Lucid Cafe

In this episode, psychotherapist John Tsilimparis joins me to explore a more compassionate approach to grief, inspired by his book The Magic in the Tragic. We discuss how our “be strong and move on” culture often discourages us from truly honoring loss — and why grief, when faced rather than avoided, can build emotional resilience.

John shares his personal story of loss, the myth of closure, the concept of “forbidden suffer...

In this episode of Lucid Cafe, I’m joined by astrologer, shamanic practitioner, and author Madi Murphy to explore her new book, In the Cosmic Zone: Embody the 12 Astro Archetypes to Unleash Your Genius and Activate Your Authentic Self.

Madi shares her personal journey from a Christian upbringing to embracing astrology as a powerful tool for alignment, self-trust, and spiritual growth. Together, we talk about her embodied ap...

In this episode, I’m joined by author and neuro-affirming life coach Sol Smith for a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation about autism (with a focus on high functioning adults), identity, and self-discovery. Sol shares his journey of being diagnosed with autism in adulthood and what inspired him to write The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery: Flourishing as a Neurodivergent Adult.

In this conversation we explore the...

In this episode, Linda River Valente returns to discuss the astrological landscape for the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. Our conversation delves into the significant planetary movements that shape collective and personal experiences, reflections on the cultural and political shifts, and a much needed optimistic outlook for new opportunities and momentum in 2026.

• Astrological Reflections on 2025
•  Challenges and R...

In this episode of Lucid Cafe, I’m joined by Bonnie Buckner, author of The Secret Mind, for a fascinating deep dive into the transformative intelligence of our dreams. Bonnie shares how tuning into our dream life can help us grow, heal, and create greater harmony in our waking world.

We explore the two cognitive processing systems in the brain, Bonnie’s early childhood realization that dreams hold profound meaning, and the ...

In this episode, I’m joined by the extraordinary mother–daughter team Norma and Nisha Burton, co-authors of Navigating Liminal Realms: Psycho-navigation Skills for Lucid Dreaming, Trance Journeys and Altered States. Their work blends ancient psychonaut wisdom with modern neuroscience to revive a long-forgotten skill: how to consciously enter, explore, and return from the dreamscape, trance worlds, and psychedelic visions w...

Forget the sanitized fairy tales — Danielle Dulsky, the author of The Night House: Folklore, Fairy Tales, Rites, and Magick for the Wise and Wild,  is here to remind us that the old stories bite back. We talk about the witch as an archetype of creative rebellion, the power of ritual, and how folklore can awaken the wild, wise self that’s been hiding just beneath the surface.

Danielle is a heathen visionary, painter, and wo...

Calling all dog lovers! 

In this resource-rich episode, I’m joined by clinical canine herbalist Rita Hogan, who brings over 20 years of experience helping dogs heal naturally. Her new book, The Herbal Dog: Holistic Canine Herbalism Applications and Practice, is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone who wants their pup to thrive.

Rita shares empowering, easy-to-apply tips for supporting your dog’s health using herbs, nutritio...

In this episode of Lucid Cafe, I talk with financial advisor and author Elizabeth Husserl about her new book The Power of Enough: Finding Joy in Your Relationship with Money. We explore how our mindset around money shapes not only our finances, but also our sense of self-worth, well-being, and freedom.

Elizabeth offers a refreshing alternative to the endless pursuit of more. She shares how stepping off the treadmill of comp...

In this very special episode of Lucid Cafe, I celebrate the long-awaited release of my new book, Raven’s Daughter: The Story Keeper. After years of dreaming, writing, and behind-the-scenes work, publication day is finally here.

Joining me is my brilliant and hilarious friend Claire Wheeler, who helps me unpack the story, themes, and inspiration behind the book. This is the first time I’m speaking about Raven’s Daughter out ...

In this episode, I sit down with the passionate Alanna Kaivalya to explore the lost — yet ever-present — power of the feminine. While modern women have more freedom than ever to shape our lives and careers, many of us still measure success through a masculine lens, chasing goals and strategies that don’t reflect our deepest desires.

This conversation is not about rejecting the masculine, but about reclaiming the feminine — ...

In this episode we explore the magic of writing and the power of telling your story. My guest Nancy Slonim Aronie wants you to know that writing is not an exclusive club, that everyone has a really good story to tell. And usually not just one. In her new book Seven Secrets to the Perfect Personal Essay she writes “Essay writing is personal. Sharing what you think about a certain topic is risky. Especially if what you think...

Does what goes around, really come back around? Do you reap what you sow? My guest Mordy Levine, who along with his coauthor, Lama Lhanang Rinpoche, recently released the book The Beginner’s Guide to Karma: How to Live with Less Negativity and More Peace. In this episode Mordy explains the role that the universal law of cause and effect, or karma, plays in our lives and how to use this understanding to create a positive pa...

This seems like one of the more important episodes I’ve released since the podcast started back in 2018. My guest Dr Janine Oliver is a clinical psychologist who has expertise in social media, reality TV, and critical thinking. In this episode we discuss her research, its implications and practical ways to take care of your amazingly resilient brain. 

Janine is a Cognitive Psychologist and Licensed Clinical Social Worke...

Have you ever wanted to create change? Or unapologetically chase your dreams? Yet for some reason you stop before you ever get started? Do you ever feel stretched in so many different directions that it feels like you’ve lost your creative spark? My guest Becca Powers wants to empower you to unleash your potential and become everything you were meant to be. In this episode we discuss her new book A Return to Radiance: The ...

With all the external noise vying for our attention these days, it’s easy to forget that we have access to a wealth of wisdom within each of us and beyond. My guest Happy Ali shares easy  techniques that work on every level of intuition starting with hunches, precognition, and dream analysis and building to direct communication with a multidimensional level of intelligence that is always available. Happy’s clear explanatio...

This episode might surprise you. I had no idea until I spoke with my guest Bruce Fertman that the way we’ve unconsciously learned to walk is actually doing us a disservice. In fact, most of us are making it harder than it needs to be. In this episode we discuss Bruce and his coauthor Michael J. Gelb’s new book Walking Well: A New Approach for Experiencing Comfort and Vitality in Every Step; a helpful guide that’s chock ful...

Cacao is more than just a drink that many are sharing in their ceremonies; it is a Master Plant Medicine that, although not psychedelic, carries the power to open hearts, facilitate deep inner work, and foster a profound connection with the essence of life. My guest Judy Machado, founder of Goddess Temple Cacao, is following her passion to introduce people to the healing magic of Ceremonial Cacao. 

Judy spent a year and...

Are you emotionally potty trained? My guest Rachel Kaplan is a licensed psychotherapist who created an accessible framework for self-care and personal transformation that she calls Emotional Potty Training™ (EPT). In this episode and in her new book Feel, Heal & Let That Sh*t Go, she shares her revolutionary call to action that will teach you precisely how to feel your emotions by moving them through your body as natur...