A single session set a bold challenge: make your voice available and your people will find you. That moment sparked a season of conversations and a growing community of spiritually gritty, physically resilient listeners who show up with curiosity and courage. To close out season one, we sit down with Priestess Yeshe Meryemana Matthews Robles—teacher, pilgrimage leader, and longtime student of mystery traditions—to explore how science, spirit, and strength converge on the sacred road.

We trace her annual pilgrimages through Greece’s oracular sites—Eleusis, Delphi, Dodoni—and unravel what “embodied history” looks like when you’re rolling bones at night and climbing to caves at dawn. Yeshi shares a slow travel framework that replaces checklist tourism with two or three perfect moments a day, so the place can imprint on your senses and your story. We dig into inclusive design for travelers of all abilities, practical flight and jet lag protocols (compression socks, movement cadence, hydration), and simple nutrition strategies that honor local food while protecting recovery.

From there, the conversation moves inward. We talk energetic hygiene on the road—pocket altars, mindful dress, grounding stones—and the stance she calls “friendship with humanity,” a way of showing up that respects culture and softens ego. Yeshi offers a timely, deeply compassionate guide to ancestor season: recognizing subtle signs, helping spirits who feel stuck after sudden death or dementia, and naming unacknowledged losses that echo through families. She shows how dedicating physical practice—those walks, squats, and steady breaths—to lineage repair can shift patterns forward and back.

If you’re craving a synthesis of training and transcendence, this finale delivers: a clear path to stronger bodies, steadier hearts, and a kinder, more present way to move through the world. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this, and leave a review to help more seekers find the tribe.

https://priestessyeshe.com/

https://www.mtshastagoddesstemple.com/

https://www.caravansophia.com/

https://www.sacredwell.com/

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Until the next time - stay gritty you badass!

What if three minutes could change your day—and then your life? We welcome Unplug founder Suze Yalof Schwartz to trace the surprising journey from high-speed fashion editor to architect of a global, modern meditation movement. Suze shares the exact three-minute breathing exercise that snapped her out of panic, the moment she realized meditation needed a makeover, and how “simplify, simplify… simplify” became the design principle behind the first drop-in meditation studio and the Unplug app.

We dig into the science and the strategy: why thoughts drive feelings, how belief audits help you unsubscribe from inherited narratives, and why ten minutes a day—less than one percent of your time—can rewire stress responses and sharpen focus. Suze explains the habit architecture that makes practice stick: wake-and-meditate routines, guided “me time,” gratitude prompts, streaks, challenges, and rewards that deliver a double dopamine hit. We also cover the Unplug Meditation book’s breakdown of methods and research, the growth of corporate wellness programs that convert skeptics on Zoom, and the 40-day teacher training that turns personal insight into a skill you can share.

Expect practical takeaways you can use today: a three-step starter practice, myth-busting for “I can’t stop thinking,” and ways to choose the right style—mantra, breath, visualization, or sound—to meet your mood. Whether you’re anxious, over-scheduled, or just curious, this conversation shows how modern, accessible meditation fits real life without robes, jargon, or long retreats.

If this helped you breathe easier, tap follow, share with a friend who needs calm, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. Your ripple effect starts now.

https://www.unplug.com/

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FIND new episodes of Squats & Séances on all major podcast platforms and the vlogcast on our YouTube channel - Squats & Séances.

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Until the next time - stay gritty you badass!

We sit down with Laura Hoorweg—international intuitive coach, spiritual counselor, and psychic medium—to map how awe becomes practice, and how practice becomes healing that lasts.

Laura shares how a three-decade career in high-pressure media unraveled within months of her partner’s passing, sending her on a healing circuit through Brazil, the Peruvian jungle, and into therapeutic yoga.

We get practical about intuition and mediumship. Along the way, we talk quantum-curious science, the integration of divine feminine and masculine, and the simple gateways anyone can use.

If you’re craving grounded spirituality, tools that actually help, and a compassionate push back toward your own inner knowing, this conversation offers a clear path. Subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

Website: https://www.spiritspeaks2.me

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/laura.hoorweg

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SpiritSpeaksToMe

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoorweglaura/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurahoorweg/

X (Twitter):

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HELP contribute to this growing community. Email topic ideas, suggestions for interviews, and feedback to venessa@squatsandseances.com.

FIND new episodes of Squats & Séances on all major podcast platforms and the vlogcast on our YouTube channel - Squats & Séances.

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What happens when a hot-room yoga leader and a strength-obsessed coach decide to tackle a doubles HYROX together? We share the plan, the missteps, and the gritty mindset it takes to run eight 1Ks while grinding through sled pushes, sandbag lunges, and wall balls—without wrecking our bodies or our schedules. Kate Giampapa of Journey Yoga Retreats brings two decades of teaching, heat adaptation, and breath-driven focus; I bring CrossFit mechanics, strength programming, and a love for functional fitness. The clash of styles becomes a partnership built on smarter recovery and practical problem-solving.

We map out an eight-week approach designed for busy lives: compromised running between stations, targeted posterior-chain work, mobility that actually sticks, and honest guardrails to avoid overtraining. Heat training takes center stage as a tool to raise cardiovascular demand at lower loads and reduce injury risk—especially crucial as we navigate our 40s. We get real about the shoe dilemma (running turnover vs lifting stability), time crunches, and finding a gym home with turf, sleds, ergs, and a sauna. Then we dig into the stories that shaped our choices: Kate’s L4-L5 discectomy after ignoring a pain signal, my failed foot reconstruction and the pivot to modification and longevity. The throughline is simple: listen first, load second.

Beyond race prep, Kate opens the door to Journey Yoga Retreats—Sayulita in spring, rotating destinations in fall—where you choose your path: Bikram, vinyasa, partner play, restorative, and a moving meditation of 108 sun salutations. No judgment, just community, clarity, and the kind of rest that makes training work.

If you’re curious about HYROX training, heat adaptation, injury prevention, or how yoga and strength can elevate each other, you’ll find a roadmap you can use.

Follow our training updates, share your shoe recommendations, and tell us which HYROX station you’d split with a partner. Subscribe, leave a review, and pass this along to a friend who’s ready to turn an “impossible-possible” goal into a plan.

https://www.journeyyogaretreats.com/

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HELP contribute to this growing community. Email topic ideas, suggestions for interviews, and feedback to venessa@squatsandseances.com.

FIND new episodes of Squats & Séances on all major podcast platforms and the vlogcast on our YouTube channel - Squats & Séances.

SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode. SEASON 1 ENDS OCTOBER 31ST!

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Until the next time - stay gritty you badass!

A judge’s mercy changed a life—and set off a movement. Angie Manson, CEO of Elevate Addiction Services, joins us to share how she went from a teenage spiral and a near 10-year sentence to leading an award-winning rehab that rejects limiting labels and builds recovery on agency, community, and the simple power of breath and sweat. We go deep on why language shapes identity, how mindfulness and nervous system regulation give people real-time tools for triggers, and why a campus-style community beats isolation every time.

Angie breaks down Elevate’s non–12-step, curriculum-driven model: day-one breathwork, trauma-informed reflection, peer accountability, and a fierce stance on reassessing meds after detox. We dig into misdiagnosis in crisis, the costs of overmedication, and the role of nutrition and sleep in stabilizing mood. Then we step into the gym—literally. As the only rehab in the country with a full CrossFit affiliate on-site, Elevate uses functional training to rebuild confidence, create clean dopamine, and connect clients to healthy tribes after graduation. Angie shares insights from working with CrossFit HQ and why scalable coaching makes intensity safe and sustainable.

We also open the spiritual door—no dogma required. Angie’s practice blends breathwork, gratitude, mindful walks, and trust in a higher order, with space for clients to honor their own beliefs. From fentanyl and dust-off to kratom and kava, we spotlight what parents and communities should know, and how to replace fear with informed action. If you care about addiction recovery, mental health, fitness for resilience, and building a life that doesn’t need numbing, this conversation is a map and a nudge.

If this resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a hopeful, practical path forward. Your word of mouth helps this community grow.

https://elevaterehab.org/
@angiegoingrogue

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HELP contribute to this growing community. Email topic ideas, suggestions for interviews, and feedback to venessa@squatsandseances.com.

FIND new episodes of Squats & Séances on all major podcast platforms and the vlogcast on our YouTube channel - Squats & Séances.

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Until the next time - stay gritty you badass!

Pat Barber brings two decades of CrossFit wisdom to this candid, wide-ranging conversation that delves into the mechanics of movement mastery and the art of coaching development. As a six-time CrossFit Games competitor and Level 4 coach who's mentored countless fitness professionals, Pat offers refreshingly honest insights that bridge technical expertise with psychological wisdom.

The discussion explores what it truly means to progress from recreational fitness to elite performance, with Pat drawing clear distinctions between pursuing health versus sport. "When you expose yourself to higher loadings and complexity for competitive CrossFit, it should all come after eating well, sleeping well, and being consistent," he explains, emphasizing that doing more isn't necessarily healthier—it's simply sport for sport's sake.

Pat's technical breakdown of gymnastics progression reveals his methodical approach to movement development. For strict pull-ups, he recommends slow negatives to create productive muscle damage. For muscle-ups, he emphasizes the importance of understanding the movement as more of a toes-to-bar pattern than a chest-to-bar pull-up. Throughout, he advocates for scaling movements that closely mimic the target skill while varying those scales to prevent plateaus.

The conversation takes a personal turn when Pat discusses his relationship with alcohol and its surprising effects on his emotional regulation during vacations. His vulnerability around these topics demonstrates the ongoing self-experimentation that characterizes his approach to optimization. Similarly, his reflections on his competitive career reveal a profound self-awareness: "I don't think I ever reached my physiological potential. I think I reached my psychological potential of what I was willing to do."

Perhaps most valuable are Pat's insights into coaching development, drawn from his work with Coaches Development and the Father's Guild. He articulates that excellent coaching transcends mechanical correction to establish individualized relationships with athletes. "Set high standards as your North Star and make people love it," he advises new coaches, emphasizing both connection and integrity.

Listen in for a masterclass in movement, mindset, and mentorship from one of CrossFit's most thoughtful veterans.

https://www.coachesdev.com/

https://www.thefathersguild.com/

Send us a text

HELP contribute to this growing community. Email topic ideas, suggestions for interviews, and feedback to venessa@squatsandseances.com.

FIND new episodes of Squats & Séances on all major podcast platforms and the vlogcast on our YouTube channel - Squats & Séances.

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Until the next time - stay gritty you badass!

Two women wade into the inky darkness of the Pacific Ocean, stripped bare under a moonless sky. It's a ritual they've established—where anxiety transforms into calm, where something is left behind in the sea, and something new is taken back to shore. This is where our conversation with Pam Rivers begins.

Pam, a seasoned therapist and transformation guide with over 35 years of experience, returns to share profound insights about our connection to water, ancestral healing, and the energetic exchange she calls "osmosis." The ocean ritual they describe isn't just about cold water therapy or thrill-seeking—it's about honoring something ancient within us, a recognition of our primordial connection to water that transcends rational understanding.

As the conversation deepens, Pam guides us through her understanding of "the collective"—that vast ocean of ancestral wisdom and experience we can access, where we follow particular "streams" throughout our existence. She explains how we carry our family's trauma in our DNA, but also their gifts, their resilience, and their light. With remarkable clarity, she details her recent spiritual pilgrimage to Ireland, where she discovered unexpected connections to her heritage that left her "destabilized" for weeks afterward. Her stories of gates clanging shut behind her at an Irish church, encounters with devout Catholics, and revelations about historical atrocities weave together a profound narrative about how we reckon with the past.

Perhaps most refreshing is Pam's rejection of spiritual bypassing—the idea that being "evolved" means forgiving everything. "Sometimes there's a cost to being a horrible human," she states, challenging listeners to consider that accountability has a place in spiritual growth. She describes how certain soul contracts—energetic agreements we make with others across lifetimes—can be recognized and completed, while others can be consciously severed.

For anyone seeking to understand their own ancestral connections, soul contracts, or relationship with spiritual practices, this conversation offers both practical insights and mystical possibilities. Listen now to discover how slowing down, tuning in, and honoring ancient wisdom might transform your understanding of yourself and your place in the greater tapestry of existence.

https://pamriverstransformation.substack.com/

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HELP contribute to this growing community. Email topic ideas, suggestions for interviews, and feedback to venessa@squatsandseances.com.

FIND new episodes of Squats & Séances on all major podcast platforms and the vlogcast on our YouTube channel - Squats & Séances.

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Until the next time - stay gritty you badass!

Your perception of reality literally creates your reality. This profound truth sits at the heart of our exploration into mindfulness—not just as a trendy wellness buzzword, but as a scientifically-backed practice that can transform your physiological experience of stress.

The human body wasn't designed for the constant state of vigilance we find ourselves in today. What happens when this system never gets a chance to rest? Research shows the frightening consequences: anxiety, depression, digestive issues, heart disease, sleep disruption, and cognitive impairment—all linked to chronic stress.

Through simple practices like box breathing (used by special forces), finding flow through creative expression, or establishing a meditation practice, we can interrupt the stress cycle and reclaim our physiological balance.

Meditation deserves special attention as the gateway to presence. By learning to observe thoughts without attachment—watching them pass like clouds overhead—we can gradually free ourselves from the tyranny of predictive perception.

Subscribe now, leave a review, and join our growing community as we explore the fascinating intersection of science, wellness, and spiritual practice. Your mind creates your reality—isn't it time you learned how to direct it?

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-neuroscience-of-reality/

https://www.apa.org/topics/mindfulness

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-mindfulness

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation

McCartney, F. (2010). Body of health: The new science of intuition medicine for energy and balance. New World Library.

Send us a text

HELP contribute to this growing community. Email topic ideas, suggestions for interviews, and feedback to venessa@squatsandseances.com.

FIND new episodes of Squats & Séances on all major podcast platforms and the vlogcast on our YouTube channel - Squats & Séances.

SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode. SEASON 1 ENDS OCTOBER 31ST!

VISIT us at www.squatsandseances.com to subscribe to our newsletter.

FOLLOW us on social media @squatsandseances (IG, FB, TT, LinkedIn).

Until the next time - stay gritty you badass!