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This week I'm joined by Will Mccandles, a health coach whose path to healing has taken him from the mountains of Thailand to the jungles of the Amazon. As a patient, student, and practitioner, Will has consistently gone to the source, learning directly from the indigenous teachers and lineage keepers who hold these traditions. Today’s he’s built a successful practice around health coaching, biofeedback, qi gong, Kambo, and more. In this episode we get into his own health crisis and how it shaped the way he now guides others back to their bodies. It was beautiful to listen to Will’s story unfold from being pathologized as a child to becoming someone who really trusts his intuition and isn’t afraid to go all in for his own health and in following his dreams. Highlights: - How an ADHD diagnosis spiraled into being diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and the years on medication that left him feeling lost and disconnected - Coming off his meds with herbs and landing a new diagnosis, bipolar with psychotic features, and what that taught him about the medical system - A tick bite on a California farm that sent his health into a freefall, and the long road through misdiagnosis before finally learning it was Lyme - The wild, multi-country journey he made from Costa Rica to Spain during COVID lockdown just to be with his daughter - What an Ayahuasca ceremony revealed about his body's breakdown, and how that became the foundation for the work he does today Connect and Work with Will: https://www.advancemywellness.com/ https://www.instagram.com/will.wellness/ Learn more about the School of Whispers: www.schoolofwhispers.com If you’d like to learn more about working with me, click here. Sign up for the monthly newsletter to receive a free e-book on the Five Element Theory and to stay up to date on podcasts, retreats, workshops, and more. Contact me here Connect: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers Instagram (personal)- @__steef___ Facebook Youtube DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

This week's episode is about my experiences and lessons around death this year. In February I had to put my cat, Viracocha, down, and in June my father ended up in a coma and eventually passed away. Both experiences have come with their own stories and lessons, which I've been digesting as life keeps moving forward. As my life's story typically unfolds, working with plant allies such as Iboga, Mapacho, Cacao, Ayahuasca, and a new wild card called "KnockKnock" has enabled me to travel deeper into these lessons. Aaaand right when I thought things had settled, I got hit with a wild turn of events after getting my DNA results back. These deaths have taught me about what is real and true in this world, and how I choose to live within it. Highlights I walk you through finding out my cat had lung cancer, the day of her death, and the iboga ceremony the next dayMusings on grief and death as a fact all humans shareThe story of finding out about my dad's fall, the moment I found out he died, and how optional the suffering around both deaths turned out to beProcessing the inevitability of my own death while working with Mapacho and CacaoThe DNA results that turned me for a loop Show Notes: Journey of Souls by Michael Newton Destiny of Souls by Michael Newton Only Love is Real by Brian Weiss Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander, MD No Self, No Problem: How Neuropsychology Is Catching Up to Buddhism by Chris Niebauer, Ph.D Learn more about the School of Whispers: www.schoolofwhispers.com If you’d like to learn more about working with me, click here. Sign up for the monthly newsletter to receive a free e-book on the Five Element Theory and to stay up to date on podcasts, retreats, workshops, and more. Contact me here Connect: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers Instagram (personal)- @__steef___ Facebook Youtube DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

As a licensed physician of Chinese Medicine and iboga facilitator, I've had a front row seat to something that I couldn’t ignore: iboga as a medicinal herb is an agent for energetic, physiological and spiritual vitality. And my training and way of seeing the world through the eyes of Chinese Medicine have provided a beautiful framework for understanding why. In this episode, I walk you through the organ systems most affected by iboga and share my clinical observations from working retreats. This is my attempt to bridge two ancient wisdom traditions and give you a framework for understanding what your body is going through when you work with the sacred root. Highlights: - How iboga clears the body of dampness — and what dampness actually is in TCM - Surprising observations I’ve found from feeling the energetic qualities of people’s pulses before and after iboga ceremonies - The Liver, emotional purging, and why what feels like a side effect is actually a gift - How iboga opens the Heart and quiets the mind so the Shen can speak - Why I believe iboga, an herb that contributes to libido and fertility, belongs in the class of essence-building herbs If you want to watch this episode on YouTube with the presented slideshow, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/axq5CknlWMo Learn more about the School of Whispers: www.schoolofwhispers.com Learn more about Root and Wisdom: www.rootandwisdomllc.com If you’d like to learn more about working with me, click here. Sign up for the monthly newsletter to receive a free e-book on the Five Element Theory and to stay up to date on podcasts, retreats, workshops, and more. Contact me here Connect: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers Instagram (personal)- @__steef___ Facebook Youtube DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests. Related Episodes: Whispers of Iboga with Troy Valencia, co-founder of Root and Wisdom ⁠Whispers of Qi and Blood ⁠ Whispers of The Five Element Theory Whispers of Five Spirits of Chinese Medicine p. 1 Whispers of Five Spirits of Chinese Medicine p. 2 Whispers of Sleep from a Chinese Medicine Perspective Whispers of Digestion and Food Therapy from a Chinese Medicine Perspective Whispers from Your Herbalist Whispers of Clarity p. 2: Qi Gong

Welcome to the show! You can learn more about your host, Stephanie, and The School of Whispers at www.schoolofwhispers.com

Have you ever reduced yourself or another person to a single role? Maybe it's "mother." What is a mother supposed to be? How is she supposed to act? And what happens when she no longer fits that role? More importantly, what happens inside your own psyche when someone breaks the image you've built of them? This week's episode is a discussion on a concept developed by Carl Jung on the evolution of the feminine archetypes within the psyche. While I'm no Jungian psychologist, learning about this has snapped me out of some pretty consistent, gnarly cycles in how I relate to myself and others. This model explores both our unconscious patterns and the process of becoming conscious of them. It offers a lens through which we can understand concepts like the shadow self, the divine feminine, projection, and identity. Interestingly, this topic was originally developed specifically for the male psyche, but to be honest, seeing it as something only for women or only for men sounds like a load of BS. It's helped me understand myself and others so much better, and it's validated some major shifts I've moved through recently that have, at times, ruffled the feathers of people who thought they knew me best. While this framework has been incredibly helpful for me, it's important not to elevate any model into ultimate truth or use it as a way to become a "better person." That's the trap of so many systems of psychological development, and it would entirely miss the point. So I encourage you to listen with an open heart, observe your mind throughout the process, and remember that everything you need has been right here all along. • Why the rise of the feminine may have less to do with matriarchy or New Age spirituality and more to do with something shifting within the human psyche • Signs of a man or woman expressing each archetypal phase both unconsciously and in an integrated way • Personal stories of how I recognized my own experience within each phase • The myths, legends, and historical figures associated with these archetypes • Signs that you may be moving into what Jungian psychology calls the Sophia phase If you'd like to hear the complete discussion, including the final 18 minutes of the episode, you can find it on my Patreon. Learn more about the School of Whispers: www.schoolofwhispers.com If you’d like to learn more about working with me, click here. Sign up for the monthly newsletter to receive a free e-book on the Five Element Theory and to stay up to date on podcasts, retreats, workshops, and more. Contact me here Connect: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers Instagram (personal)- @__steef___ Facebook Youtube

Just like Yin and Yang Qi and Blood, it’s the kind of thing where you can’t really talk about Chinese Medicine and explain what’s happening without using this framework and guide of the Five Element Theory. On this episode, I really focus my lens on what this theory is and why anyone would want to use it in their life. The five elements are fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. Within each elements we get into the following categories: - Nature and Environment - Sensory and Ascetic - Body and Organs - Mind and Emotions If you've ever felt like your body was speaking a language you couldn't quite translate, the Five Element Theory might be the key you didn't know you were looking for. This framework dissolved the illusion of separation I felt between myself and the natural world, helped me feel more connected to the cycles and seasons I'd always lived inside, and gave me the confidence to finally be the authority of my own health. Support this podcast and listen to the rest of this episode by signing up for my Patreon by clicking here. Related Episodes: Whispers of Five Spirits of Chinese Medicine p. 1 Whispers of Five Spirits of Chinese Medicine p. 2 Whispers of Sleep from a Chinese Medicine Perspective Whispers of Digestion and Food Therapy from a Chinese Medicine Perspective Whispers of Qi and Blood Whispers from Your Herbalist Whispers of Clarity p. 2: Qi Gong Learn more about the School of Whispers: www.schoolofwhispers.com If you’d like to learn more about working with me, click here. Sign up for the monthly newsletter to receive a free e-book on the Five Element Theory and to stay up to date on podcasts, retreats, workshops, and more. Contact me here Connect: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers Instagram (personal)- @__steef___ Facebook Youtube DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

This week on the show, we have my friend and returning guest, Troy Valencia. If you're not already familiar with him, he is cofounder of retreat company Root and Wisdom, an iboga provider, and cofounder of nonprofit Sacred Roots Foundation — a 501(c)(3) dedicated to reconnecting with and preserving ancestral traditions in Gabon. With a background in chemistry and East-West psychology, Troy is now completing his final dissertation for a clinical psychology degree. His mission in life is clear: to relieve suffering. Through his work with the sacred root, iboga, he has found it to be a powerful ally in that mission. He is a wealth of knowledge on all things iboga, and in this episode, he paints a vivid picture of iboga's effects on the body, mind, psyche, and spirit. Highlights from this episode: * How to ensure reciprocity with iboga and the indigenous keepers of the plant in Gabon, Africa * The difference between iboga and ibogaine * Why someone might choose to work with iboga * How iboga works on the mind * Can someone become addicted to iboga? Learn more about working with Troy Donate to Sacred Roots Foundation Connect and Learn More: https://www.instagram.com/rootandwisdom/ https://www.instagram.com/sacredrootsnonprofit/ https://www.instagram.com/troyvalencia_/ https://www.youtube.com/@RootandWisdom Related Episodes: Whispers of Living Beyond the Mind with Troy Valencia #77 Whispers of Liberation from Suffering with Troy Valencia #54 Whispers of Gabon and My Initiation with the Bwiti #79 Whispers of Wisdom from My Recent Iboga Journeys #64 Whispers of Service and Iboga with Joaly Trinidad #57 Learn more about the School of Whispers: www.schoolofwhispers.com If you’d like to learn more about working with Stephanie, click here. Sign up for the monthly newsletter to receive a free e-book on the Five Element Theory and to stay up to date on podcasts, retreats, workshops, and more. Contact Stephanie here Connect with Stephanie: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers Instagram (personal)- @__steef___ Facebook Youtube

Welcome to a brand new season of the podcast! Welcome to a brand new season of the podcast!  This week’s episode is all about dharmic dating. Originally dubbed “duty dating” by one of my former patients, this is the type of dating that isn’t about finding your prince charming, but instead about finding yourself.  Last fall, I entered the dating world in the traditional sense for pretty much the first time in my life. In my short-lived experience, I’d say the modern world of dating is equal parts genuinely fun and absolutely unhinged.  I’ve met mostly great and some questionable men along the way, but most importantly I’ve learned pivotal lessons about myself.  Highlights: * Defining dharmic dating * How do you know you’re ready to date after a big breakup? * Dating stories on the spectrum of strange, funny, and gutting * Surprisingly effective rituals I practiced to call in specific men and lessons * Dating with non-attachment, and being sure not to use it as an excuse to bypass * The difference between a sovereign safe woman, and a violated woman Lear more about the School of Whispers: www.schoolofwhispers.com If you’d like to learn more about working with me, click here. Sign up for the monthly newsletter to receive a free e-book on the Five Element Theory and to stay up to date on podcasts, retreats, workshops, and more. Contact me here Connect: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers Instagram (personal)- @__steef___ Facebook Youtube

This week’s episode is part two of the whispers from the five spirits of Chinese Medicine. In part one, we covered the Shen, the spirit of the heart and fire element, the Hun, the spirit of the liver and wood element, and the Yi, the spirit of the spleen/stomach and earth element. Now, we are diving into two aspects of the soul which exist within the earthly aspects of our entire being: the Po and the Zhi. The Po is the spirit of the lungs and the metal element. The Zhi is the spirit of the kidneys and water element. They become activated when we are born from our mother’s wombs, and they return to the Earth when our body dies. Highlights: - What we can experience when these spirits are in disturbance and when they’re in harmony - Simple ways to access these aspects of your spirits and enable harmony within them - The spirit animal related to each spirit, and their lore within ancient Chinese culture Related Episodes: Whispers of the Five Spirits of Chinese Medicine p 2 Whispers of Qi and Blood Whispers of Exploring Religion, Philosophy, and Mysticism with Jonas Kilker If you’d like to work with me and/or connect: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers @__steef___ email- [email protected] DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

This week’s episode features my dear friend and returning guest, Joaly Trinidad—co-founder of Root and Wisdom and Sacred Roots Foundation. As a ceremonialist with a background in counseling, she weaves sound, breathwork, and movement to guide others on their return to their truest nature. On the show Joaly opens up about her journey into motherhood. Together we explore common themes amongst mothers: anxiety and fear around birth, how her birth plan transformed, how she worked with fear and surrendered her sense of control, mom guilt, and the sense of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Her story speaks to women everywhere. My hope is that this conversation helps mothers feel less alone and reminds them that their stories matter. Highlights: How to use a pendulum to play a witchy game Jo played as a child to predict how many children she’d haveHow plant sacraments such as San Pedro supported her daughter’s conception and birthThe paradigm shift between her indigenous midwives and a hospital team when they collaborated for the first time to support her C-section Jo’s parenting approach based on philosophies such as the Buddhist Five Remembrances Connect with Jo: www.rootandwisdom.com www.sacredrootsfoundation.com Instagram: joalytrinidad , rootandwisdom If you’d like to connect with Stephanie, you can find her here: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers @__steef___ email- [email protected] If you'd like to learn more about working with me, feel free to reach out via email or social media. Website to come soon! DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

This week's episode is part 1 of a two-part series about the 5 spirits within Chinese medicine. In this medicine, there is no separation of mind, body, spirit, and emotions in diagnosis and treatment. It's why this medicine is extremely effective in treating nearly any ailment one could experience. Working with the spirits of Chinese Medicine is another one of the many ways that we can improve our health, remember why we came here, and find fulfillment and liberation within this life. Within this episode, we dive into the Shen, also known as the spirit of the Heart and the fire element, the spirit of the Hun, aka spirit of the Liver and the wood element, and the spirit of the Spleen/Stomach and the earth element. We discuss what it feels and looks like when these spirits are in harmony or in disturbance and well as the different seasons, movements, colors, emotions, acupuncture points and characters or spirit guides associated with each spirit. Show Notes: Whispers of Sleep from a Chinese Medicine Perspective #81 Whispers of Wisdom from My Recent Iboga Journeys #64 Whispers of Clarity p 1: Dynamic Meditation #54 Whispers of Clarity p 2: Qi Gong #56 Whispers of Esoteric Acupuncture (& Qi Gong) p 2 with Dr. Adamson More about Sanpaku eyes More about Five Element Theory If you’d like to connect or work with Stephanie, you can find her here: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers @__steef___ email- [email protected] DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

If you’re on Instagram, you may have come across Brian’s work before. His grounded, relatable approach helps people deepen their relationship with themselves and others. He’s developed a system called SIBS—Somatic Work, Inner Child Work, Breathwork, and Support—which has guided his clients through what might be the most challenging spiritual path there is: the yoga of relationships. While we don’t use that term on the show, it kept coming to mind as I re-listened to Brian’s story and insights. In traditional yoga, we unite body, breath, and mind to return to the Self. In the yoga of relationships, we do the same—but with other humans. Our partners become mirrors, and pretty much every emotion becomes an invitation to see where we’re still attached, defended, or separate from love. In this way, our partners, friends, and family become our greatest teachers—not because they’re perfect, but because they reveal the parts of us that are not yet free. It’s confronting, profound work, and it’s the path Brian has committed himself to and has helped countless others within. Highlights from this episode: - His transformative initiation with Iboga and the Bwiti tradition, and how working with plant medicine refined his understanding of healing - The breakup that became a breakthrough — how his wife, Hope, leaving deepened their love, marriage, and spiritual growth - Simple, powerful tools to regulate your nervous system and support the vagus nerve when conflict or triggers arise - A mysterious recurring illness that finally shifted when Brian faced his buried shame and let go of his “hero” complex within his coaching business Connect with Brian: https://awakeningwithbrian.com/ https://www.instagram.com/awakeningwithbrian/ Related Episodes: Whispers of Letting Go of Who You Thought You Were with Hope Yang Whispers of Owning Your Light (Language) with Hope Yang Whispers of Breakups, Heartache, and the Greatest Love Story of All Time Whispers of Gabon and My Initiation with the Bwiti If you’d like to connect with Stephanie, you can find her here: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers @__steef___ email- [email protected] DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

This week on the show, I’m joined by conscious fashion stylist and thinker, Taylor Nevin. Taylor holds a degree in Merchandising of Apparel and Textiles with a minor in Theatrical Costume Design, as well as a master’s in Material Culture and Textile Studies. She lives and breathes fashion—and brings a sharp, grounded perspective on how we can create personal style with more integrity, creativity, and awareness of ethics and safety in the industry. For me, clothing has always been a form of self-expression. If you know me, you know I love adding that “Stephanie flair.” But after my divorce, I found myself shedding over half my wardrobe as my sense of identity shifted.This conversation with Taylor, which we hd back in March, helped me realize I get the chance to create an entirely new character through my clothes, which has become a fun way to meet new versions of myself through what I choose to wear. Highlights from this episode: - Taylor’s honest take on the fashion industry’s ties to fast fashion and modern slavery - The subconscious processes behind shopping, and how “creative theory” shows that having less can actually spark more creativity - The psychology behind personal style and how Taylor helps clients reimagine their “costume” - Practical steps we can take toward a more ethical, sustainable fashion future - How the male vs. female gaze shapes both fashion and wellness Connect with Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/thefashiondiaryofmoi/ If you’d like to connect with Stephanie, you can find her here: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers @__steef___ email- [email protected] If you would like to schedule an acupuncture appointment with Stephanie at her current clinic, Balance Point Acupuncture, you can either visit ⁠⁠www.balancepointacu.com⁠ ⁠or call 561-615-4535 to schedule your appointment today DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

Are you having a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep, experiencing crazy dreams, or not feeling well rested despite a full night’s sleep? Is it your mind, your body, or both that are keeping you awake? These are the questions we’re going to dive into on this week’s episode, which unpacks sleep from a Chinese Medicine perspective. Chinese Medicine (CM) is an ancient, indigenous system of healing that developed through the study of the body’s energy systems. I’ve personally found this lens of seeing the body to be both enlightening and clarifying—it just makes sense. It’s safe to say that all forms of medicine—whether Eastern, Western, holistic, or allopathic—agree that sleep is one of the most important functions of the human body. If you’re not sleeping, your body will struggle and eventually fail to function fully. CM is particularly effective for treating sleep disorders because its system of pattern diagnosis and treatment is entirely unique to each individual. On this episode, we dive into the roots, branches, and varied patterns of sleep disorders. Highlights from this episode: I unpack the role of the main organ-energy pathways (meridians) involved in sleep: the Heart, Liver, and Kidneys. The perspective CM has toward the soul/spirit, how it divides it into five aspects, and how they contribute to sleep quality and dreams. The unique system of the CM body clock and how it can help you get better sleep. Common herbal formulas used to treat sleep disorders. Related Episodes: Whispers of Clarity p. 2: Qi Gong #56 Whispers of Qi and Blood #67 Whispers of Digestion and Food Therapy from a TCM Perspective #72 Whispers of Women's Cycles from a TCM Perspective #74 p.1 :10 Ways You're Hurting Your Health According to a Student of Chinese Medicine #30 p.2 : 10 Ways You're Hurting Your Health According to a Student of Chinese Medicine #35 Whispers of Esoteric Acupuncture (and Qi Gong) p. 2 with Dr. Adamson If you’d like to connect with Stephanie, you can find her here: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers @__steef___ email- [email protected] If you would like to schedule an acupuncture appointment with Stephanie at her current clinic, Balance Point Acupuncture, you can either visit ⁠⁠www.balancepointacu.com⁠ ⁠or call 561-615-4535 to schedule your appointment today DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.

This week on the show, we’ve got my girl Chrystee. She teaches yoga and vocal activation teacher, singer-songwriter, a hype coach, a true girl’s girl, a space-holder for magical retreats, and a devoted student of Ayurveda. On her Instagram, you’ll catch her bridging the worlds of eastern philosophy and western science, singing her big little heart out, and throwing that a$$ back as a reminder that you don’t need to edit or hide yourself to feel true acceptance. But Chrystee wasn’t always this way. Like many women, she once conditioned herself to fit into a smaller, more traditional role—chasing the career, making the money, and then asking, now what? In this episode, she shares her journey of breaking free, leaving corporate life in the States, and fully stepping into her dharma in Guatemala. - From rock bottom to radiant freedom—her journey of turning being in deep pain and suicidal ideation into art and passion. - How leaving corporate sales unlocked her true dharma and purpose. - Embodied practices—twerking, vocal activation, and body wisdom—as tools for liberation. - Bridging health, spirituality, and indigenous traditions to create heaven on earth. Connect with Chrystee: Instagram : @chrysteeeee Spotify : Chrystee Youtube: @chrystee If you’d like to connect with Stephanie, you can find her here: Instagram- @schoolofwhispers @__steef___ email- [email protected] If you would like to schedule an acupuncture appointment with Stephanie at her current clinic, Balance Point Acupuncture, you can either visit ⁠⁠www.balancepointacu.com⁠ ⁠or call 561-615-4535 to schedule your appointment today DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Stephanie or her guests.