The Spiritual Perspective

We all have an inner truth that every so often nudges us into directions, whether we are aware of it, or not. We may find, however, that we do not necessarily often listen to or follow those inner nudgings, but as we dive into the story from today’s episode, we see how powerful it can be to trust life and see where it takes you.  In our conversation today, we welcome back Kute Blackson. Kute is a...

Today, we are joined by Shona Vertue, creator of The Vertue Method and trainer of the stars, to share her holistic fitness journey. We discover how she chose life over gymnastics just as the Olympics entered her purview, and where that life took her.  She opens up about how a patronizing counseling experience at a young age sparked her interest in psychology and shares a transformative "cult&...

What does it take to shift your path and find success in doing what truly lights you up on the inside?  We are joined today by an amazing individual whose journey and dedication to pursuing meaningful work is something to be inspired by. Cole Cuchna is the host of Dissect, an incredibly well-received podcast aimed at countering our scrolling culture. A serialized music podcast where he examines a...

In this episode of The Light Watkins Show, we are re-airing the captivating interview with renowned film director Ava DuVernay. Known for her groundbreaking work in movies like "Selma" and "13th," as well as the hit TV series "Queen Sugar," Ava has become a force in the industry.  Host Light Watkins takes us through Ava's inspiring journey, from her upbringing in...

In 2022, Marianne Williamson relinquished her bid to become the next president of the United States of America. There years later and this prolific author (affectionately known as Oprah’s advisor) is back at it again, this time in an attempt to don the nation’s presidential crown at the end of 2024.  Marianne believes that the political status quo will not disrupt itself, so it’s up to spiritual c...

We are so happy to welcome back Martinus Evans, Founder of the Slow AF Run Club. Since our last conversation, Martinus' amazing journey and inspiring story have kept unfolding and progressing, and in today's episode, we speak about his new book, his online community, his different business avenues, and his perspectives on success right now.  Martinus has always been about taking things t...

Spiritual minimalism can be simply explained as minimalism from the inside out. It is seven basic principles that serve as a guideline toward doing more with less in an effort to live a more fulfilling life.  Today, in Light’s 6th solo episode, he breaks down the seven principles of spiritual minimalism and how they can be used as a framework for understanding relationships. After introducing his...

Welcome back to the Light Watkins Show as we bring you the second half of Light’s chat with his father, attorney Donald V. Watkins. The conversation resumes with Donald explaining how going to prison as a Black man in the 1960s was as good as attaining a Ph. D.  While in prison, Donald found himself rubbing shoulders with many innocent men who were mostly there as a result of poor legal representa...

This week’s episode is very special as Light finally gets to interview his lifelong inspiration: his father. It’s an absolute pleasure to introduce to you, Mr. Donald V. Watkins. Understandably, Light and his father have a lot to discuss, so the conversation with Donald will be a two-part series. In part one, we learn about Donald’s childhood of growing up in a close-knit community in the South du...

Today’s guest, Steve Izen, is a true inspiration who made his mark on the world by getting everyone around him to follow in his steps and embrace the idea of impermanence.  After hearing of his grandfather’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Steve began to toil with the idea of how we are all constantly experiencing highs and lows and the aim is for us to find balance.  That seed grew into his company Lokai,...

In this episode of the podcast, host Light Watkins is in conversation with Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith. Beckwith is the founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, California, which has a congregation of over 9,000 people a week. He is also known for his work in the film and book called The Secret, which is about the law of attraction. The episo...

The natural world has so much to teach us, and the different ways we are able to interact with it in the modern context, offers endless inspiration.  Today on the show we welcome documentary filmmaker, Louie Schwartzberg, to talk about his intriguing life and career, and what has inspired his amazing films, such as Fantastic Fungi and Gratitude Revealed.  The child of Holocaust survivors, Louie fe...

Imagine falling in love unexpectedly and then after only six short years together, you get the news that your wife has 15 months to live. Today’s guest, Ray “Willie Qool” Singleton is no stranger to knowing love and loss.  With experience in singing, sales, and social media influencing, Ray quickly became ‘America’s Husband’ when a video of him singing to his wife with cancer went viral. Join us t...

We’ve come full circle here on The Light Watkins Show as today, we are joined by this podcast’s very first guest! Leon Logothetis is an explorer, TV show host, speaker, and author, and he is here with us to chat about his latest book, Go Be Brave.  After a quick recap of Leon’s extraordinary background, he tells us how he defines bravery and courage, his earliest memory of having to be brave, his...

Today we are joined by international speaker, consultant, coach, podcaster, and unapologetic champion of honesty, Africa Brooke!  Africa was born in Zimbabwe before moving to the UK, and we get to hear all about our guest's early years, challenges, and paths of self-discovery.  Having struggled with an alcoholic father, Africa herself fell into a pattern of substance abuse, and she generously...

Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

In the chaos of life, it’s easy to get caught in the mess of it all, forgetting that your pain and struggle can actually be turned into a motivational message of strength and perseverance.  Today’s guest has valiantly turned her mess into her message, and it is a pleasure to be joined by fitness influencer, speaker, coach, @NYCfitfam creator, and the founder of The Big Ask Method, Jamie Hess.  Aft...

If you want to hear the uncut, 3-hour long, full interview with Adriene Mishler, join Light's online community, The Happiness Insiders Community: http://community.lightwatkins.com Online health platforms were already on the rise before the pandemic of 2020, but we have seen a sharp uptick in the utilization of video classes and communities since quarantines have kicked in.  One such community...

Bringing the focus back onto Light, and in particular his new book, Travel Light , this episode expands on the ideas of spiritual minimalism, following inner guidance, and the process of writing a book. Light first coined the term 'spiritual minimalism' while reflecting on the last couple of years and his backpack lifestyle, his decreasing need to accumulate possessions and material item...

Life can be extremely challenging at times, throwing hurdles and obstacles at us that often seem insurmountable. But if you can acknowledge ‘the suck’ and find a way to sit in the discomfort, then you will have a better chance at regaining your joyful spirit! This episode explores themes of domestic violence and dealing with severe loss, please listen with care.  Today’s guest, Dr. Neeta Bhushan,...

Our guest today, Kyle Cease, fell in love with comedy at a young age. And while he has had an incredibly successful comedy career, his hard work and ingenuity were driven by more than just a love of making people laugh.  He also felt a deep-seated need for approval and validation. Today on the show we talk with Kyle Cease, a transformational comedian, and best-selling author, about his fascinating...

Today's guest, Nora McInerny, knows a thing or two about tragedy and loss, and in today's conversation, we get to hear from her about what enabled her to keep going, course correct, and stay progressive through some very difficult times.  Nora is the author of several books, and in her most recent, Bad Vibes Only, she tackles some of the issues she sees in being too optimistic in today&a...

Today we have a real-life superhero on the show, with a breathtaking origin story. Elladj Baldé is a figure skater that has been breaking the mold and shattering expectations since his early days in the sport.  Despite some sizable course corrections and realignments, he has managed to find an authentic place for exercising and exploring his passion for expression. In this conversation with Elladj...

Today, we have an experimental episode in store. Having had some amazing guests on the show who have told us their backstories and shared with us their inspirations, why limit them to those that still walk the earth today? One of the historical figures that are very intriguing is Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist that was born a slave, and eventually became one of the most prominent abolitionist...

There is a growing understanding of the roots of addiction and how earlier traumas shape our needs and habits, and as this tide rises, we are able to better serve those on paths to recovery.  Our guest today is the fantastic and inspiring Elisa Hallerman, and we have an amazing conversation about her winding soul journey of self-discovery, and her book, Soulbriety.  Elisa's story is one of fi...