Women Awakening with Cynthia James

Authentic leadership begins when women stop compromising who they are to succeed. In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James welcomes leadership coach and changemaker Jessica Rogers for a candid conversation about confidence, visibility, and values-driven leadership. Drawing from over 15 years of coaching senior leaders, Jessica shares her journey from corporate marketing to purpose-led ent...

A journey unfolds in which creativity, consciousness, and ancient wisdom intersect to support healing and awakening.  In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James is joined by Laura Chandler—writer, teacher, podcast host, award-winning songwriter, and co-founder of the Foundation of the Sacred Stream—for a rich and thoughtful conversation on the evolution of the human spirit.  Laura reflects...

When power goes unchecked in the workplace, silence often becomes a survival strategy. In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James sits down with workplace sexual harassment and discrimination attorney Brittany A. Stevens to explore the realities many women face behind closed doors at work. Discover why so many women fear speaking up, how credibility and testimony truly function in the legal...

Ancient wisdom and modern psychology converge to reveal new paths to healing and clarity. In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James engages in a profound conversation with Isa Gucciardi, Ph. D., creator of Depth Hypnosis™ and founding director of the Foundation of the Sacred Stream. Isa shares her transformative journey from a childhood spent traveling across continents—from Hawaii to Leba...

What becomes possible when we meet our most profound grief with sacred medicine and compassionate presence? In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James welcomes Darci Meyers, a psychotherapist, Hakomi therapist, and Buddhist Chaplain who has devoted her life to healing at the intersection of trauma, loss, and expanded consciousness. Darci shares her profound journey through personal grief fo...

What unfolds when you allow your soul to guide your business journey? In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James engages in an insightful conversation with Jane Pinto, a spiritual entrepreneur and the creator of RoseCircle—a multimedia platform dedicated to harnessing the power of love. Jane reflects on her experiences of divine visitations, embracing a purpose greater than herself, and est...

In a world filled with noise, distraction, and constant striving, many women silently carry the weight of unspoken truths—stories swept under the carpet, intuition drowned out by overwhelm, and dreams placed on hold. In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James connects with Elaine Glass, personal coach, author of Get Quiet, and a woman who has walked through her own labyrinth of transformati...

What if the moments that break you open are the same moments that reveal who you truly are? In this episode of Women Awakening, author, artist, and spiritual teacher Simran Singh joins Cynthia James for a deeply moving exploration of what it means to awaken through both the light and the darkness. Known for her groundbreaking work with 11:11 Magazine and 11:11 Radio, Simran shares her journey from...

What if the only thing standing between you and your dream is the story you keep telling yourself? In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James sits down with Nancy Harkins — international motivational speaker, licensed psychotherapist, and founder of LifeChoices LLC — whose remarkable journey from survival to self-empowerment embodies the strength of the human spirit. Nancy opens up about es...

What if art could help you heal from the inside out? In this week’s episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James welcomes Helen Bradley, a creative life coach, expressive arts facilitator, and founder of Playful Art Studio in Agoura Hills, California. Helen opens up about her early years surrounded by art, animals, and play—and how those experiences shaped her lifelong connection to creativity. After...

Many women are taught from a young age to be caretakers—to be kind, helpful, and keep the peace, even at the cost of their own well-being. In this inspiring episode, Cynthia James is joined by Margarita Kogan, licensed therapist and founder of Honor and Heal, to discuss how women can release the “good girl” conditioning, heal emotional wounds, and rediscover their authentic selves. You’ll discover...

Motherhood can be both beautiful and demanding, often leaving women caught between love, exhaustion, and self-doubt. In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James sits down with Susana Jones, founder of Shakti Urbana, writer, certified yoga therapist, and holistic educator who has spent over 15 years helping women restore balance and connection through somatic practices, nature connection, and...

Home is a reflection of your energy and dreams. The spaces we shape and the land we care for can inspire stability, joy, and purpose. In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James talks with Edith Espinola, founder of the Espinola Real Estate Team at KW Bay Area Estates, who blends her two decades of real estate expertise with spiritual awareness, showing women how to transform buying or selli...

Words can become a path to healing. Through the written word, self-discovery blossoms and healing takes root. In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James features Diane Hartman, a retired school librarian, photographer, and dog rescuer. Diane reveals how writing and travel helped her process childhood trauma, navigate life transitions, and embrace creativity as a tool for growth. Together, t...

Stress is a powerful force that shapes women’s health every day. The weight of stress, sexism, and racism quietly chips away at vitality. In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James welcomes once again Dr. Andrea Sullivan, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, explains how stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol fuel inflammation, weaken the immune system, and open the door to hypertension,...

How often do women sacrifice their health to care for everyone else? In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James speaks with Dr. Andrea Sullivan, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, about her powerful journey from academia and public service to becoming a leader in holistic healing for women. Dr. Andrea shares why “quick fixes” don’t work, how genetics play a role, and the daily practices that...

Are you ready to step into soul healing, self-love, and spiritual awakening? In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James sits down with Coach, Teacher, and Space Holder Sarah Brown Haté to explore what it truly means to live soul-first. Together, they dive into how childhood sensitivities and a health crisis opened Sarah’s path to soul healing, what “soul-based healing” really means, and how...

As the house grows quiet and the roles of motherhood begin to shift, many women find themselves asking, “Who am I now?” In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James chats with Cindee Williams, founder of LEAD My Life who reveals her personal journey from the silence of an empty nest to reigniting her passions and helping other women embrace this new chapter with clarity and courage. You’ll he...

When you're not in the driver's seat of your life, someone else will drive and they’ll drive over you. In this episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James sits down with Racheryl McCrary, a former performing artist who now guides conscious leaders as a spiritual director and executive coach. They talk about how her theater roots became the foundation for executive presence, how a spiritual calling l...

What does it mean to truly live a "big, fat, juicy life"? In this heartfelt and expansive conversation, host Cynthia James welcomes Stephanie James, a psychotherapist, transformational coach, filmmaker, and author of Your Big Fat Juicy Life: (and Everything After).  Together, they explore awakening, inner guidance, and the healing power of story. Stephanie shares how her own journey through heartb...

She lost her mother in the most unimaginable way. What came next was awakening. In this heartfelt episode of Women Awakening, Cynthia James welcomes Ann Jonas, an intuitive healer, shamanic guide, and author of Sacred Connection. Known as The Love Messenger, Ann shares how the tragic loss of her mother became the catalyst for her spiritual journey and a life devoted to healing and transformation....

The Columbine High School tragedy in 1999 changed everything for Heidi Yewman. After losing her beloved coach that day, she made a promise to never sit on the sidelines again. In this new episode, Heidi shares how she turned her own childhood pain and the trauma of that loss into 26 years of advocacy. From writing Beyond the Bullet to directing the award-winning documentary Behind the Bullet, Heid...

Stop trying to prove yourself. Be it, own it, and lead from there. In this powerful conversation, Cynthia James sits down with South African leadership coach and consultant Busisiwe Hlatswayo to explore what she calls self-sovereignty, the deep inner work of owning your authority and releasing the patterns of people-pleasing, burnout, and outdated definitions of success. She shares how growing up...

Kym Insana is a multi-million dollar business owner, digital marketing expert, and founder of AlwaysOn Digital, a women-owned agency helping brands like the U.S. Air Force, Enfamil, and Johnston & Murphy scale through impactful campaigns. With over 20 years of experience, Kym left her demanding NYC advertising career to build a company that offers flexibility and balance—values she champions a...

In this milestone 250th episode of Women Awakening, host Cynthia James welcomes Sheila Carmichael, a Master Certified Coach (MCC), leadership consultant, and author of Presence: Self-Coaching Strategies to Ignite Your Authentic Leadership. Sheila brings over 30 years of experience in empowering corporate leaders and teams to unlock transformational growth. In this rich and heartfelt conversation,...