Here We Are

Fourteen years ago I prayed for a friend who could hold my whole life across the world. India answered that prayer with Sal. Sal and I met on a terrace in Bangalore when I was studying abroad, and we played Jenga for six hours straight. She checked on me that first week when I was still catching my breath in a brand new country, and she never stopped showing up after that. Every time I land in Ind...

I've been asked so many times how I came to be the way I am. My honest answer has always been the same: have you ever met my mom? This episode is one I've wanted to make for a long time. My guest today is my mom, Deb, known to basically everyone in my world as Mama Deb. She spent 42 years in the operating room holding human life in her hands, raised two very different daughters with grace...

WHAT IF STRENGTH WAS NEVER ABOUT HOW YOU LOOK? I had been noticing Anna McGee in the lives of the women I work with for years. Through my work with bodies as a massage and yoga therapist, I keep seeing certain women who carry this steadiness, this quiet strength, and they all kept saying her name. So when I finally got to sit down with her here at Duluth Creative Company, just a block from her stu...

What If The Most Radical Thing You Could Do Is Trust Yourself? I sat down with my dear friend Sam Nelson, hairstylist of almost twenty years and brand new author of Ten Things You May Need to Hear Today. We talked about the long road back to trusting your own body, your own knowing, and your own voice after a lifetime of being told you're wrong about your own experience. Sam has been doing hai...

What if the medicine you needed was already growing in your front yard, and you just forgot it was there? I first noticed Angela Krick across a busy restaurant floor at Famous Dave's when I was a teenager. She had this magnificent life energy. Years later, we found each other in a yoga teacher training, sat next to each other in every meeting, laughed the loudest, and went deep fast. That's Angie....

What does it actually mean to be fully, unapologetically yourself? Not just in the safe moments, but in the chaotic ones, the heartbreaking ones, the ones where nobody's watching. This week I'm sitting down with one of my oldest, most sacred friendships. Someone I met on a dance floor at a wedding over 20 years ago and never let go of. This conversation on self-expression is one I've been carrying...

What if the most radical thing you could do right now is go back to the very basics? We are living through a time unlike any other and I believe the way through it isn't to do more, push harder, or figure it all out. It's to breathe. To drink water. To show up. One day at a time. Welcome back to Here We Are — and welcome to Season 3. I am so thrilled to be back, and I've been thinking a lot about...

Ever wondered how a spontaneous trip can lead to a life-altering journey? Join us in our latest episode as we dive into an unexpected adventure from Duluth, Minnesota, to the spiritual heart of Bali. 🌏✨ 🌺 Episode Highlights: Discover the serendipitous meeting with Mowgli in a cozy Ubud restaurant that sparked a profound friendship rooted in Balinese spirituality. Hear Brittany's inspiring s...

This episode is a heartfelt journey through the vibrant tapestry of life in India, as shared by my dear friends Salome and Ashrita from Bangalore. Over the past 12 years, our friendship has flourished despite the miles between us, and this episode is a testament to the enduring bonds we've built. 🌿 Experience Salome's scooter rides and her work at Jamboree, and visit Ashrita's serene...

We are thrilled to announce our latest episode, featuring the journey we've had creating Motherland Naturals. From Mali to Minnesota, we dive deep into the world of sustainable and ethical skincare with the incredible story of Motherland Naturals, co-founded by Mamadou Koulibaly and Liz Wiggin, and creative team member Ysa. In this episode, we explore: 🌱 The cultural and historical significan...

Join Katie and her dear friend Clara as they reconnect and reflect on our incredible journey from the Padma Karma Yoga School in Kerala, India, to Clara's serene off-grid life in the Scottish Highlands with her daughter, Ula B. In this heartfelt conversation, we delve into: Connection Through Yoga and Nature : Reuniting with Claire and reminiscing about our transformative experiences in India....

We're excited to share with you the latest episode of our podcast, and trust us, this one is a true culinary and spiritual adventure you won't want to miss. In this captivating episode, we embark on a journey to the vibrant region of Tacna, Peru, alongside the remarkable Chef Rocio. Known for her profound insights into Peruvian culture and cuisine, Rocio takes us deep into the heart of a f...

In this heartwarming episode, we invite you to immerse yourself in the daily lives of Ronaldo, Gretchen, Henry, Esperanza, and Ana Maris, a remarkable family from Venado, Costa Rica. Recorded at Duluth Creative Company in Duluth, Minnesota, this episode brings their vibrant culture to life with the help of our Spanish translator, Griselda! 🎧 Episode Highlights: Life in Costa Rica : Discover the r...

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with my greatest teacher and mentor, my dad—known affectionately as Tom, T-Bone, Vinny and many more nicknames. We explore the core lessons he's imparted to me about embracing individuality and living authentically. ✨ Episode Highlights: The Freedom to Be Yourself - Discover the importance of self-expression and honesty, influenced by our family legacy, p...

In the latest episode of Here We Are we embark on an extraordinary adventure along the Superior Hiking Trail with my dear friend Morgan Cherne. This 310-mile footpath, stretching from the Wisconsin-Minnesota border to the Minnesota-US-Canadian border, offers breathtaking views of Lake Superior and the rugged beauty of the Sawtooth Mountains. The episode delves into the physical challenges, mental...

Michael Lee, MA, DipSocSci, C-IAYT, having grown up in Australia, Michael held college teaching posts there and in Papua New Guinea. His expertise lay in the field of personal and organizational change. In 1984, he arrived in the United States and began a career in yoga therapy alongside a personal journey of transformation with a focus on mental, spiritual, and emotional health. Michael Lee found...

Season Two of ‘Here We Are’ is based on virtually traveling around the world to hold conversations in curiosity as to what it is like to live in each piece of this beautiful world. Kate has made these loving connections through her world travels and studies. It is in honor of being human. In a time where there’s great shift on earth and in humanity, this serves as a reference to the similarities,...

My dear friend Em, a speech language pathologist with a heart of gold, joins me to share her inspiring experiences in helping people reclaim their voices.  Amidst the emotional and technical challenges, we discuss my incredible journey of recovery from a head injury, revealing the individual triumphs and the sheer joy of witnessing when I could start to articulate my thoughts once again.  Join us...

Join me for a heartfelt conversation with Liz Wiggen, a passionate Community Engagement Manager from St. Paul, Minnesota, who brings to light the healing essence of community involvement.  Liz shares her wisdom on the beauty of interdependence and the magic that unfolds when we both give and receive within our communities. Her anecdotes, drawn from a lifetime of diverse community interactions, ser...

Every morning greets me with a choice: rush into the day’s demands or embrace a ritual that grounds me in peace and intention.  Today, I'll take you through my own transformative journey with personal rituals, as we unearth the practice’s true essence in self-care.  My story is a testament to how these daily acts of mindfulness equip us for the flurry of life outside our doors, ensuring we can...

Embark on a transformative journey, as we welcome Nicole Nardone, an embodiment magician from Taos, New Mexico, onto the podcast today.  With her, we venture into the realms where the embodied human experience meets spirituality. Nicole, lets us in on how she integrates Kundalini yoga, tantric practices, and sexuality work, and shares her powerful story of overcoming personal trauma and guiding ot...

Unlock the secrets of energy therapy with Kathy Bennett, as she shares her expertise on the symbiotic relationship between energy and our well-being.  Get ready to be enlightened on the transformative effects of Reiki, Qigong, and Healing Touch practices as we discuss how the philosophies of the East blend harmoniously with the modern approaches of the West.  Kathy offers a fresh perspective on th...

The intricacies of the mind have always intrigued me, but it wasn't until I met Dr. Adam Reis that I truly began to understand the profound complexities of our mental health.  As someone who has navigated the treacherous path of recovering from a traumatic brain injury, I can attest to the pivotal role that human relationships play in mental wellness.  Our enlightening conversation delves into...

When Kae Schreiber, a beacon of spiritual insight, crossed paths with me, it wasn't just an encounter—it was a profound revelation.  Her wisdom on the interconnectedness of all things and how tapping into our intuition can lead to transformative growth shines throughout our conversation.  Kae, a psychic and intuitive medium, shares her journey from an illuminating experience at seventeen to he...

When Michael Lee walked into my life with his Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, the ground beneath me shifted.  The wisdom of our bodies becomes the compass for change in this heartfelt conversation with the man who taught me to find strength in vulnerability.  Together, we unravel the tapestry of Michael's journey, uncovering how Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy School came to be and the way it draws o...