The Stumbling Spirit

Indian yogi, Sadhguru, once said, “Karma is your survival and your bondage. And if you handle it right, it can also be your liberation.” For holistic therapist, Edit B. Kiss, this quote might well be her mission. Born in communist Hungary, she grew up at a time when spiritual expression was suppressed. As a young woman, Edit did what was expected - she went to university, got her engineering degree and started a family. However, during this period, she also battled crippling anxiety and panic attacks. This all-time low set her on a path of spiritual growth and wellness, including healing her ancestral karma. Today, Edit practices Source Memory Healing to help others mend their karmic wounds, and in my fascinating conversation with her, she explains why clearing our karmic debts has a powerful ripple effect that extends beyond ourselves and encompasses our soul family.Guest information:Website: https://editbkiss.com/Instagram: @editbkissYouTube: @MagicalKarmaPriestess

They say that homo sapiens emerged sometime between 300 and 200 thousand years ago. One of the lead scientists in this field of research is award-winning molecular anthropologist, Dr. Himla Soodyall, whose groundbreaking work has traced back some of the oldest DNA linking modern day humans to our origins in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this episode, Himla tells us what our genes can teach us about our earliest ancestors and how our roots in Africa connect us all to one common tree.Guest information:Email: himla@assaf.org.za

It’s estimated that there are over 3 trillion trees on this planet, with 842 million hectares of forest in South America alone. One of these gentle giants is said to be the oldest in the world - nearly 5,500 years old. “Gran Abuelo”, or the great-grandfather, is a Patagonian cypress located in Chile. As a child, Jonathan Barichivich marvelled at it, and now as an environmental scientist, he studies it and other trees like it, not only to decode their ages but to reconstruct the past and predict the future impacts of climate change on earth’s critical zone. In this episode, Jonathan opens up about his important research and tells us what we can learn from ancient trees.Guest information:Website: https://jbarichivich.github.io/Email: jonathan.barichivich@lsce.ipsl.fr

A solopreneur is someone who is self-employed and runs their own business by themselves. Although the number of businesses operated by one person is on the rise, many of these ventures fail. Helping to drive down these shutdowns and inspire owners to stay in the game is business coach, Niiamah Ashong. In this episode, Niiamah talks about the advantages of solopreneurship and he explains why being an outlier is essential to building a thriving business.Guest information:https://niiamahashong.com/Instagram: @niiamahashong

Transportation planner, Anthony Smith, is an avid cyclist and endurance athlete. Eight years ago, while doing a long ride north of Toronto, the course of his life took a near fatal turn. He unavoidably crashed his bike into a pick-up truck. Miraculously, he survived but not without injury. The impact dislocated his neck and fractured his spine, which needed two surgeries to fuse back together. And, the driver at fault got off on a measly fine. In this episode, Anthony talks about the rights of cyclists, his long road to recovery, and how he has grown personally and spiritually since his accident.Guest information:Email: anth42@gmail.comInstagram: @anthonynsmithTwitter: @safestreetsto

Heidi Bornstein is one of the founders of Mindfulness Everyday - a Toronto-based organization offering accessible and practical mindfulness education to improve the well-being of her local community. A key focus for Heidi and her team of trainers is delivering flexible yet effective mindfulness curriculum to youth who are in dire need of support in these uncertain and divisive times. In this episode, Heidi discusses her important work and explains why mindfulness is needed more than ever to address the unique challenges of today. Guest Information:https://mindfulnesseveryday.org/Email: heidi@mindfulnesseveryday.org

At fourteen, Anthony Patrick Manieri bought his first camera. What started off as a hobby taking pictures, soon became a profession. With a successful career in media spanning more than three decades, Anthony’s sought after shots have graced the pages of some of the world's most popular magazines. In recent years, Anthony has focused his lens on a passion project. "Arrested Movement" is the name of his internationally acclaimed portrait series, which aims to shatter the mold of the perfect adonis with his subjects baring all for the camera while showcasing the beauty and diversity of men's bodies. Anthony opens up about his work and the importance of men's body positivity.Guest Information:https://anthonypatrickmanieri.comEmail: anthony@anthonypatrickmanieri.comInstagram: @anthonypmanieri and @arrestedmovement

In recent times, church leaders, such as Bishop Mariann Budde and Reverend Munther Isaac, have attracted global attention with their impassioned sermons calling for compassion on those suffering from oppression. While from two different denominations, their words reverberated across the Christian world with the weight of a papal address. Reverend Gary van der Meer is a minister and interfaith officer with the Anglican Church of Canada. In this episode, Gary opens up about the role of the pulpit in the face of populism, annexation, tariffs and war crimes.Guest Informationhttps://www.stjohnsottawa.com/Email: rector@stjohnsottawa.caInstagram: @garyvandermeer

This is a special retrospective of Season 2 of The Stumbling Spirit Podcast, where I explore two key themes that emerged from this year’s show:Identity being one of the facets of resilience;And, the real and metaphorical mountains we climb.Special thanks to all of my guests who shared their stories and insights on cultivating resilience. Ep 01: Merel van der Wouden (https://merelvanderwouden.com/)Ep 02: Debra Williams (churchhatthefilm.com)Ep 03: Stephen D’amico (https://www.stephendamico.com/)Ep 04: Darryl Tracy (Alpha Health Services)Ep 05: Bobby Wain (https://www.dundalkdogrescue.ie/)Ep 06: Donna Armstrong (Email: armstrong_d@rogers.com)Ep 07: Mike Power (https://mpower-strategy.com/)Ep 08: Lucille Joseph (https://lucillejoseph.ca)Ep 09: Belinda Bannerman (https://www.belindabannerman.com/)Ep 10: Jaisa Sulit (Instagram: @decolonialmamalove)Ep 11: Noel Scully (Email: scullynoel8@gmail.com)Ep 12: Sharleen Beaumont (https://bravenewending.com/)Ep 13: Nancy Horvath (Email: nancy.horvath@sickkidsfoundation.com)Ep 14: Heather Harris (https://www.harrisandwalker.com)Ep 15: Dave Bradley (Email: thebothylife@gmail.com)Ep 16: Paulo Steinberg (https://www.paulosteinberg.com)Ep 17: Jackie Dennison (https://www.jackiedennison.com)Thank you for listening and for your ongoing support. Season 3 will air in March, 2025. Stay tuned!