Spiritual Grit

This week’s episode features a conversation with special guest, Terry J Stokes, who is an associate pastor at the Reformed Church of Highland Park, NJ, where he gives spiritual care to the youth of the congregation and of the town. He holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Bachelor's from Yale University. His book Prayers for the People was published by Convergent Pre...

In today’s episode, I talk about strength and how we can be strong through love and compassion, not by forcing our will upon others. When we force things, often the result is less than desirable. When we love, there is only ease in the strength we demonstrate. But there is also the idea of strength as in “What are your gifts to the world?” How do you know what your strengths –your gifts– are? Much...

“When things start to settle down, you start to less stimulated so how do you continue the practice, how do you continue to be inspired?”-Leslieann Hobayan For today’s podcast, I am looking at how we can be passionate and driven by the things that light us up. How can following our passion create a life of ease and flow? How can it create a life of abundance? Some people give up their passion beca...

“We don’t know what we don’t know so be open to possibilities”-Leslieann Hobayan For today’s episode, I invite you to be open to possibilities. Back in the day, I worked (temporarily) at a corporate law firm in Manhattan. We all make assumptions what that was like. What I discovered was that it was possible to be creative, thrive, and enjoy that space. These days, what’s coming forward for me now...

“We are at a time in this life, in this era where we are coming to a realization that what other people expect of us doesn't always serve our life’s purpose, our inner truth”-Leslieann Hobayan In this episode, I talk about how experiences can bring about big realizations in life, particularly those during this time of c*vid. It seems we, collectively, have come to understand that there is more to...

“Your body is the best truth-teller, ever. Your body and its vibrations help guide you in the direction you need to go” - Leslieann Hobayan In this episode, I talk about how we can turn to the tarot for guidance. We are limited to what we know. How do we expand beyond that? Tarot can create a new awareness around how we see our lives. With this awareness, we start planting good thoughts in how we...

“ If you’re really looking at the transformation, everything needs to have more than one entrance or more than one gateway” -Lisbeth White For today’s episode, I have the lovely Lisbeth White. She is a lover of the earth and wanderer of lands, an alumna of VONA, Bread Loaf Environmental Conference, Tin House and Callaloo Creative Writing workshops. Her writing has been published in Obsidian and sh...

“Who we are being already changes the world.” -Leslieann Hobayan In this episode, I share my thoughts about the pain and suffering that’s happening all around the world, particularly the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. There are a lot of conversations arising on this topic, from what is behind the invasion of Ukraine to neighboring countries opening their borders to refugees. What I’ve notice...

In case you missed this great episode with Aaron Banes... In this episode of Spiritual Grit, we have a special guest, Aaron Banes aka misterwitchboy! He is a gay Filipino-American actor, singer, writer and tarot reader born and raised on the Kingdom of Hawaii. Whether on a stage or in a tarot reading, he sees himself as a storyteller first and foremost. He believes stories help us remember ourselv...

In case you missed this great conversation... In today's episode, Leslieann talks about Free to Move, a movement workshop for people of color with Rahnee Haskins, and about how crucial it is for folks of color to be in community with each other. How powerful it is to be in a space where you feel like you belong, to be seen for who you are, to let your guard down. To be among your people. You don’t...

“There is a time of transition, and it's important for us to honor that, to not rush things.” -Leslieann Hobayan In this episode, I recall the time I entered college, not knowing what to do with my life. I didn’t know who I was or who I wanted to be or what I wanted to do. The suppression of my true self had gone on so long that I had forgotten. So my path was chosen for me: pre-med student. There...

“Being human has unexpected turns, it has surprises and perfection does not exist” -Leslieann Hobayan In this episode, I shared how the adults around me told me how to act “appropriately” or behave properly. Little girls didn’t sit with their legs spread or play with boys in the dirt. Anytime I did something “wrong”, I was punished. As a result, my authentic self was suppressed. Growing up as a ki...

This week is all about bringing out your authentic self. As the daughter of Asian immigrants, I grew up in an oppressive environment where I was not permitted to be my true self. It wasn’t safe for me to be Me. I was too much. Too loud. Too rowdy. Not very lady-like. So I tucked away that part of myself, that heart song of myself. After years of deep healing work, I’ve shed layers of the condition...

“We only have control over who we are being and how we respond to the external stuff. We can only control how we are in relationship with ourselves deep within.” -Leslieann Hobayan This week is all about living in the space of in betweenness. In this episode, I take a look at how we can move through these ever-changing times and find places to land. In my own life, I’m between residences. I found...

“With this move, support is really crucial. It helps to work with somebody in clearing the emotional and spiritual spaces and to allow for growth to happen” -Leslieann Hobayan This week’s episode is all about MOVEMENT. I recently moved out of my house–where I lived for 11 years– and am now ready for big changes and new beginnings. In packing up and sorting through the clutter, I got to see first h...

Happy New Year! In this episode of Spiritual Grit, we have a special guest, Aaron Banes aka misterwitchboy! He is a gay Filipino-American actor, singer, writer and tarot reader born and raised on the Kingdom of Hawaii. Whether on a stage or in a tarot reading, he sees himself as a storyteller first and foremost. He believes stories help us remember ourselves. We jumped right into talking about ast...

If you have missed this episode, now's a great time to listen to this one. A very timely episode for this new year, 2022! “There seems to be no purpose to your meditation if you don’t set the intention” - Leslieann Hobayan Today's podcast is about intention. Intention is everything -- it is the thing that makes the difference where it allows us to evolve and grow out of our old versions. Ask yours...

If you missed this great conversation, now's the time to press that play button and listen to this meaningful and worthy episode. In today's episode, Leslieann shares about her recent experience in a writing community she’s part of where she offered a program for writers to help them avoid emotional hangover. Then the (white) gatekeepers came for her, demanding she show her credentials, which was...

“One way to fight the system of oppression is to not participate in it. Step away and rest your mind, body and soul.” - Leslieann Hobayan Today's podcast is about creating spaces for Women of Color. We live in an environment where we experience suffering and pain because of who we are. We feel like we do not belong. Creating safe spaces only for WOCs gives us the opportunity to freely share our ex...

Today’s episode is about self awareness and being a work in progress, being better about balancing the doing and the being. Are you doing enough? The whole personal development is a kind of work in itself, a lifelong journey but you have to remind yourself to be gentle. Ask yourself, what is it that you want in your life? Examine what is happening from within. How can we get back to our authentic...

Some folks might have missed this important episode where I talk with Noah Weisman about the problem of so-called gurus who bypass the real issues of today's society, opting to use spirituality as an excuse to not take responsibility for their actions that bring harm to others. One such example is our former teacher Raghunath Cappo. Listen in on our discussion as we try to bring attention to the r...

“We are coming to a close of that potent energy that magnified the shifting of our lives, what else needs to be let go of?” - Leslieann Hobayan As we approach the end of the year, let’s take a look at what worked and what didn’t. I start this episode by consulting my oracle deck and the Autumn card came forward. It’s an invitation to release what’s no longer serving us. What’s holding you back? Is...

“My intention was not to make them accept me, my intention was to be there and have them work to be accepted by me.” - Elise Guadalupe In today's episode, we have Elise Guadalupe. Elise is an Aerial Yoga Educator. ​​her personal practice is by quieting the mind, making it possible to hear and see one’s real truth. Her teaching style is authentic to who she is as a person, compassionate and straigh...

“The deeper you look into your ancestry, you will see both.” - Lisa Factora-Borchers In today's episode, we have Lisa Factora-Borchers, a Filipinx American writer, activist, and co-publisher of Guernica magazine. She was recognized by Rewire. News as one of the five revolutionary Asian American activists who are leading the fight for reproductive freedom. She is a board member for Zora’s House , a...

In today's episode, Leslieann talks about Free to Move, a movement workshop for people of color with Rahnee Haskins, and about how crucial it is for folks of color to be in community with each other. How powerful it is to be in a space where you feel like you belong, to be seen for who you are, to let your guard down. To be among your people. You don’t have to explain a thing. You don’t have to ap...