Nearly Enlightened

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. The season has changed and if you’re paying attention, you can probably feel the energy shift.  In this episode, I’m sitting down with Danielle Manseau of Venus Rising RI for one of those conversations that starts with seasonal transition and somehow turns into something so much deeper than the autumnal season.  What if the change you’re looking fo...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. Does yoga still count if there’s a weed whacker going off outside? Spoiler alert: YES. In this episode, Giana and Dee get into what yoga actually looks like when we take it out of the perfectly curated studio and put it into… real life. We’re talking gym yoga, practicing in parks, noisy classrooms, distracted minds, strength training, mobility, bre...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. What if the thing standing between you and the idea you can’t stop thinking about isn’t a lack of talent… but waiting to feel ready? In this episode, Giana sits down with Jessi, founder of Big Time Publishing and host of the Do It Or Don’t Podcast , for a very honest conversation about what actually keeps us from doing the thing we say we want to d...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. Kat Parks is back for another spicy episode on botox, TMJ, Face Yoga and what your injector might not be telling you. Kat joins Giana for another candid, educational conversation about Botox, TMJ/TMD, face yoga, facial massage, natural aging, and what informed consent should actually look like before we put a needle or a toxin into our bodies. Boto...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. Kelly from Forest Farms is back on the podcast—just four and a half months postpartum, baby Walker in her lap—to give us an honest look at what it's really like balancing motherhood, beekeeping, herbalism, and a growing small business rooted in clean, intentional living. We dive into the world of bees, unpacking everything from swarms, queen c...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. If you've ever walked out of a yoga class feeling stronger... but still like something was missing, this episode is for you. Yoga has gotten louder, faster, and more performative. More playlists. More poses. More aesthetics. But is it actually helping us live yoga? This week, Dee is back on the podcast, and we're pulling back the curtain...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. In this episode of The Nearly Enlightened Podcast, I'm joined by Kat Parks, face yoga teacher and creator of Find Your Face Freedom, for a conversation about aging, beauty standards, self-acceptance, and what it means to feel at home in your own skin. We explore the messages women receive about aging and appearance, and how social media, filte...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. This conversation feels especially important right now because honestly… a lot of people feel off. Time feels strange, emotions are heightened, nervous systems are overloaded, and so many of us are searching outside of ourselves for answers, relief, or certainty. In this episode, I sit down with Danielle Manseau of Venus Rising RI for a grounded an...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. n this episode of the Nearly Enlightened Podcast, I sit down with Sheena Lee Cesaroni — a U.S. Air Force veteran, psychology-educated coach, podcast host, public speaker, and mom who rebuilt her life from the ground up after trauma, PTSD, and years of hyper-independence that looked like strength on the outside but felt like constant fight-or-flight...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. What happens when innovation disrupts tradition? When growth gets mislabeled? When leadership gets projected onto instead of understood? In this episode, I sit down with Bizzie Gold for a raw, grounded, and nuanced conversation about evolution in the wellness world. We open with the big question: What actually makes something a cult? And how often...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. The calendar may have flipped, but our bodies and our nervous systems often need more time to catch up. In this episode, Giana is joined by Dee Doyno for a real, grounded conversation about this in-between moment: a liminal season meant for rest, reflection, and quiet seed-planting before any big goals take root. From that steady place, we dive int...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. When someone's attempt at a mean insult is exactly what you need to laugh, reframe, and reclaim your power. In this episode, I’m joined by Dee Doyno as we turn the infamous “yogi walrus” comment into a playful springboard for real conversation about body talk, wellness culture, and loosening perfectionism with a little humor. We even dive into...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. In this episode, I sit down with soul led entrepreneur, busines  strategist and author Justine Harrington to trace how a whisper to create a  sanctuary for the soul became a living, breathing community space: Soul Sanctuary. A place for healing, movement, meditation, breath, and connectio  are treated as everyday tools for coming home to yourself....

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. In this episode of Nearly Enlightened, I’m joined by Danielle Manseau for a powerful conversation on the ethics of energy work — how to protect your own field, work safely with others, and create grounding rituals that keep you clear, present, and effective. We break down spiritual hygiene in real, approachable language and share practical tools to...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. We aren't done with Life of a Showgirl yet. In this episode, I’m joined again by Marissa Rose for a real talk on sex,  power, pleasure, and purpose — through the lens of Taylor Swift’s evolving eras. From Reputation and Midnights to Tortured Poets Department and Life of a Showgirl, we explore how each chapter mirrors the collective reclamation...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. In this episode, I am joined by Danielle of Venus Rising. Together we unpack Taylor Swift’s latest era through the lens of healing and self-discovery. We pair The Tortured Poets Department ’s gray skies with The Showgirl ’s bright hooks, tracing the thread that runs through love, boundaries, and the everyday practice of nervous system regulation. F...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. In this episode, I’m joined by Tiffany Baskett—a yoga therapist, healer, and advocate for diversity in the wellness space—for a deep and inspiring conversation. Tiffany shares her journey from dancer to holistic healer, including how she became disillusioned with what she calls the “sick care system”—a system that often treats symptoms but misses t...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. Giana and Dee are back together, reflecting on their recent 30-day Deepen Your Practice yoga challenge and the lessons that unfolded—on and off the mat. This isn’t just a conversation about yoga postures—it’s about the kind of transformation that starts with intention and ripples into every area of life. They kick things off by talking about mindfu...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. What happens when the birthday girl doesn't want to celebrate? In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Giana confesses her unexpected anxiety about turning 34, while birthday enthusiast Kat Parks tries to reignite her excitement. Together, they peel back the layers of what makes birthdays both magical and terrifying as we age. The discussion ven...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. In week four of the Deepen Your Practice Challenge , Dee and I are going inward—way inward. This episode is all about the subtle (and often skipped) limbs of yoga: pratyahara , dharana , dhyana , and samadhi . These advanced practices invite us into stillness, deeper awareness, and connection to the Self. And honestly? In today’s overstimulating, a...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. Ever feel like you're stuck in the same patterns, facing the same emotional triggers or life challenges on repeat? You’re not stuck—you’re moving through the sacred spiral of healing. In this deeply insightful episode, Giana sits down with Danielle to explore the cyclical nature of personal growth and how we can find empowerment, not frustrati...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. Think yoga is just about touching your toes or striking the perfect pose for Instagram? Think again. In this episode of the Deepen Your Practice challenge, Dee and I dive into the two most visible – yet often misunderstood – limbs of yoga: asana (physical postures) and pranayama (breathwork). While these are the most recognized aspects of yoga in t...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. What if one hour of true presence could change everything? In this week’s episode of the Deepen Your Practice Challenge, Dee and Giana unpack the powerful (and often misunderstood) concept of discipline —not as punishment, but as devotion. Through the lens of the Niyamas , yoga’s personal observances, they explore how small, intentional rituals can...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. In this eye-opening episode, Giana Giarrusso is joined by fellow yoga teacher Dee Doyno to explore the Yamas , yoga’s often-overlooked ethical foundation from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. These five powerful principles—Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, and Aparigraha—were written over 2,300 years ago, yet they remain deeply relevant to how we live,...

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. What happens when ancient wisdom meets modern wellness? In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with Crystal Cerrato—founder of Body of Light Yoga School and creator of BODYWELL a virtual wellness platform— explore how integrated wellbeing practices can completely transform your relationship with your body, mind, and spirit. We kick things off w...