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Awaken Your Power — The Integration of Sexuality, Soma, Soul, and Service (with Dr. Elizabeth Willis) In this episode of Awaken Your Power, host Keri Mangis is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Willis, visionary educator, author, and Director of the Institute of New Paradigm Intimacy, for a rich and expansive conversation about embodiment, power, and what it truly means to return to wholeness. Elizabeth introduces a deeply integrative framework—Sexuality, Soma, Soul, and Service—and invites us to reconsider where power actually lives. Not as dominance or control, but as presence, sensation, and the capacity to feel. At the heart of the conversation is Eros, which Elizabeth reframes not as sex alone, but as life force itself: the vitality that awakens the cells, animates the body, and reconnects us to our aliveness. Sexuality, she explains, is one doorway to Eros—but not the only one. When approached somatically and consciously, it becomes a portal for healing, creativity, and spiritual intelligence. Keri and Elizabeth explore how modern culture has fractured our experience—separating body from soul, spirituality from sexuality, and service from self—often beginning in childhood. Drawing on her 25+ years in Montessori education, Elizabeth describes how children arrive deeply connected to soul and sensation, only to slowly crystallize into identities built for performance and compliance. What we often call a “midlife crisis,” she suggests, is more accurately an initiatory return to the soul—one our culture rarely names or supports. The conversation moves fluidly between personal healing and collective transformation, addressing shame, trauma, religious conditioning, and porn-based scripts that shape our relationship to sexuality. Elizabeth speaks candidly about how sexuality has been used as a tool for power-over—and how slowing down, attuning to the nervous system, and listening to sensation opens the door to entirely new choices. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Eros as life force, not performance or pathology The soma as the sensate body—and sensation as a language beneath thought and emotion Why sacred sexuality is more about nervous system attunement than sexual technique Sexuality as a healing portal and a catalyst for psychological and spiritual growth The difference between self-pleasure and masturbation, and why new pleasure pathways matter How embodied boundaries arise from sensation rather than mental rules Questioning libido myths—especially around menopause Teaching and caregiving as spiritual service rather than burnout How individual healing ripples outward into families, institutions, and culture Elizabeth also shares how her work in sacred sexuality unexpectedly converged with her life as an educator, leading to her forthcoming book, The Initiated Teacher: Reawakening the Soul of the Montessori Educator in the New Paradigm. The book offers a next-level vision of teacher wellness—one that frames teaching as a path of initiation, transformation, and service, rather than endurance. The episode closes with a clear throughline: what we exile into the shadows—especially sexuality—will continue to distort power until it is met with awareness, education, and compassion. Integration is not optional; it is the work of our time. ...

Awaken Your Power — Presence, Power, and Belonging to Ourselves (with Mellara Gold) In this episode of Awaken Your Power, host Keri Mangis sits down with Mellara Gold, a longtime meditation and mindful yoga teacher whose work centers on awareness, self-compassion, and embodied presence in a complex and often overwhelming world. Their conversation opens with a question many spiritual practitioners quietly wrestle with: how do we remain rooted in love and light without turning away from real suffering, injustice, and cultural upheaval? Keri and Mellara explore the delicate balance between spiritual practice and honest engagement with the world—without bypassing, numbing, or pretending. Mellara shares her personal origin story: a debilitating spinal injury at seventeen that led her, reluctantly, into yoga. What began as physical rehabilitation became a profound awakening. Through breath and movement, she discovered not just relief from pain, but a way of being with herself—perhaps for the first time. Awareness, she explains, is not something she chose; it was something life demanded. From there, the conversation unfolds into a rich exploration of: Awareness as a daily, embodied practice rather than a spiritual concept Self-compassion as the gateway to dignity and sovereignty The ways women are conditioned to abandon themselves in order to belong Belonging to oneself as a prerequisite for healthy community Rejection as redirection, not failure The cultural addiction to external validation and how mindfulness interrupts it Ritual as presence rather than performance Solitude, hermiting, and silence as essential—not indulgent The generational ripple effects of inner work and healing Mellara speaks candidly about the necessity of solitude and learning to say no—not as withdrawal, but as responsibility to one’s own consciousness. She reframes ordinary tasks like washing dishes or folding laundry as devotional acts when done with presence, reminding us that transformation does not stay contained; it moves outward through families, relationships, and communities. The episode closes with a simple but powerful reminder: presence is power. To offer yourself even a moment of undivided attention is to come home to your wholeness. This episode is especially resonant for anyone navigating midlife, burnout, identity shifts, spiritual fatigue, or the quiet realization that pushing through no longer works. About Mellara Gold Mellara Gold has taught meditation and mindful yoga for over two decades. She is the author of A Life Worth Living: A Journey of Self-Discovery Through Mindfulness Yoga and Living in Awareness: Deepening Our Daily Lives Through Prayer, Ritual, and Meditation. A former actress trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, Mellara is also a regular contributor to OM Yoga & Lifestyle Magazine, Elephant Journal, and other spiritual publications. You can find Mellara at mellara.com and on Instagram @mellaragold Email here at [email protected]

In this powerful and paradigm-shifting episode of Awaken Your Power, Keri speaks with Sean Blackwell, author of Bipolar Awakenings and creator of the Bipolar Awakenings project. Sean’s work courageously challenges the dominant psychiatric narrative, offering a radically different lens on bipolar disorder, psychosis, and what many might call “mental illness.” Drawing from his own dramatic hospitalization in 1996, nearly 20 years of research, and extensive work with clients around the world, Sean explores the intersection of spiritual awakening, trauma, and non-ordinary states of consciousness. He argues that what is often labeled as pathology may in fact be a spiritual emergency—a potent, disorienting, but potentially transformative process arising from the body’s own intelligence. Together, Keri and Sean dive into the risks of over-pathologizing, the cultural discomfort with breakdowns, the somatic nature of Kundalini energy, and how integrating these states requires nuance, courage, and a complete overhaul of how we hold human experience. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in mental health, trauma healing, spirituality, or challenging the status quo around what it means to “wake up.” In This Episode We Explore: Sean’s unexpected hospitalization following a powerful Kundalini awakening Why he believes his episode was a breakthrough, not a breakdown How the psychiatric system oversimplifies complex spiritual processes Why the “chemical imbalance” narrative lacks scientific support The difference between spiritual emergency and mental illness How trauma, intergenerational wounds, and somatic blockages fuel bipolar symptoms The role of Kundalini as a force for psychological reorganization Dangers and benefits of meditation retreats and intense spiritual practices Why our culture silences truth-telling during non-ordinary states Sean’s innovative use of surrogate breathwork in healing sessions The evolutionary potential in embracing—not suppressing—these experiences Why the world doesn’t need “normal” people, but natural people What real healing demands: courage, expression, and deep self-inquiry Key Quotes “What psychiatry calls mania or psychosis may actually be a spiritual emergency—a powerful awakening that’s too much to integrate all at once.” “The chemical imbalance story simply isn’t supported by science.” “Breakdowns are breakthroughs trying to happen.” “Normalcy is what got us into this cultural mess. The world needs more natural people.” “In non-ordinary states, people often speak truths their families have avoided for decades.” About Sean Blackwell Sean Blackwell is the author of Bipolar Awakenings: The Quest to Heal Bipolar Disorder and creator of the Bipolar Awakenings YouTube channel. For nearly two decades, he has studied the somatic, energetic, and spiritual dimensions of bipolar disorder and psychosis. Through private retreats and breathwork-based healing processes, Sean supports individuals navigating extreme states and spiritual crises. His work blends transpersonal psychology, trauma healing, and a deep respect for the body’s innate intelligence. Learn more at: bipolarawakenings.com Resources Mentioned Sean’s books, training programs, and videos:...

In this episode of Awaken Your Power, Keri is joined by Karen Laos—speaker, coach, confidence cultivator, and host of the Ignite Your Confidence podcast. Karen has spent 25 years as a trusted C-suite advisor and keynote speaker for companies like Google, Starbucks, and NASA, and is the author of Trust Your Own Voice. Keri and Karen dive into what it really takes for women to speak up, negotiate clearly, and take up space—at work, in relationships, and on the stage. Karen shares candid stories from her upbringing in a frugal, traditional home and how mixed messages about “being seen” shaped her early relationship with her voice and self-worth. They explore cultural myths around negotiation, scarcity, gender roles, and “imposter syndrome,” while offering practical tools to help women ask for what they want without apology and step into a deeper, more grounded confidence. In This Episode, We Explore: Karen’s origin story: flea markets with her dad, learning to “never pay full price,” and the early messages she absorbed about speaking up The painful gap between being valued for what you produce vs. being loved simply for who you are How cultural myths (like “a good negotiation means everyone’s a little unhappy”) keep us in scarcity and zero-sum thinking Why women tend to over-qualify themselves before applying or asking—and what we can learn from how men apply “underqualified” The power of clear, direct asks vs. passive, softened language “If you’re interested…” vs. “Would you like to…” How to negotiate in a way that creates win–win outcomes, not winners and losers The subtle ways women still police other women who take up more space, speak boldly, or break traditional norms Gender conditioning and invisible early messages (like “girl sandwiches” vs. “boy sandwiches”) Why discomfort is necessary for growth—and how to get curious instead of judgmental when we feel triggered by another woman’s boldness Imposter syndrome as a sign of growth, not proof you don’t belong Why we need both warmth and assertiveness, and how women are held to a different standard than men The idea of a “celebration portfolio” to collect evidence of your strengths and accomplishments Karen’s mission to reach 10 million women and help them turn self-doubt into self-confidence Key Concepts & Practices 1. Celebration Portfolio Create two lists: Your accomplishments (things you’ve done, created, achieved) Your character strengths (who you are—your attitude, presence, and values) Return to this when doubt creeps in to remind yourself you do belong where you are. 2. 5 & 5 Exercise Ask five people you trust to share five positive qualities they see in you. Look for themes and strengths you may take for granted because they feel “just like you.” 3. Clear, Direct Asking Replace: “If you’re interested…” “If you’d like to…” With: “Would you like to…” “Are you available to…” “Here’s a time that works for me—does it work for you?” 4. Borrowing Your Future Self When you’re scared to ask or step forward, ask: “What would the woman I’m becoming do here?” Then make the decision she would make. About Karen...

In this episode of Awaken Your Power, Keri talks with Maureen Spielman—spiritual psychology coach and host of the Mystical Sisterhood podcast—about what it really means to live from unity consciousness in a world that feels more divided than ever. They explore how our inner work ripples out into the collective, why women and the reclaimed feminine are so central to this time on the planet, and how creativity, community, and liminal “in-between” spaces become initiations into a more awake life. Maureen also shares candidly about her own cancer journey as a turning point that stripped away old personas and unprocessed resentment, inviting a deeper level of honesty, self-compassion, and spiritual growth. Together, she and Keri challenge the shiny, “love and light” version of awakening and talk about the real cost—and real gifts—of saying yes to a path of consciousness. In This Episode, We Explore: What unity consciousness actually is and how it contrasts with dualistic “right/wrong, winner/loser” thinking Why we can see both deep cultural division and an unprecedented rising of light and collaboration at the same time How our inner work on shame, guilt, anger, and self-judgment creates harmony in our relationships and the wider collective The idea of the microcosm and macrocosm: how each of us is a small version of what’s happening in the whole Why women and the reclaimed feminine are so central right now—sisterhood, mentoring, eldership, and cyclical wisdom Moving from competition and scarcity to collaboration and “there’s room for all of us” Creativity as a feminine, mystical force—how everything from cooking to conversation can become alchemy Liminal spaces: the uncomfortable “in-between” times when one life is over and the next hasn’t formed yet Learning to stay with discomfort (the “mosquito on the nose” in yin yoga, the bugs on the yoga mat) instead of constantly seeking comfort The real cost of awakening: illness, loss, breakdown, and the crumbling of identities we thought we needed Why Maureen wouldn’t go back to who she was before cancer and deep inner work Sovereignty and power: how we’ve been conditioned to give our power away—and how to start calling it back The difference between being “normal” and being truly natural, in your own voice and rhythm Key Themes & Takeaways Awakening isn’t tidy or glamorous. It’s more often about being stripped down, cracked open, and invited to unlearn who you thought you had to be. Inner and outer are mirrors. As we heal our inner critic, judgment, or resentment, our relationships and communities shift, too. The feminine is rising. Not as domination over the masculine, but as a rebalancing: community over hierarchy, cycles over straight lines, mentorship over lone-wolf heroics. Creativity is everyday magic. True magic is changing how we see the world—and helping others see differently, too. Your power is yours to reclaim. Notice where you hand your authority to experts, influencers, or systems, and gently call that power back to your own inner knowing. About Maureen Spielman Maureen Spielman is a spiritual psychology coach and the founder/host of the Mystical Sisterhood podcast. Her work centers on unity consciousness, sisterhood, and helping women...

Episode Description In this conversation, Keri sits down with yoga teacher and clinical social worker Karen DeBaun, owner of Yoga Moodra, to explore yoga as a practice for living—not just another form of exercise. They talk about midlife beginnings, healing from trauma, and how yoga can become a framework for pausing, reflecting, and living more consciously in chaotic times. Karen shares why discomfort and anxiety are often the doorway to real change, how curiosity keeps us from hardening into certainty as we age, and why she sees herself as an “ambassador of love and peace” in a culture that rewards speed, productivity, and numbness. This is an invitation to step off autopilot and into a more deliberate, awake way of being. In This Episode, We Explore: Yoga in midlife and beyond How starting yoga in her 40s shaped Karen’s teaching Why so many of her students have stayed with her long-term What it’s like to come to yoga without being a “bendy 25-year-old” Yoga as a practice for the mind, not just the body The line that hooked her: gaining flexibility in the mind How yoga supported her emotional and physical recovery after a serious motorcycle accident Why she believes yoga is “a practice for living,” not just fitness Capitalism co-opting yoga Hot yoga, power yoga, and speed as the dominant narrative What we lose when yoga becomes just another workout Reclaiming yoga as “a sacred practice of remembering who you are” Pause as quiet rebellion How yoga classes are built around intentional pause and integration Why rest, reflection, and stillness are almost nonexistent in our culture Why even one hour a week of true pause can begin to change a life Habits, autopilot, and conscious living The difference between helpful routines and unconscious habits Why Karen and Carrie are more interested in undoing habits than just trading old ones for new How habits can become “brain shortcuts” that keep us from actually being present From reactivity to response How yoga has helped Karen become less reactive and more deliberate The ripple effects of one person becoming calmer, clearer, and more rooted in their values How this inner work quietly shapes our culture and communities Yoga, activism, and being an “ambassador of love and peace” Different roles people can play: activists, supporters, question-askers, rabble-rousers Karen’s personal mantra: “Ambassador of love and peace” Expanding the idea of activism beyond protests and picket signs to how we move through the world every day Discomfort as a catalyst for transformation Why anxiety and discomfort are often what finally move us to change Karen’s own leap into yoga teacher training in her 40s (and imposter syndrome all along the way) How to reframe discomfort as information and invitation, not failure Why it’s so hard to try new things From Karen’s article “5 Reasons Why It’s Hard to Try New Things”: Our built-in negativity bias and brain’s obsession with safety ...

Episode Summary In this episode of Awaken Your Power, Keri talks with Maree Lipschitz—speaker, facilitator, writer, and lifelong spiritual seeker—about the radical cultural power of female rites of passage. Drawing from decades of work with girls and women at puberty, motherhood, and menopause, Marie shares how ceremony and ritual can transform these transitions from private struggles into publicly honored initiations. Together, Keri and Maree explore how reclaiming these rites of passage doesn’t just support individual women—it quietly undermines patriarchal, capitalist norms and invites an entirely different model of wisdom, leadership, and community. In This Episode, We Explore: How Marie went from industrial chemist studying oxytocin to a facilitator of deeply embodied female rites of passage. Why menarche, motherhood, and menopause are spiritual rites—not just biological events. What Maree learned when no one honored her own transition into motherhood, and how that sparked her work designing ceremonies for new mothers. Examples of rites of passage from Indigenous and traditional cultures (from four-day dances to 40 days of post-birth seclusion) and what our modern world has lost by abandoning them. Why post-menopausal women have historically been the wisdom-keepers—and how longer lifespans are creating an unprecedented wave of potential elder leadership. How patriarchy harms both women and men, by over-valuing masculine forms of power and shutting down emotion, intuition, and vulnerability. The quiet but radical difference between “helping women succeed in the current system” vs. using ritual to question and reshape the system itself. The idea that all rites of passage are embodied and why public witnessing, truth-telling, and blessing are essential parts of any initiation. Practical, everyday ways to reclaim ceremony: Marking first periods, first heartbreaks, significant birthdays, and other turning points. Simple rituals you can create at home for yourself or loved ones. How denying rites of passage pushes teens (and adults) to self-initiate through risk-taking, numbing, or self-destructive choices. What it means to move from “midlife crisis” to midlife transformation, with ritual as a container. Maree's reframing of the Triple Goddess: Maiden → Menarche and emerging sexuality Mother → Nurturer (whether or not you have biological children) Menopause → The Alchemist, with Crone/Elder emerging more fully around 70+ The deep stigma and falsehoods we must unlearn about menopause, including the belief that women lose their value once fertility ends. Why Maree encourages women to track their cycles (and perimenopausal symptoms) as an act of power and a practical tool when seeking support. A simple, beautiful story of how she honored her last period with candles, a bath, and a love letter to her body. Key Takeaways If culture doesn’t provide initiation, we will seek it anyway—often through risky, unconscious, or harmful paths. Ceremony doesn’t have to be elaborate. Simple + sincere + witnessed can be life-changing. We are living in a rare moment in history where large numbers of...

Awakening Into Sovereignty with Aaron Scott In this episode, Keri Mangis is joined by author and systems-thinker Aaron Scott for a far-reaching conversation about what it means to awaken inside a world built on inherited myths, conditioning, and collective illusions. Drawing from his background in philosophy and nearly two decades on Wall Street, Aaron offers a rare lens into how our identities are shaped—and misshaped—by the structures we grow up within. Together, they explore the process of shedding those layers and reclaiming a deeper, more grounded truth. This episode moves through: The “synthetic construct” we mistake for reality How childhood conditioning forms identity and disconnects us from our core Disillusionment as a doorway, not a failure The illusion of separation and why it fuels division Conspiracy thinking as a ready-made story that replaces imagination Interconnection as both comfort and responsibility The myth of scarcity—not just of resources, but of time, meaning, and belonging What it means to live from authenticity instead of external validation Sovereignty as a daily practice of truth, agency, and conscious choice Aaron also shares the personal breaking point that pushed him to question the life he had built—and the moment he chose inner truth over external expectations. The conversation closes with a grounded, accessible definition of sovereignty: A return to the truth within, a reclamation of selfhood, and a shift in how we move through the world. If you’ve been sensing that the old stories no longer fit—or that something deeper is calling you back to yourself—this episode meets you right where you are. https://www.theaaronscott.com https://www.amazon.com/BEFORE-WE-FORGET-Collective-Awakening/dp/1969372230

Awaken Your Power — Episode: From Block to Powerful (with Cheryl Stelte) Episode Overview In this deeply insightful conversation, Cheryl Stelte   joins Keri to explore what it means to move from block to powerful. A spiritual coach, master healer, and author of From Block to Powerful: The Spiritual Guide to Unlocking Inner Clarity and Authentic Power, Cheryl helps women uncover how trauma, conditioning, and subconscious beliefs shape our lives—and how true transformation requires healing beneath the surface. Together, Keri and Cheryl dive into the energetic connection between personal healing and collective evolution, why midlife “success but misalignment” is a spiritual initiation, and how shadow work helps us reclaim authentic power. This conversation is for anyone ready to stop fixing themselves and start listening to what their “blocks” are trying to reveal. Guest Cheryl Stelte — Spiritual coach, master healer, and author of From Block to Powerful: The Spiritual Guide to Unlocking Inner Clarity and Authentic Power. For over 30 years, she has guided women through trauma, reinvention, and spiritual awakening with a unique approach that views blocks as sacred signals rather than flaws. 🌐 Website: starofdivinelight.com  📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steltecheryl/ 💼 LinkedIn: Cheryl Stelte  Key Takeaways Blocks are sacred signals. Every emotional or energetic “stuck point” is an invitation to deeper awareness, not a flaw to fix. Healing ripples outward. Personal transformation (microcosm) influences collective evolution (macrocosm); when one person heals, the field shifts for everyone. We are all connected. Separation is an illusion—each act of compassion, forgiveness, or courage uplifts the collective vibration. Shadow work is essential. Real transformation means feeling repressed emotions, not bypassing them with mindset tricks or quick fixes. Success without fulfillment = misalignment. When achievements stop bringing joy, it’s a call to realign with your soul’s deeper truth. Discernment over judgment. Spiritual maturity means holding compassion for others’ paths while clearly choosing what aligns with your own. You are far more powerful than you realize. Everything you need to awaken authentic power is already within your subconscious and your soul’s design. Memorable Lines “Blaming will never get you to who you truly are.” “Our wounds are not problems to solve; they are portals to higher truth.” “The extreme codependent will always attract the extreme narcissist—until healing occurs.” “Separation is an illusion. When you judge another, you are judging yourself.” “You can’t mindset your way out of trauma. You must feel your way through it.” Episode Highlights The origin of feeling “unwanted” and how early wounding shapes adult patterns The cultural programming that keeps...

In this conversation, writing coach and author Amy Hallberg joins Keri to explore how we awaken power by claiming our gifts—especially in times of upheaval. They trace Amy’s journey from “upholder” to norm-breaker, the humbling wisdom of being an exchange student in West Germany, and why language is only an approximation of lived experience. Together they unpack ritual, grief, and everyday action in the wake of community tragedy, and reframe “purpose” from a rigid noun to a living verb. If you’re navigating liminal spaces—midlife shifts, identity transitions, creative blocks—this episode offers practical ways to honor what’s breaking down while making something truer take root. Guest Amy Hallberg — author, writing coach, and founder of Courageous Wordsmith, guiding real-life writers from inklings to finished work through 1:1 and group programs. Website: amyhallberg.com • Programs: Courageous Wordsmith Key takeaways Your gifts are your power. Start naming—out loud—the thing you do with ease (the thing others notice). Claim it, then practice it. Purpose is a verb. Who you are being (quality + action) matters more than a tidy title or identity. Language ≠ life. Words are translations of experience; let stories emerge before you edit them into shape. Allow → Compose → Revise. Amy’s creative flow favors permissive drafting over “s****y first draft” self-talk or premature perfection. Ritual holds crisis. In collective grief, pair prayer/meaning with movement/action (“pray—and move your feet”). Small things, great love. Capacity builds through tiny, repeated acts (in writing, caregiving, citizenship). You won’t “go back.” After liminal thresholds, the task is integration—not returning to who you were. Memorable lines “Your gifts are your power.” “Words are signifiers—approximations of what we live.” “Purpose works better as a verb than a title.” Lightly structured outline  Meeting the rebel-upholder: growing up gifted, sensitive, and not quite fitting Germany at 17: unlearning perfection & finding value beyond grades Language, symbols, and telling the truth on the page Drafting without armor: the Allow → Compose → Revise method Ritual, grief, and community response after tragedy Purpose vs. meaning: claim the verb, not the label Closing practice: say it in the mirror—“I am a writer / creator / healer”—until your nervous system believes you Mentioned Prayer of St. Francis (“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace…”) Quote often attributed to Mother Teresa: “We can do no great things; only small things with great love.” Try this (listener prompt) Write down one gift you’ve been minimizing. Say it out loud three times today. Then take one tiny action that expresses it. Connect with Amy Website: amyhallberg.com Coaching & community: Courageous Wordsmith Connect with Keri Site: kerimangis.com Support the show Subscribe, rate, and share with a friend who’s ready to challenge the status quo and step into their gifts.

Episode summary Menopause advocate and life strategist Zapheria Bell joins Keri to reframe midlife as a profound alchemical journey. Drawing on her “Five Passages of Menopause,” Zapheria bridges science and soul—neuroscience-informed tools, emotional clearing, and what she calls psych-architecture—to help women move from cracking and burning to pause, remembering, and rising. This is a compassionate, practical conversation about nervous system regulation, corporate culture, HRT without shame, and honoring the sacred fire that remakes us. Guest Zapheria Bell is the founder of the Institute of Inner Mastery, creator of The Five Passages of Menopause, and a consultant for menopause-inclusive workplaces. Her work blends evidence-based approaches with deep embodiment and spiritual wisdom to help women 40+ “build the F**K-Yes life.” Key takeaways Menopause as alchemy: It’s not a problem to fix; it’s a process that burns away false identities so the truest self can emerge. The Five Passages of Menopause The Cracking — faint fissures in health, cycles, beliefs, and relationships signal change has begun. The Burning — heat, rage, and inflammation surface; what’s untrue combusts so truth remains. The Pause — a void/death phase that can feel terrifying; disciplined rest enables nervous-system repair. The Remembering — quiet reconnection to who you’ve always been (no “purpose pressure” required). The Rising — embodied wisdom and inner leadership; fewer Fs to give, more alignment to live. Science + soul can co-exist: Translating “energetic” concepts into accessible language invites broader understanding—especially in corporate settings. Nervous system regulation: Health isn’t the absence of stress; it’s the capacity to move from activation back to rest. No shame in support: Choices about HRT and symptom relief are individual; quality of life and brain/bone health matter. Corporate inclusion: Simple flexibility (later starts, longer lunches, quiet days) helps retain top women leaders. Creation beyond motherhood: Women are constant creators—of friendships, work, art, businesses, and ideas. Memorable moments  “If we try to avoid menopause, we miss the fire that forges our deepest truth." “I can go live in a mystery school forever, but the work is to bring the wisdom back to the real world.” “Regulation isn’t never getting stressed—it’s being able to return to calm.” “You don’t have to carry the world to raise its consciousness. Be fully you.” “Walk through the fire. On the other side, you’re handed the gift of yourself.” Chapters 00:00 Welcome + why alchemy resonates 05:12 Bridging woo and research: speaking multiple languages 12:40 From corporate burnout to spiritual immersion—and back again 20:55 The Five Passages: Cracking → Burning → Pause → Remembering → Rising 38:10 Regulating the nervous system in a dysregulated world 47:25 Menopause at work: inclusive policies and practical flexibility 55:18 Rethinking “purpose” and letting a quieter self lead 1:04:30 Birthing life in all forms: babies, businesses, ideas 1:10:00 Closing reflections + gratitude Resources mentioned Institute of Inner Mastery — Zapheria hub for methods, programs, and workplace consulting The Five Passages of Menopause framework (overview + guide) On nervous system regulation: breath work, pausing rituals, tech boundaries, and somatic practices WEBSITE: https://www.zapheriabell.com EMAIL: [email protected] Follow Zapheria Bell: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/zapheriabell INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/zapheriabell YOUTUBE: a...

Episode Summary In this season finale, host Keri Mangis reflects on the powerful conversations from Season 3 of Awaken Your Power. Throughlines emerge from her five incredible guests: the courage to question the status quo, to keep asking why, and to follow not just the mind but the heart and soul. Drawing inspiration from her own TEDx experience, Keri shows how truth and wisdom often come not from certainty but from curiosity, humility, and a willingness to unlearn. With references to cultural norms, the Truman Show, midlife transformation, and the parable of the blind men and the elephant, this episode invites us all to soften into deeper questions that can awaken our power. What You’ll Hear in This Episode 🌱 Season 3 themes: why questioning norms is vital for growth and authenticity. 🍷 Challenging cultural habits around alcohol, menopause, apologies, and relationships. 🎭 The Truman Show as a metaphor for breaking free from “normal.” 🔥 How crises—personal or societal—can become opportunities for rebirth. 💡 Why aligning with your true self brings resilience, creativity, and sovereignty. 🐘 The parable of the blind men and the elephant as an image for humility and perspective. 💖 A reminder that each of us holds unique gifts, and society needs us to step forward and share them. Key Quotes “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” — J. Krishnamurti “Not a single one of us has been put on this planet to play it small.” — Keri Mangis Looking Ahead ✨ Season 4 launches in December 2025 with nine incredible guests already booked. Stay tuned for powerful new conversations to help you awaken your power even more deeply. 🔗 Connect with Keri: Website: kerimangis.com Instagram: @kerimangis Newsletter: Subscribe on the website for updates

Jen Veralle — event experience strategist; founder of Spark Track and Mindful Drinking Movement; co-founder of Sauna & Sobriety; TEDx speaker (“Why We Should Rethink Drinking Culture”); eleven years alcohol-free and an advocate for inclusive, alcohol-optional social spaces. Episode snapshot After two decades of alcohol misuse and a corporate burnout at forty, Jen rebuilt her life and work—then went public with her story. In this conversation we unpack how to move from stigma to choice, why “sober not somber” matters, and how the “messy middle” (the liminal space between breakdown and rebirth) becomes a catalyst for a truer self. From secrecy to sovereignty: Jen’s path to eleven years alcohol-free and the moment she chose to “let go out loud.” Sober not somber: Designing events and workplaces where alcohol is optional and nonalcoholic choices are visible, elevated, and normalized. Taste, truth, and habit: The “acquired taste” myth; how stepping away can reset your palate—and your perspective. Mindful drinking for the middle: Options beyond all-or-nothing; making choices that fit health, context, and values. The messy middle: Reflection vs. “just pause”; how real transformation requires time in the in-between. Identity in motion: Name changes, reinventing purpose, and living “all of the truth.” Practical advocacy: What any of us can do—at restaurants, work events, and in our circles—to create alcohol-inclusive culture. Highlights “Ideas aren’t precious—share them and watch them find their collaborators.” “If an idea wants to be born and you won’t carry it, it moves on.” “Reflection is the engine of change; pausing is just the doorway.” “Make the nonalcoholic option obvious, celebrated, and in real glassware.” “The antidote to our fractured times isn’t out there—it’s us.” Timestamps (approx.) 00:00 — Welcome and why breaking stigma is the show’s heartbeat 04:30 — Creativity, collaboration, and nonattachment to ideas 11:40 — Jen’s sober story and the first public share 20:10 — Rethinking drinking culture (and that bookstore-bar slide) 28:00 — Mindful drinking for the “middle” 35:45 — Hosting better: menus, servers, and culture shifts 44:30 — The messy middle: reflection as a practice 55:00 — Identity, “all of the truth,” and next chapters 1:03:00 — Coaching, Sauna & Sobriety, and how to connect Connect with Jen Mindful Drinking Movement (advocacy, consulting, experiences) Sauna & Sobriety (alcohol-free community sessions) Coaching: Life + addiction/recovery coaching for the sober-curious and change-ready Connect with Keri Substack: The Power Source Podcast: Awaken Your Power — follow, rate, and review to help others find the show IG / LinkedIn: @kerimangis If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and review the podcast, and share it with a friend who’s exploring mindful drinking or moving through their own messy middle.   Referenced links: CreativeMornings profile (September 2024 talk): https://creativemornings.com/individuals/jenveralle TEDx Talk — “Why We Should Rethink Drinking Culture”

🎙️ Episode Title: Not Your Mama’s Menopause: Redefining Midlife with Shebang 🗓️ Episode Summary: In this powerful, candid, and laugh-out-loud episode of Awaken Your Power, I'm joined by Lori and Doty—founders of Shebang, the bold and unapologetic voice redefining the midlife experience for women. What started as a friendship forged over a tearful porch conversation blossomed into a movement built on honesty, humor, and the deep knowing that menopause is not a crisis—it's a sacred rite of passage. Together, we unpack the silence around perimenopause and menopause, share the pivotal moments that sparked Shebang, and explore how women can reclaim their identity, agency, and power in midlife and beyond. We also discuss: The shame and misinformation around hormone health—and how to advocate for yourself in the doctor’s office The emotional and spiritual transformation hidden inside the physical symptoms How midlife reinvention is not only possible, it’s potent—and often more joyful than you imagined The importance of giving yourself permission to pause, pivot, and power up Why this conversation needs to include men, too Lori and Doty are funny, fierce, and full of wisdom—and they don’t hold back. If you’ve ever felt like you were going through it alone, this episode will make you feel deeply seen and supported. ✨ Favorite Quote: “Loving yourself isn’t selfish—it’s foundational.” 🎁 Mentioned in This Episode: Shebang’s subscription box for midlife women: Permission to Pause, Pivot, Power Up The idea of celebrating menopause with ritual and ceremony The lack of menopause training among doctors (only ~2,500 certified in the U.S.) The role of synthetic hormones and why informed choices matter The connection between menopause and reinvention, sovereignty, and spiritual awakening Article(s) on not talking about periods.https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/period-talk-needs-to-stop-period/#comments-containerhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/02/can-we-please-stop-talking-about-periods/?ICID=continue_without_subscribing_reg_first#comment 🔗 Resources & Links: Follow Shebang on Instagram: @Shebang Subscribe to their monthly box: Shebang Subscription Box Read the article mentioned about public discussion of periods: [Link will be added here] Learn more about Keri’s TED Talk on menopause as a rite of passage: kerimangis.com/tedx 💌 Connect with the Guests: Lori and Doty are open-hearted, no-nonsense women who love hearing from listeners. DM them on Instagram or reach out through their website to share your story or ask questions—they’re building a movement, and you’re invited. — 🌀 Awaken Your Power is a space for those ready to disrupt the status quo and reclaim their voice. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if this episode spoke to you!

Guest: Galina Singer | Coach, Writer, Soulful Disruptorhttps://galinasinger.com/ | IG: @galinasinger 🌟 Episode Summary In this bold and deeply honest conversation, Keri welcomes coach and writer Galina Singer to explore what it really means to live beyond the status quo. Together, they examine the quiet (and not-so-quiet) ways women disrupt inherited roles—especially around marriage, motherhood, aging, identity, and the body. From redefining partnership and parenting to navigating menopause and political despair, Galina speaks to the power of self-responsibility, embodied sovereignty, and the courage it takes to become “nobody” in order to become fully yourself. This is a must-listen for anyone questioning long-held roles, longing for wholeness, or feeling the call to live with deeper truth and integrity. 🔑 Topics We Explore: Why living in alignment can feel disruptive—even dangerous Galina’s journey into truth-telling within long-term relationships What sovereignty really means (hint: it’s with your body, not over it) Reimagining marriage, conflict, and the myth of the “doting wife” Navigating menopause as a sacred rite of passage The body as messenger: hot flashes, skin symptoms, and suppressed anger Redefining identity: playing with costumes instead of clinging to roles Political division, spiritual resilience, and the power of curiosity The healing force of conversation—and why listening is radical 🧭 Timestamp Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome + why this season of Awaken Your Power goes deeper 03:40 – Galina's against-the-grain choices and personal sovereignty 11:25 – Redefining marriage from codependency to conscious connection 21:45 – Is it selfish to speak your truth? Or sacred? 31:00 – When disagreement feels like rejection: families, politics, and fear 39:05 – Identity, aging, and putting down our “straightjacketed” roles 50:12 – Menopause, clarity, and returning to yourself 1:05:00 – The dance between sovereignty and self-responsibility 1:12:40 – Listening across divides and why hope lives in conversation 🧘 Resources Mentioned: Dr. Christiane Northrup on menopause Darrell Davis’ work with the Ku Klux Klan Keri’s book: Embodying Soul Galina's program: True to Me, Open to You (Fall 2025) 🔗 Connect with Gina Singer: 🌐 Website: https://galinasinger.com/ 💌 Newsletter: sign up on her homepage 📸 Instagram: @galinasinger 💥 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going: If this episode sparked something in you, share it with a friend, tag us on Instagram, or leave a review. Your voice helps awaken others. → Subscribe to Awaken Your Power wherever you listen. → Join the newsletter at Kerimangis.com → Follow Keri on Instagram: @kerimangis