Today's guest, Clarissa Silva developed a technique, Your Happiness Hypothesis (c), based on her research and practice that provides evidence-based solutions to address some of the suboptimal relationship challenges that are occurring in today's tech-driven dating world. Her truth was that relationships have become much more complicated these days. Here's what we covered: -The dating paradox, how there is so much choice with online dating, swiping, stoping on shining objects and more. -She walked me through some of the modern dating terms of which I was unaware. -How technology intersects with self-esteem and relationship satisfaction (this was fascinating!) and how people create double consciousness! -We got into vanity validation, device dependency and what people want vs what people need. -Why she doesn't believe in self-love and why she believes we should create our own equations and algorithms that deconstruct "the ideal partner list." If you're someone who's out in the world dating, this will be really useful for you and if you are just curious what it's like out there - you'll learn a ton in this episode. Enjoy! xo, E About Clarissa Silva: Clarissa Silva is a Behavioral Scientist, Researcher, and Relationship Coach with 17 years of experience in mental health, behavioral science, and public health. She is the founder of C Silva Solutions, LLC, a research and consulting firm that provides evidence-based solutions to companies and individuals. Clarissa developed a technique, Your Happiness Hypothesis (c), based on her research and practice that provides evidence-based solutions to address some of the suboptimal relationship challenges that are occurring in today's tech-driven dating world. She is the author of a very tongue-in-cheek relationship wellness blog, "YOU'RE JUST A DUMBASS", to help people select and maintain healthy relationships and avoid some of the difficult life lessons that one encounters in suboptimal relationships. Her work focuses on research and data-driven techniques that she developed to help clients with creating relationship wellness in their lives. Clarissa holds an MSW from the University of Michigan and a BA from Hunter College. She has been featured in the US on: FOX, NBC, HuffPostLive, ABC, CBS, PR Newswire, Google, Vice. Broadly, Stylecaster, Bustle, Elite Daily, Business Insider, Glamour, NY Post, Yahoo!, Moneyish (among the many) and Internationally on: Yahoo Japan, Tabi Labo Japan, Cosmopolitan Italy, Cosmopolitan Netherlands, Vice Germany, Vice Spain, Vice Columbia, MSN Spain, Cosmopolitan UK and ???? ????? (Macedonia).

Today's episode is both exciting and esoteric. Chetan Parkyn is with us. He's the author of Human Design: Discover The Person You Were Born To Be. Human Design is a system that helps you engage with your life in present tense. It helps you understand how you're best built to make decisions, how you should use your energy, and ultimately, how to get the most out of life. Chetan is a world renowned expert on the system. He's read for thousands of people over the last few decades and published three books about it. He was generous enough to break it all down for us in this episode. I'd love to know what your type, profile and authority are after you listen. Find me on Instagram and let me know! About Chetan Parkyn: Chetan Parkyn has been giving Readings to people of all walks of life and all nationalities for over 35 years. He has spent the past 23 years mastering Human Design. He is more than a leading practitioner of the system. As the author of the first major book on the subject, which has been translated into eleven different language versions, he has made it his mission to bring Human Design to the whole world. An entrepreneur's son by upbringing and an engineer by training, Chetan has fully explored both the mystical and the technological worlds. He's been a deep-sea dive engineer and a devoted student of meditation. Travels in India and time spent in the company of the enlightened mystic, Osho, finally opened Chetan to his own purpose — helping people develop self-knowledge.  

I'm pretty sure this was my favorite conversation on the show in the last three years. Not just because it primarily focuses on sex, but because our guest Marcia Baczynski is really brilliant at what she does, and we addressed things that most people simply don't talk about or receive education on. Marcia's big truth was that she can change her mind. From there we explored: -What Cuddle Parties are (she's the co-founder), -Navigating boundaries, consent, preferences and assumptions in sex. -Gender, heterosexual and non-heterosexual dynamics in love and sex. -Power dynamics! Which is something I've been really wanting to explore on the show – and why people may or may not feel obligated to say yes to things they are really not ok with sexually. -And she also introduced some great concepts like desire smuggling and the difference between consent and permission. This is one to listen to more than once, share with friends, and use as a conversation piece with loved ones. Enjoy! About Marcia Baczynski: Marcia is an internationally-recognized speaker, writer, coach and expert on sexual communication, relationships and women's empowerment. Her primary mission is to help women and the people who love them to overcome shame and get in touch with what they truly want — romantically, sexually and relationally — even if it's off the beaten path. As co-founder of Cuddle Party, Marcia has helped tens of thousands of people to speak up for the kind of touch they want, say No unapologetically, and foster more connected, affectionate relationships. Her popular virtual course, "The Good Girl Recovery Program," helps women to break out of the roles that keep them small and unsatisfied, and move into being more of who they are in all areas of their lives. In the Make Hot Play Happen weekend intensive, she co-teaches with renowned educator Midori, and helps people more fun, lower stakes, hotter sex, more creativity and better connection in bed. Marcia brings wisdom, humor, and creativity to all aspects of her work, and offers a fresh perspective on love, sex and relationships. Each year, she works with a select group of private clients. Since 2003, she has helped tens of thousands of people through her private coaching, workshops and group programs. Marcia is a sought-after presenter and coach, and she has made over 100 magazines, newspapers, TV shows, books and radio appearances, including The Rolling Stone, The Montel Williams Show, Fox News, NPR, the Washington Post, the New York Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, GQ, Marie Claire, People, Newsweek, The Daily Mail, and Penn & Teller's Bullsh*t, to name just a few. She has been interviewed for, and cited in, a number of books as well. When she's not scheming ways to make the world a better place through improving intimate relationships, Marcia enjoys finding creative ways to use her frequent-flier miles, reading historical marker signs, dressing up, planning adventures, going sailing, hanging out at the beach, spending time with her family and being the best auntie she can to the kids in her life. She lives in the Bay Area.

I was really excited when today's guest, Kavitha Chinnaiyan reached out about sharing her new book with me, Shakti Rising. As many of you know I love studying archetypes and have a deep appreciation for stories and mythology about goddesses. As well, her big truth kicked off our chat with a bit of mystery, which I also always love. Her truth was: There is much more to life than what we see. From there we explored: -How we're all far more than our limited identities. -How yoga and spirituality stemmed from being men's practices and few spiritual paths are tailored for women, with those that are traditionally, being quite hidden. -We talked about her intentions for writing the book - to clarify conversations around the "Divine Feminine" and what The Goddess is. I loved this line she said, "There is nothing in existence that isn't her..." -We got into making your life your practice and navigating spiritual materialism and elitism along the way. -And she also shared some of the differences between her spiritual beliefs and her husbands and how they instill beliefs, practices and rituals with their kids despite any differences. I loved this chat and hope you do too! About Kavitha Chinnaiyan: Kavitha Chinnaiyan, MD, is an integrative cardiologist, meditation teacher and tantrika. She became drawn to the Direct Path through the teachings of Greg Goode and Sri Atmananda Krishna Menon, and has studied yoga, Sri Vidya Sadhana, Vedanta and Tantra through the teachings of Chinmaya Mission, Sri Premananda, Sally Kempton, and Paul Muller-Ortega. She blends her expertise in cardiology with her knowledge of Ayurveda, yoga, Vedanta, Tantra, and the Direct Path in her approach to healing, enabling patients to discover bliss amid chronic illness. She is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester, MI. Find her workshops, upcoming talks, past interviews and online programs, including the Bliss Meditation Course on kavithamd.com.  

Today's guest Nagham Wehbe is a research analyst, an artist and a human rights advocate. The truth that's having the biggest impact on her life right now? Being present. In the interview we talked about the play she wrote and produced --Confessions of an Arab Woman which was adapted from Joumana Haddad's book, I Killed Scheherazade: Confessions of an Angry Arab Woman. It was the first play she ever wrote, let alone produced and it was a wild success. We talked about the trust that went into a project like that, as well as the support, collaboration, and balancing such a huge undertaking with a full time job. We also geeked out on how her passion for theater and background in science intersect and what happened for the people who participated in the play. I love love loved hearing about Nagham's stories and experiences. Enjoy and share! About Nagham Wehbe: Nagham is an artist and human rights advocate. Her recent production was the hit play Confessions of an Arab Woman adapted from the award winning memoir of Joumana Haddad. She is in training to become a certified Emotional intelligence and leadership life coach and finishing her Communication Management Masters Degree at USC. She teaches folk dance and cultural theater, hosts network events and workshops, and is the director of the Arab Film Festivals in L.A.. She is a big believer in collaborations and action as a way of making a difference wether it is organizing an event or putting on a play.

Kathleen Shannon's big truth in today's episode is, "We're all connected," and we explored it through a number of delicious threads: -Meditation -Motherhood -Branding and being who you are -Creative processes She also let me grill her about the time when she created a website and did branding for Brené Brown...this is a fun one, enjoy! About Kathleen Shannon: Kathleen Shannon is a creative director, podcaster, speaker, author, and mentor. As the co-founder of Braid Creative and co-host of the Being Boss podcast she has helped thousands of creative entrepreneurs from all over the world authentically brand and position themselves as creative experts, cultivate confidence in their business, and blend more of who they are into the work they do. When she's not working she's traveling the world, cooking a great meal, or cuddling on the couch with her husband and their 3 year old son, Fox.  

Life has been dishing up lots of clear signs to me lately that there are places where I need to take a step back and highly reevaluate things before moving forward. It's an invitation into higher refinement of what we do around here and I'm happy to oblige. That said this will be the last Sunday Sermon for a while. Have a listen for a bit more detail into what's been going on, why I'm listening, and what's brewing for the future.

When you hear the truth today's guest dropped, I think many of you will get goosebumps just like I did, "I am no longer willing to be coerced." I have known Karen Christensen for many years now, and every time we connect, I feel like I've been missing out during all the time that's passed since the last time. This woman is so wise, creative, thoughtful, perceptive and caring. We expanded on her truth and talked about: -The discipline of having a practice -How she catches and changes her own triggers -The difference between standards and expectations -Why her and her husband, who are both professional photographers don't take many photos when they travel -Skills versus creative process -How excellence is different from perfection -and so much more. I want to listen to this one three more times myself - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! About Karen Christensen: Leading transformational talks, mentorship mastermind programs, planning retreats and the Dreamcatchers District Podcast — for ambitious, creative, entrepreneurial women — Karen Christensen has earned press and praise on and off camera as an actress, photographer, filmmaker, and speaker; with work seen on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday, The Ellen Show, Good Morning America, Showtime and more. A Certified Energy Leadership Master Practitioner and Mentor Business Coach, Karen now specializes in Creative Direction, Peak Performance, and Mindfulness to help you remember who you are, what you want, and why you started. Speaking has taken Karen from SXSW in Austin, TX to the International Ocean's Film Festival in Germany, with invite-only events throughout Los Angeles.  

This was a super fun episode for me - you'll have to let me know how you like it - nothing planned or scripted. Just riffed on evolving into running two separate companies now, using my voice, dating as a social experiment, practicing deep compassion and acceptance for all kinds of humans, exploring different types of diversity and asking a lot of "Why" around contribution, creation, content, and social media. Life is so awesome, tragic, weird and miraculous. Enjoy the riff!

Today's guest Monisha Chandanani is a dear friend whose BIG TRUTH really touched me personally and I hope it does the same for you, "Humility is the way." We explored: -The value in practice -Being alone versus lonely -How the "goggles" you wear influence what you see -Mindful awareness and how you can't transform what you don't see -Consciousness and how creation works -and much more... We also got real about how judgment and projection show up in our own lives, which as a fellow human being, I'm sure you'll be able to relate to. Enjoy! About Monisha Chandanani: Monisha Chandanani is Intuitive Leadership Coach and the founder of See.Love.Choose., a system for conscious creation. She is known for her genuinely loving disposition combined with her piercingly honest and direct approach. Over the past seven years, Monisha has worked with thousands of clients on 6 continents and over 25 countries. Through private coaching and group workshops, she assists her clients and their teams to achieve more by doing less. Affectionately called a "corporate analyst for the soul," Monisha is especially skilled in coaching her clients in creating a life filled with purpose, power, play and positive global impact. Monisha enjoys working with conscious social entrepreneurs and executives that are building businesses for good. Intimately connecting with this population allows Monisha to contribute to her big picture commitment- world peace through inner peace. She believes we are powerful as individuals and unstoppable when harnessing our collective energy towards a common vision. Monisha has the honor and privilege of working with extraordinary leaders from Twitter, Google, Airbnb, Qualcomm and Facebook along with game-changing entrepreneurs.