On The Path with Kissiah Young

Most of us are on the go quite a bit. There's some task or to-do demanding our attention. It seems normal, like what we're so accustomed to doing that we think that's how it's supposed to be. It isn't. We are often just conditioned.  In today's episode, I share how I am allowing myself to pause. I'm taking a moment to drop in and be more present and available to...

We often think we have endless amounts of time. We say things like, when I retire then I'll... What comes after that are a great many dreams and desires that have been deferred. The truth is, retirement age isn't a guarantee. There are many unfortunate realities that come along the way often throwing a monkey wrench in our retirement plans. Life can be unpredictable. What about this mome...

Each and every one of us will need the help of another at some point in life. This is particularly true when faced with a health matter, a hardship, or moment of transition. So many people feel they do not have anyone who would be there, and that they would have to carry the weight of things alone.  I want you to know that support is available. I founded Beside You to offer a kind of companionship...

We hear words like fight , miracle , love , and hope and often assume we understand what someone means. But the same word can hold an entirely different meaning for the person saying it.  Beginning with a reflection from palliative care physician, Sunita Puri, this episode explores what can happen when we stop assuming and start asking. Thank you for listening. ~Kissiah I'd love to hear from y...

We often turn away from the thoughts, feelings, and moments that are hardest to face. But avoidance doesn't always make them smaller. Sometimes it gives them more room to grow. In this episode, I reflect on what can happen when we gently turn toward what's difficult—when we name what we're feeling, acknowledge what's here, and discover that simply facing it can begin to loosen...

When someone we love is facing the end of life, we often reach for words like be strong and keep fighting . But what happens when they're tired of fighting?  In this episode, I talk about making room for a different kind of courage—the choice to fight less, live more, and spend the time that remains being present for the life that is still there, and how to support that as a loved one. I'...

Over the weekend, I went to a celebration of life for someone I will always hold dear. Being there surrounded by so many who embodied the essence of Lee, made me give more thought to living with meaning and purpose.  Our time is finite. We do not know where our road will go, yet we walk it each day.  I can't help but consider what this means in a bigger way—in a way that opens the door to wak...

There is so much in life we cannot control. Hard moments, unbearable circumstances, and sudden loss can sweep through like a storm toppling us over into the throes of the unimaginable. I can't help but think about the recent earthquake in Colombia, and how so much and so many are gone now beneath the rubble. In this episode, we pause to reflect on how sudden devastation often wakes us to a ne...

We spend so much of our lives trying to control what cannot be controlled. Inspired by a teaching from the Thai Forest master Ajahn Chah, this episode explores what it means to let go—not of caring, but of resistance. Together, we'll reflect on meeting life as it is, finding peace in the present moment, and discovering the quiet freedom that comes when we stop fighting reality. Thank you for...

There are times when I really sit with the reality that one day I'm going to die. I  ask myself many questions: What if it's the result of an unfortunate diagnosis? What decisions are there to make? Who would be on my care team? What would remain? The inquiries are many. Then I ask myself other questions, questions like: How are you living now? What matters the most? Is your time well sp...

We often tell ourselves we'll do it later. Later, when work settles down. Later, when life is less busy. Later, when the timing feels right. Working in hospice and palliative care taught me something very different: tomorrow is never guaranteed. Some people have years and never begin. Others never get the chance they thought they would have. In this episode, I reflect on why we postpone the t...

When someone we love is facing illness or loss, fear has a way of changing us. This episode invites you to notice who you become in those moments—and whether your presence is shaped more by your own fear or by the needs of the person beside you. Thank you for joining me. ~Kissiah I'd love to hear from you! Support the show

Every so often, that simple truth finds its way into my thoughts. It's a truth that demands that I sit with it and begin asking myself what it is I would be leaving behind if my life ended today. This episode isn't about fear or preparing for death. It's about allowing the certainly of death to sharpen the way we live. Together, we'll consider what it means to leave less unfini...

In this episode, we flip the script on self-care. It's not about doing more; it's about getting curious about who you are. Let's explore the power of paying yourself genuine attention and finding a deeper connection within. Grateful for you, ~Kissiah Ps. If you haven't, I would greatly appreciate it if you'd rate the show.  I'd love to hear from you! Support the show

In this episode, The Art of Goodbye , I reflect on losing someone dear and what it means to be present when goodbye is near. We explore holding space, the quiet weight of closure, and how love lingers in the moments in between.  Thank you for your presence with me today.  ~Kissiah I'd love to hear from you! Support the show

Death is one of the few experiences we all share, yet many of us avoid talking about it. In this episode, I explore the fears, uncertainty, and discomfort that often surround conversations about death, and how becoming more familiar with our mortality can deepen our appreciation for life. Rather than turning away from what is inevitable, we can learn to meet it with greater curiosity, openness, an...

In a world filled with responsibilities, distractions, and endless to-do lists, it can be easy to lose touch with ourselves. In this episode of On the Path , I explore the intimacy of being alone and the importance of creating space to simply be. Solitude offers an opportunity to reflect on our thoughts, recognize our patterns, reconnect with our inner lives, and cultivate a deeper relationship wi...

In this deeply human episode of On the Path, we explore the heartbreak, tenderness, and complexity of saying goodbye when someone we love is dying from cancer. This conversation reflects on grief, anticipatory loss, vulnerability, and the quiet courage it takes to set aside our own fear so we can truly be present for another person in their final chapter. This episode is also an invitation to spea...

Today, On the Path, we pause long enough to ask what truly matters beneath the noise of responsibility, productivity, and the endless list of things to do. A gentle invitation to return to what is real, meaningful, and deeply human before life passes by unnoticed. I also briefly share my newsletter, AWAKE(IN), as another space for reflection, presence, and clarity. It may be found at my website be...

Many of us learned early that our emotions were too much, inconvenient, or unsafe to express. Overtime, we began holding back our tears, mistaking emotional suppression for strength.  This episode is an invitation to soften, to feel fully, and to allow yourself the full range of being human. Grateful, ~Kissiah I'd love to hear from you! Support the show

There are seasons in life that feel unending; moments of overwhelmed, uncertainty, frustration, and pain that makes us wonder if things will ever shift.  In this episode of On the Path , we reflect on the reality that trouble does not last always. Together, we explore what it means to cultivate peace in the middle of difficulty, to take action when action as possible, and to gently steady ourselve...

Are you holding off on the life you want, trusting there will be time later? Maybe you keep telling yourself you'll live fully later – when things settle, when the timing is right, when life forces you to. What about the reality that later isn't promised? This episode is an invitation to pause and give your life some deep thought, and to reflect on what you may be putting off for later,...

Sometimes relationships don't end in a dramatic way – they quietly stop aligning with who we're becoming.  In this episode, I explore what happens when you grow, but your relationship doesn't. We talk about self-awareness, the discomfort of honest conversations that don't lead to change, and the courage it takes to face your truth. This isn't about telling you what to do –...

This episode is for anyone who's going through something right now – loss, stress, burnout, a diagnosis, or feeling overwhelmed by life. It's a reminder that what you're experiencing won't last forever, even if it feels like it will. You don't need to have answers or be "doing better" right now. You just need to stay with yourself. This is about getting through h...

What if this moment is not one you get back? Today's episode is a reflection on the fragility of life and the illusion that we have endless time. As I hold the realities others are facing, I'm asking the same question for myself and for you: If your life were to change in an instant, would you feel complete and how you've been living? Would you have all of the necessary matters in o...