self help industry We live in a culture that glorifies forcing ourselves through perceived physical and mental limitations.  There are times when it makes sense to dig deep and get stuff done.  Focused, purposeful action is necessary to create winning results. But the one thing just about every marketing message in the self help industry misses is that powering through is not a sustainable long term strategy. Having a lot of energy to get things done can serve you well. But there are times when powering through is no good for you. Believe me when I say I know first hand - I got caught in a powering through pattern last week. There is a difference between powering through and being productive. In today’s Free Your Inner Guru episode we’re going to explore why - despite the common belief that it’s heroic to power through all the time - it’s almost never true. Powering through your environments to the point where things start to break down is no good for me, and it’s no good for you. However, it’s always an opportunity to find the underlying pattern and reclaim your power. Listen now to hear how having a fractured foot and a car that wouldn’t start helped to point me in a more empowering direction. Mentioned in this episode: The new light, fresh and airy lauratucker.com Be the first to know: Click here to get on the waiting list for the upcoming Free Your Inner Guru - Design Your Environments online program. Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post Why Powering Through Is No Good For You first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.  

Kelly Greer is the owner of Nutrigal and a registered dietician who knows that women get results when they look after their mind, body and spirit. A special message for the men in our audience: Guys, this 40 minute conversation is for you, too! You have women in your life and listening to this podcast will help you understand what the heck is going on with your mother, sister, daughter, wife, partner, employees. If it’s difficult for women to get accurate information about the changes in her own body, I can’t imagine what kind of information you’re getting! Kelly’s Story: In her early forties, things in Kelly’s body started to go awry. Even though her blood test results were normal, she experienced physical pain and was unable to sleep.   It wasn’t until she sought out holistic practices that Kelly learned how to balance her hormones. At the time, it was very difficult to obtain information on women’s health. Kelly’s experience was the catalyst for her decision to dedicate her dietician practice to women so they can get the information they need in one place. As Ralph Emerson Waldo said, "Health is the first wealth."  We all need women to be healthy in body, mind and spirit.  This could be one of the most important conversations you enter into in your lifetime. Highlights: There’s no quick fix! Just like in business, there is a notion that maintaining our health should be easy and many people look for instant results or a quick fix. What many people don’t realize is there are many myths about menopause. Kelly gives us a clear and thorough explanation of the frustrating self-fulfilling prophecy that women find themselves in. Hint – it has to do with one of our most powerful hormones that’s keeping you wired and tired – cortisol. Why even the most holistically inclined people need to check in with their medical doctor. What happens when a woman expects too much, too quickly. The role of self-care and boundaries play in achieving results. What causes us to use food in an addictive way. The mind-body connection between nutrition, hormones and well-being. What to say, and what not to say, if you're concerned about the hormonal health of  someone you love. Mentioned in this episode: Kelly Greer’s free e-book - 5 Major Hormone Fixes for Successful Weight Loss Check here for upcoming Nutrigal webinars Kelly Greer’s main website – nutrigal.ca Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post Kelly Greer: Women Get Results When They Look After Their Mind, Body and Spirit first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

Are you distracted by worry? This episode of Free Your Inner Guru is for you if you’re stressed out, caught up in your head or having trouble staying present for yourself and the people around you. When you show up distracted,  you're not really present.  Consequently, you miss all kinds of opportunities from the superficial to the serious. You'll miss opportunities to do business and to achieve your goals, but you also miss opportunities to notice what's going on with the people around you. We are all vulnerable to worry and the distractions of the day, but the level of distraction is reaching epidemic proportions.  Don't wait until something dramatic happens to take notice.  There are people in your midst who need you to be present. There are things you can do to offset the distraction so you can be more grounded.  In this week's episode, I share four strategies to stay grounded that work well for me. Mentioned in this Episode: Prior FYIG episode - What Fearless Girl Tells Us About Fear Headspace website and app - Meditation made simple Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post Distracted by Worry? How to Stay Present and Get More Grounded first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

Do you struggle to get things done because you're trying to achieve perfection? You may be spinning your wheels because you've fallen into a Perfection Trap. In today’s episode, you’ll find 2 stories that illustrate how the Perfection Trap affects each of us. Both stories – and their lessons - come from an experience I had that forced me out of my comfort zone in the pursuit of creative self expression. The year was 2004. On a hunch that can only be described as divine inspiration, I drove for two days from Toronto, Ontario to Kingston, New Brunswick to attend my first workshop of any kind, led by the Canadian photography icon, Freeman Patterson. When I arrived, I was surprised to discover I was one of the youngest in the group, and the newest to photography.  I was still grappling with the technical side of my creative passion, trying to understand how to get the best results out of my tools and put it together well enough to create the images I had in my head. Little did I know, the biggest lessons of the week had nothing to do with photography and everything to do with my stifling need for perfection. Listen now to learn how to handle getting it right vs getting it done when your Inner Critic is seeking perfection. Mentioned in this Episode: Picture of Freeman Patterson’s barn – How I Learned the Down Side of Perfection The sunrise that almost went in the garbage can – How the Inner Critic Almost Stole a Gorgeous Sunrise Did you enjoy this episode? Help me get the word out! I’d be grateful if you leave a review on iTunes. Click here. Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post How to Break Free of Your Perfection Trap appeared first on Free Your Inner Guru.

Was it pretty the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone? Did you find the magic? Or did something else happen? Today on Free Your Inner Guru we’re digging deep into two of our key themes, personal development, and the self-help industry with 5 Myths and Three Antidotes for Your Comfort Zone. My goal is to help you find your sweet spot - where healthy growth and discomfort intersect. I’m guessing you’ve heard one of these statements before: Bigger, better results – or everything you want - lies just outside your comfort zone. If you're not growing, you are dying. You have to become comfortable feeling uncomfortable. The comfort zone has become a cliche.   And just like most other cliches, there are truths at the core of each of these statements.  But did you know that there are at least as many myths floating around as there are truths? Mentioned in this Episode: Daring Greatly by Brene Brown: Phenomenal book that I recommend to everyone.  Deals with topics like courage, vulnerability, leadership, authenticity. Daring Greatly  is also the source of the Theodore Roosevelt quote I read in the episode: "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…” Free 7 Day Comfort Zone Challenge The 7 Day Comfort Zone Challenge is a mini video course about the comfort zone that I put together a few months ago. It takes you through an entire coaching cycle to help you find the sweet spot of your comfort zone.  Find out more by clicking here. Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post Five Myths and Three Antidotes for Your Comfort Zone first appeared on Free Your Inner Guru.

Living in alignment feels good.  It's the best kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. Living out of alignment with your highest self feels bad. It's within your power to choose. The last Free Your Inner Guru episode was about the 1st Key to Create Winning Results – designing who you want to become. If you haven’t listened to it, make sure you go back, either now, or after the end of this episode. The big question to ask yourself when it comes to living in alignment with who you choose to become is this: If you were to become that person, what would you have to do on a regular basis? Consciously or unconsciously, you know when you are out of alignment. It shows up in the energy of the emotions  frustration, bitterness, and even anger. These three powerful emotions are referred to as negative emotions, and yes, the experience of them is negative, but they are also incredibly powerful tools for becoming self-aware. If you are feeling persistent frustration, bitterness, or anger, that's a signal to you that something is not in alignment with who you really are, and who you want to become. In today's episode we explore the principle of alignment through the three lenses of leadership, business success and relationships. Want to download a transcript of today's episode? Click here Photograph "The Line of Life" created by Laura Tucker at sunrise, Haleakala Crater, Maui, Hawai'i. Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post Want to Create Winning Results? Live in Alignment with Feeling Good appeared first on Free Your Inner Guru.

Who you are becoming is at the center of a powerful ripple effect in your life. Do you ever stop and take a moment to figure out who that is? Today's Free Your Inner Guru episode is the first in the four part series - 3 Keys to Create Winning Results and 1 Major Pitfall to Avoid. We all create a ripple effect in our lives.  The catalyst at the center of  your ripple is who you are becoming. Your ripple effect is started by you.  It’s either conscious and intentional – or it’s happening by default.  Either way, it's always happening. This is why you can have 200 people taking the same action or looking for the same result.  You will have 200 different WHYs and 200 different outcomes.  Get clear on your why and who you want to become, and you will  create your best results. Today's episode will help you get clear on who you are becoming and the important role it plays in your life. Mentioned in this episode Simon Sinek - Start With Why:  How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post Want to Create Winning Results? Focus on Who You're Becoming appeared first on Free Your Inner Guru

Fearless Girl has a lot to teach us about our relationship with fear. There's a new girl in town and she is stirring things up. It was the day before my milestone birthday.  A text message came in from the original fearless girl in my life.  It was my mother, asking me if we were going to take in the new sculpture known as Fearless Girl.   Another trip to the Financial District where she is located hadn't been in our plans.  But I've learned two things over time with regards to my mother and New York City.  The first is obvious - pay attention to what your mother says.  The second is about the impermanence of things.  The sculpture, like another famous New York landmark, might not be there the next time you go. We set out on a rainy trek to Bowling Green at the base of Broadway, where Fearless Girl and Charging Bull are located.  I did not expect to be affected by what I saw when we arrived.  I was wrong. The faces of the people surrounding Fearless Girl were radiant.  One young girl after another took a cheek to cheek selfie while their smiling parents looked on.  On the surface, the sculpture appears to be the benevolent agent of a much needed message. But Fearless Girl is also creating controversy because of her origin and position in relationship to Charging Bull, another iconic New York sculpture. In today's episode, we explore the origin of both sculptures, their importance as public art, and how life for all of us would be better if we all experienced less fear. Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com - The post What Fearless Girl Tells Us About Fear appeared first on Free Your Inner Guru.

Seeing Tony Robbins live was a life-changing experience - one I’m grateful to have had. But it didn't inspire me in the usual way.  Instead of leaving me feeling good, I was deeply unsettled. I was initially drawn to personal development and self help to support my success in business just like many entrepreneurs. And, like many of us, that led to a spiritual journey – a quest to be the best version of myself. Little did I know, my quest would lead me to the darkest and most significant challenge of my adult life. The short story is that I was at a self-help / spiritual retreat in 2009 when three participants lost their lives. The long story, if it interests you, is the subject of the documentary Enlighten Us. I shut down my very new coaching practice after that horrific event, and avoided all things spiritual and self help for over five years. A couple of weeks ago, I was reminded how important it is to have big conversations about what healthy self-help looks like by none other than Tony Robbins. If you’re a consumer of self-help - even the most popular or benign kind - you must cultivate and learn to use your discernment. In today's Free Your Inner Guru, we start to look at how we are each responsible for navigating our own life - for choosing your values, and aligning with others who share them. Mentioned in This Episode: Psychologist Jessica Tracy's fascinating book  Take Pride - Why the Deadliest Sin Holds the Secret to Human Success Here's what an audience of 15,000 looks (and sounds!) like:   Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com

Welcome to Free Your Inner Guru - Podcast Episode #1 ! A very special welcome to you for joining me for this first episode of Free Your Inner Guru.  In today’s inaugural episode, we kick things off with the story behind why I decided to create this podcast and how it got its name. You have a guru inside of you – It’s the source of your voice, power, and inspiration. When you free your inner guru, you won’t have to look outside of yourself for answers any more. Sounds easy, right? Well maybe it's easy for some people.  When it comes to living a life that's guided by your truth and intuition, it's often easier said than done. The focus of this show is to have big, REAL conversations about personal development, entrepreneurship, spirituality and the self help industry because they are all intertwined.  Sometimes I'll be on my own, sharing stories and insights from my experience.  Other episodes will be interviews with people I have met along the way who have their perspective to share. Enjoy this first episode - I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments here. Support the #FYIGpodcast and join the Free Your Inner Guru™ Tribe at support.freeyourinnerguru.com