In this raw and unfiltered conversation, we dive deep into the intersection of Tantra, plant medicines, and the controversial Path of Poisons—unpacking the dangers, the illusions, and the undeniable power of these substances on the journey of awakening. EJ Kidd shares her firsthand experiences with ayahuasca, Wachuma, and cannabis, challenging dogmatic views while exposing the pitfalls of psychedelic tourism, spiritual bypassing, and the chase for peak experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just curious, this episode will make you question everything you think you know about consciousness, embodiment, and liberation.

Welcome to the third episode of season 3 of Conversations with Kara-Leah, recorded in my new home - Squamish Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Canada.  My guest today is poet Laura Sharp. Laura is a Scottish Poet and Bodyworker living and working in Squamish (Skwxwú7mesh.)  She’s 31 years old and has had as many different jobs, and as many different addresses in as many years.  Her debut book Places You Catch Yourself is a collection of poetry and prose about the never-ending search for home in new places and strangers faces.    Her work has been featured by the Lupine Review, BBC The Social, Speculative Books and most recently Whistler Writers Festival. Hilariously, Laura never wanted to be poet but she has always wanted to understand life deeply and has recently come to learn the two go hand in hand. Laura & I talk about all the things including: ✨ the allure of the Sea-to-Sky Corridor & how life 'makes sense' here ✨ why she started writing poetry ✨ being haunted by not-enoughness ✨ on writing your way out of suffering ✨ writing as a practice for liberation ✨ her yoga journey & the impact of the lockdown ✨ yin yoga & writing poetry ✨ poetry as a process of listening ✨ why the book finally got published ✨ the power of the next step ✨ self-love of all aspects of being ✨ the power of being vision-led ✨ why she burned the first copy of her book ✨ how she uses poetry to write her life into being ✨ being on the stage at Whistler Writer's Festival four months after publishing ✨ the power of art beyond numbers ✨ the art of surrender ✨ Squamish Poet Next Door's thriving poetry scene ✨ the power of owning your shit & letting it move through you   Find Laura here: https://www.instagram.com/thebreathworkpoet/ https://www.facebook.com/laura.sharp.731   Show Credits Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice   Subscribe to KL's newsletter https://karaleah.com/subscribe/

Welcome to the second episode of season 3 of Conversations with Kara-Leah, recorded in my new home - Squamish Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Canada.  My guest today is Bhairav Thomas English. Bhairav is a dedicated teacher, practitioner, and empowered guru of Tantra and Kundalini Yoga with over 25 years of experience. His journey began after a near-fatal car accident, which led him to travel the world and be initiated into various traditions and lineages. He spent four years living in India, studying under his first yoga teacher until he met his Guru, Maharaji Guruji of the Bhairavananda lineage. Bhairav is the author of The Power of Tantric Meditation and the visionary behind Anuttara Ashram. As a co-creator and facilitator within the Anuttara School, Bhairav continues to share his deep wisdom, guiding others on their path to self-realization through authentic spiritual practices. Bhairav & I talk about all the things including: ✨ the near-death experience that changed everything for him ✨ what happened when he met his first yoga teacher in the foothills of Rishikesh ✨ how yoga healed him from an old car accident, including finally becoming medication-free ✨ what becoming a renunciate meant to him ✨ the impact of immersing in yoga practice for 6+ hours a day ✨ why he resisted teaching when his teacher asked him to ✨ how he met his tantric Guru and what happened when he first met him ✨ how the car accident blocked ajna chakra and what his Tantric master told him about it ✨ what it was like to go through a guru initiation ✨ the meaning of Tantra ✨ his understanding of karma ✨ astrology, Bill Gates, billionaire and being wealthy as a karmic tendency ✨ the intersection of destiny, free will, and karma ✨ Grace and Kundalinī ✨ what causes Kundalinī to awaken ✨ why a Guru is necessary once Kundalinī is awakened ✨ what happens when Kundalinī gets blocked at certain chakras ✨ the difference between awakening to the energy field, and Kundalinī awakening   Find Bhairav here: https://www.anuttara.org/ https://www.instagram.com/anuttara_ashram/    Show Credits Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice   Subscribe to KL's newsletter https://karaleah.com/subscribe/

Welcome to the first episode of season 3 of Conversations with Kara-Leah, recorded in my new home - Squamish Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Canada. (Listen to the correct pronunciation here.) My first guest this seasion is Warren Hooley. Warren Hooley is from Penticton, British Columbia and was born of Okanagan/Syilx, English and Ukrainian heritage. He is passionate about nonviolent communication, decolonization and healthy masculinity and has facilitated over 2500 workshops in the past 13 years. Today Warren is based in Vancouver, BC and his overall vision is to help create communities where everyone can thrive and find genuine happiness. In his workshops, Warren loves to weave engaging activities with fascinating diagrams. He has a talent for creating spaces where people can learn skills that measurably impact their lives for years to come.  Warren & I talk about all the things including: healthy masculinity and why Warren prefers the term restricted masculinity to toxic masculinity relational neurobiology, nervous system regulation, shame and humility how tools like NVC (non-violent communication) can be used to manipulate the gift of fawning the Missing Factor in the Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn Model the ineffectiveness of cancel culture confidence as a coping mechanism the tragedy of men trapped in shame - and how to climb out the continuum of emotional expression, processing and containment what it means if you can't handle an action-adventure movie staying safe as a male facilitator decolonization, the wall of shame, the river of grief and the ocean of possibility the danger of prioritizing productivity as a value and finally, Warren's vision for the more beautiful world.  Find Warren here: https://www.warrenhooley.com/home https://www.instagram.com/mrwarrenhooley/ https://www.facebook.com/Warrenseannhooley Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

This conversation went to ALL the juicy places - the playful, the painful, the divine, and everything else in between.    We talk about Adam's personal journey with trauma and how he found healing. We get into hot-topic issues around gender, sexuality, identity, and Adam's experiences as a gay man in New Zealand. And we talk about making Transformational Festivals into spaces that are TRULY safe and inclusive because as much as we love these Festivals we also recognise how they could be better. Oh, and there's a bonus twerking lesson in there too! You're welcome.   Adam Robertson is a Neurosomatic Facilitator, Public Speaker, Coach, and founder of Twerkwerk.   Find Adam here:   Website • https://www.adamrobertson.co.nz/ Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/adamtrobertson/ Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/adamtrobertson0 Twerkwerk • https://www.twerkwerknz.com/   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Aaron Hendry is a Youth Worker, rangatahi advocate, writer, and political commentator on social justice issues. In this episode, we focus on youth homelessness in Aotearoa and how Aaron's Christian faith motivates him to work with the most structurally marginalised people in our society. We also get into personal responsibility vs collective responsibility, ideologies of hate and fear, what it really means to 'be the change', and explore how Love can be the guiding force in our lives. Aaron is incredibly articulate and passionate. I can't recommend this episode enough.   Find Aaron here:   Substack • https://wlas.substack.com/ Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/a.j.hendry/ Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/aejayhendry Twitter •  https://twitter.com/AeJayHendry   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Join us for a playful and enlightening exploration of Lara's extensive experience with plants, planets, and prayer.   Lara spent over 5 years in full-time training with traditional shamanic plant medicines in the Peruvian Amazon, and she shares with us some of the depth of knowledge of that tradition and the power of plants as allies. Along the way, we talk about multi-dimensional reality, animism, and what it means to live inter-relationally. We also go deep into the current astrological reality, particularly the upcoming Venus retrograde from July 22 - September 3, 2023.   For more guidance and support with your Venus retrograde experience, check out Lara's program Heart Alchemy: https://www.pathoftherose.com/heart-alchemy   Find Lara here:   Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/mythic_muse/ Website • https://www.pathoftherose.com/   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

BLASE is an Auckland-based DJ and Embodied Ecstatic dance facilitator known for his diverse, multi-genre music journeys. I've had the delight of dancing to his incredible DJ sets, so I was fascinated to hear about how he found his way to facilitating ecstatic dance experiences in just a couple of short years, and what makes his sets so damn good. We also vibe on our mutual love of transformational festivals and share some tips and tricks on how to get the most out of these powerful containers. Plus there's some inside information on what really goes on in the fashion industry Find Blase here: Soundcloud • https://soundcloud.com/user-690668005Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/stephenblase/Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/stephen.blase/     Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

A classic Aussie bloke working as a bricklayer, Tyran's been on an incredible journey. There's sex, drugs, bikie gangs, porn addiction, plenty of drama, and an intense downward spiral. All of which led Tyran into deep self-inquiry, a ton of learning and now the work he does today as a men's health and sex coach. We talk all things conscious sexuality and masculinity, including Tyran's experiences with ISTA, polyamory and porn, the importance of brotherhood, and more.   Find Tyran here:   Website • https://www.tyranmowbray.com/ Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/tyran.mowbray/ Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/TyranMowbray1   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

I adored this conversation with Laura-Ellen. Join us for real talk on our experiences with entrepreneurship - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the transformative. We go into burnout, money shame, how we're navigating the current economic downturn, and why sometimes it's beneficial to embrace day jobs and take a break from the hustle.   With a deep-rooted passion for sexual wellness and mental health, Laura's focus lies in the regeneration of individuals. She firmly believes that as women rejuvenate their bodies, they bring vibrancy not only to themselves but also to their families, friends, communities, and the entire ecosystem. Her purpose is to revolutionize our approach to sex, shifting away from a porn-centric mindset towards a profound and transcendent pleasure that is accessible to all.   Find Laura-Ellen here:   Website • https://laura-ellen.com/ Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/_laura_ellen   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

I loved this deep yet playful conversation with Rana Hamida. Rana is an incredible DJ, musician, singer, dancer, artistic director, and a Yin Yoga/Yoga Nidra guide who was born in Syria and was living there as a university student when the civil war began in 2011. Fleeing the conflict, Rana and her family came to New Zealand as refugees.   In unpacking this experience we explored how arriving in New Zealand enabled Rana to find freedom from the conditionings of her mind and how she started the embodiment journey of what’s true for her. We talked identity politics and what happens when you don't align with the national identity of your birthplace. And we get into festivals, the joy of dancing as a devotional practice, and what radical honesty looks like.   Find Rana here:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranafreesoul/   Website: https://www.ranahamida.com/   DJ Rana: https://www.facebook.com/musicalPrana   Rana's band: https://www.facebook.com/people/Yet-Undefined/100092474053730/   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

There’s so much juicy content in here folks! Kim and I talked energetic orgasms, astral sex, hedonism, aging as a spiritual practice, yoni mapping AND anal mapping, and the joy of butt plugs for relaxation and pleasure.   Plus we also had a nuanced conversation about Kim’s experiences with ISTA (International School of Temple Arts) and her take on how the organization is responding to recent allegations of abuse and harm.   Kim is a sex and intimacy guide with qualifications in Education Psychology, massage, embodied counseling, somatic sexology, Tantra and sacred sexuality, erotic exploration through Yoga of Sex and Erotic Blueprints, and immersive somatic healing modalities for non-acute exploration of trauma and themes related to limiting core beliefs.   Find Kim here: Website: https://sacredbeing.co.nz/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kim_saama/   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

I was curious to talk to Rebecca about her experiences of operating in both the mainstream and alternative worlds, and how these worlds can merge in productive ways. Rebecca experienced a spiritual awakening in her early twenties that resulted in a dramatic shift in her worldview and required some significant changes in her relationships with her friends and family. Rebecca now works in schools as a Dance Therapist and Expressive Arts Facilitator and that’s also been an opportunity to engage with people and systems operating from very different worldviews. We also talk about Water Ceremony, a practice that was gifted to Rebecca by Melissa Billington, our guest from episode 13!   About Rebecca   Rebecca Bee is a Dance Therapist and Expressive Arts Facilitator living on Waiheke Island. Supporting Wahine and Tamariki to work through their emotional reality and access soul gifts. She also works 1 on 1 client sessions. Find out more at https://www.sa-koya.com   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Melissa Billington is a talented yoga teacher, creatrix, inspiratrice, and also a dear friend of mine. Born in Virginia, Melissa is the 13th lineal descendant of Pocahontas and she shares how she has worked to transmute her family’s ancestral trauma into healing. We also explore why and how Melissa has chosen to take her yoga off the mat and more widely into the world, particularly through water walks, praying for the water, and stand-up comedy. Oh, and make sure you stick around until the end for a bonus performance from Melissa! About Melissa + links For a more detailed bio go here: https://melissaelvirabillington.substack.com/p/who-am-i PocaHauntUs - Shapeshifting History into HerStory: https://youtu.be/sYHN1r976XE First song gifted to Melissa in 2014, released by Ojibwe elders in 2018 with encouragement for all women to sing to the waters: https://youtu.be/KC2FHciQ0sU Learn more about the Indigenous-led prayerwalks for water: http://www.nibiwalk.org A blip of Melissa's ecologically-focused stand-up material: https://youtu.be/1VF1e-f21M8 Melissa's Instagram (that chronicles the walkabout, including the Missouri River Water Walk): https://www.instagram.com/melissaelvirabillington/ Melissa's Blog "a : muse musing is (more than) amusing": https://melissaelvirabillington.substack.com Melissa's MYOGA Freedom modules: https://www.youtube.com/@myogafreedom  Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

21 years ‘clean’ from drug & alcohol addiction and work in the sex industry, Ninakaye is a powerhouse of a woman who works in the New Zealand music industry and is also involved in sexual violence treatment and harm prevention. In this episode, Ninakaye and I share some of our personal experiences of exploring sexuality and dating as older women, particularly Ninakaye’s experiences with Tinder and the problematic behavior of many men on these apps. We talked about the negative ways in which porn can influence sexual expression and also delved into what led Ninakaye into her current work with male sex offenders. We also talked about Ninakaye's experience as a Māori woman in the New Zealand yoga community, its lack of inclusivity and why she chose to study Kemetic Yoga, an ancient Egyptian well-being and transformation practice. Find Ninakaye here: Website: https://www.tikidub.com/page/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninakaye_taanetinorau/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliveWithNinakaye/   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Sophia is a former social worker who moderates the Culty Conversations NZ Facebook group and I was eager to talk with her about the nature of cults and high-demand groups in New Zealand, particularly in the spiritual community. Sophia shares her perspective on power, charismatic leaders and group dynamics, and what leaders and teachers in the spiritual community (like myself) need to be aware of to make sure they’re not unconsciously abusing power. We also specifically discuss these things in the context of ISTA, Highden Temple, and Eden Festival. About Sophia: Sophia de Fossard has worked as a social worker in the community, and is interested in the intersectionality between societal structures and the personal experience, particularly in the area of power and control. She has worked as an academic researcher and advocate for honoring The Treaty of Waitangi (partnership between Māori and the Crown) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Currently she is working on a research project in community based addiction treatment. In her personal life she is a long time practitioner of yoga and meditation and teaches yoga with a trauma informed, trauma sensitive and inclusive approach.   Find Sophia here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeandmetta LinkedIn: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/sophia-de-fossard-79b092188   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

In 2022 one of Lauren’s Instagram posts for her coaching business was ridiculed by a satirical Instagram account that remixed and reshared her post, and other content from her business, over the course of several days. What I love about Lauren’s story is that even as she was dealing with the pain and trauma of this experience she also saw it as an opportunity for initiation and growth. Lauren shares the intense emotional response she had to the bullying, the steps she took to process her emotions and support herself during this time, and the self-reflection and self-inquiry that it prompted. We talk about the importance of being kind in online spaces, advice to young women and teenagers who are the victims of online bullying, and how and why Lauren still chooses to show up as unapologetically herself. About Lauren: Lauren Hill is a Spirit-Led Business & Leadership Coach, Speaker, Fempowerment Mentor and Founder of Camp Wondergirl. From working in Corporate Advertising in America climbing the ladder to ‘success’, to solo-traveling New Zealand in a painted hippy van, to living & working at spiritual Yoga Retreats, to birthing her female empowerment coaching business - she has experienced the depth of true freedom, fulfilment and fun. It’s her mission now to empower, activate and inspire women to unleash their unapologetic expression, monetize their magic and live their most epic life. Find Lauren here: Website: https://iamlaurenhill.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelaurenhillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamlaurenhilll/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenhill29   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

CW: This episode contains a discussion on resolving childhood sexual experiences.    Darren Bruce is a connection coach who discovered the power of emotional vulnerability and relational skills after a career in the military and fitness industry. Despite operating at an incredibly high level of physical skill and intensity in his military role, Darren realized he was unable to sit down and have an honest conversation with the people that he cared about.   Darren talks about how it took self-sabotaging his own business to make him realize how important relational skills are, particularly the willingness to have hard conversations and to face our fears of loss and rejection.   Darren also shares his experience of being sexually abused as a child, how that affected his life, and how he has worked with it as an adult. And we talked about the importance of male role models and why a lack of initiation into manhood can cause men to be "dickheads".   Find Darren here: Website: https://www.darrenbruce.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarrenJohnBruce/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrenjbruce/   More from Kara-Leah   Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube Playlist Web: https://karaleah.com/ The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah   Credits   Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Ellie Wilde is a Trauma Trained Transformational Guide, who, through her life’s struggles and 20+ years of training and service has become an activist and revolutionary for Conscious and Embodied Relating. In this conversation, we dive into her journey with ISTA (International School of Temple Arts), some of the issues with this organisation, and why she ultimately chose to step away. We also talked about the power of SLOWING DOWN, particularly during menopause, and how crucial it is to listen to the wisdom of our bodies at every stage of our life In recent years Ellie’s 1:1 private practice has shifted away from sexuality coaching and she now offers Alchemical Alignment - Trauma Resolution and Embodiment of Spirit. Her events and workshops are currently in hiatus whilst she recalibrates to an entirely new way of holding groups post ISTA.  Find Ellie here: Website: www.yinsexuality.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ellie.wilde.8  More from Kara-Leah Conversations with Kara-Leah on Video • YouTube Playlist Web: https://karaleah.com/ The Toolbox: https://toolbox.karaleah.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaleah108 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleah108 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraLeah Credits Audio • Luke Bowman Music • Sexy Urban Beats by PenguinMusic  Photo • Pete Longworth Graphic Design • Tara Spice

Harshada and I spoke about his time at the Ashram, the nature of his teaching journey, why he eventually left the ashram, and how he has navigated allegations of sexual abuse within his lineages.