Best Abe Academy Podcasts (2024)

1
Isaac Bowen: The Space of Aliveness 1:03:18

3y ago1:03:18

1:03:18

To close out this season, we’re shaking things up a bit. Writer and producer Rebekah Pahl is interviewing Isaac, and they discuss the starting point of identity, collaboration, evaluating old narratives, feeling for the space of aliveness, and Isaac’s musings on what’s going on here with this whole experiment of existence. As a Wonderer and the CEO…

1
Abe Lopez: The Edge of Newness 58:27

3y ago58:27

58:27

To close out season 1, we’re doing something a little different for our final two episodes. Writer and producer Rebekah Pahl is interviewing Abe this week, and then Isaac in the episode to follow. We’ll be reflecting on what this past season of conversations has meant to our own aliveness—and what we’re feeling drawn toward next. Abe and Rebekah di…

1
Rebecca Fralick: Stepping Into Integrity 1:00:12

3y ago1:00:12

1:00:12

Rebecca Fralick is a chef and the owner of Mara’s Cafe based in Wisconsin. She’s a powerhouse business owner and is crystal clear about her values—she’s only interested in opportunities that deeply align with her intuition. Alongside her business endeavors, she’s also a mom, wife, and lover of plants, sunshine, good coffee, and tacos. Rebecca think…

1
Jim Jacoby: Live Your Truth & Let The World Reorganize 56:04

3y ago56:04

56:04

During the first chapter of his career, Jim Jacoby built a successful, privately-owned agency pioneering user-centered design in finance, healthcare, tech, and manufacturing. Then, at the peak of his success, he took a step back and commissioned a world-renowned designer to build a revolutionary motorcycle. Jim studied the methods and behaviors beh…

1
Ian Day: Showing Up As You Are 49:24

3y ago49:24

49:24

Today’s guest is someone who’s part of our daily life—our dear friend, and Lightward’s Wellness Advisor, Ian Day. We’ve known Ian for almost five years now and we’re so grateful to be doing life alongside him. Ian’s a whimsical blend of wellness knowledge and good-hearted fun—and as you’ll soon hear for yourself, the path to self-acceptance hasn’t …

1
Thorin Decatur: Learning Is A Constant State 49:29

3y ago49:29

49:29

Today’s guest is our dear friend Thorin Decatur— who also happens to be our barber. Whether through his profession or as a present father to his kids, Thorin stays energized by constantly learning. While the overarching societal trend tells us to stop exploring as we grow older, Thorin is actively choosing to stay open by way of compassion and curi…

1
Amanda Ewing: The Journey Is The Dream 1:02:23

3y ago1:02:23

1:02:23

Amanda Ewing is a Nashville-based luthier (violin-maker)—and is the first Black female luthier on record. She’s been apprenticing with her teacher since 2018, honing the intricacies of her craft—and there are many of them! On average, it takes about 250 hours and about 56 parts to make a violin. Amanda’s not only keeping a highly-detailed art form …

1
Mladen Rangelov: Creating An Environment of Care 58:09

3y ago58:09

58:09

Mladen Rangelov is a product leader and team builder at Shopify, and he self-describes as a life-learner who’s energized by building environments in which teams can thrive. Born in what was then Yugoslavia, and growing up in the middle of a war—Mladen holds a unique perspective on making the most of being alive and leaning into vulnerable and tough…

1
Yumin Wong: You Learn As Long As You Live 54:27

3y ago54:27

54:27

Yumin Wong was born and raised in Singapore, then moved to the U.S. for college—and is now a staff software engineer at GitHub. She’s also the mother of a two-year old and is expecting baby #2 in just a few weeks. Yumin integrates her love for these co-existing parts of herself by exploring the parallels between parenting and engineering—or as she …

1
Christian Picciolini: Rebuilding With Universal Glue 55:32

3y ago55:32

55:32

Christian Picciolini is an award-winning television producer, public speaker, author, peace advocate, and former violent extremist. After leaving the white-supremacist skinhead movement he was part of during the 1980s and 90s, Christian began the process of making amends and creating a new life. He went on to receive a degree in international relat…

1
Antonia Coffelt: In Lockstep With Serendipity 1:02:14

3y ago1:02:14

1:02:14

Today’s guest is the intuitive, the powerful, Antonia Coffelt. We first met Antonia in Chicago a few years ago—and the soul kindredness felt electric from the start. With a master’s in Communications from Northwestern University and a passion for human truth, Antonia engages her work as a host, creative director, and founder from a place of inner e…

1
Jedidiah Jenkins: The Devaluation of Certainty 56:21

3y ago56:21

56:21

Jedidiah Jenkins is the New York Times bestselling author of two books, To Shake The Sleeping Self—which chronicles his bike trip from Oregon to Patagonia, and his newest release, Like Streams To The Ocean, a collection of essays on ego, love, and the things that make us who we are. Throughout this conversation we discuss letting go of certainty, s…

1
Melissa Urban: The Cycle of Truthfulness 56:54

3y ago56:54

56:54

The truth-teller and legend Melissa Urban is here, dropping her wisdom—so buckle up. Melissa is the co-founder, CEO, and spark behind the Whole30 program. She’s a six-time New York Times bestselling author, host of the podcast Do The Thing, and is also a prominent keynote speaker on social media and branding, health trends, and entrepreneurship. Me…

1
Linnea Gits: For The Love of Process 57:22

3y ago57:22

57:22

Linnea Gits is the creative director at Uusi, a design studio based on the idea that life is worth the meaningful effort, and its reward is one of discovery. Both Linnea and her creative partner Peter have a love of traditional craftsmanship, material exploration, and a search for the essential beauty in everyday objects. We first came across Linne…

1
Deborah Ann Baker: Keeping Hope Alive 55:41

3+ y ago55:41

55:41

Today’s guest is our Denver neighbor, friend, and the owner of Park Hill Yoga, Deborah Baker. As an Iyengar Yoga certified instructor with 30 years of experience, Deborah is sharing her passion for mindfulness and movement through her studio that she’s been running for 25 years now. Alongside her love for yoga, Deborah also has a love for language.…

1
David Malki !: Craft, Taste, & The Freedom To Make What You Like 53:20

3+ y ago53:20

53:20

David Malki ! is the cartoonist and creator behind Wondermark, the inventively playful and poignant comic that we’ve linked below—so do yourself a huge favor and check it out right after listening to the episode. In addition to his creative endeavors with Wondermark, David was also co-editor of the Machine of Death series of fiction anthologies and…

1
Orion Pahl: What Life's Always Been Doing 53:34

3+ y ago53:34

53:34

Today’s guest is someone who’s very dear to us—a frequent collaborator who’s filmed the anniversary videos that we make every year. We’ve shared some beautiful moments in some beautiful places over the years, and today’s episode feels like an extension of one of our many heart-expanding conversations—Joshua Tree, the Rocky Mountains, the California…

1
Jennifer Detrich Smith: The Order of Balance 47:21

3+ y ago47:21

47:21

Jennifer Detrich Smith is in the business of making something beautiful. She’s both the mother of two as well as the owner of Birdseye Rule, a magical store located in the heart of Logan Square—and it’s one of our favorite shops in Chicago. We first met Jen at an Enneagram panel she hosted in her space and we’ve kept in touch and kept ordering thin…

1
Jake Nickell: Be An Artist 54:04

3+ y ago54:04

54:04

Jake Nickell is the CEO and founder of Threadless, the nexus of a diverse and expansive artist community that partners with those artists to promote and produce their art. In 2000, Threadless began as a t-shirt design company based in Chicago. Since then, Threadless has grown into a fully remote company with a marketplace of full apparel, accessori…

1
Agnes Igoye: The Sky's Not Even The Limit 56:27

3+ y ago56:27

56:27

Today’s guest is the effervescent, resilient, and powerful Agnes Igoye. Agnes is Uganda’s Deputy National Coordinator for the prevention of human trafficking and is a Labour Migration Expert at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. She’s also a Senior New Voices Fellow at the Aspen Institute and teaches an online child protection course a…

1
Taryn Van Brennan: Choosing How You Want To Survive 56:58

3+ y ago56:58

56:58

If you follow @abelopez on Instagram, you’ve probably seen me post about my #abeminus100 journey. Four years ago, I set a goal to lose 100 pounds, and it set me on a path that has changed my life forever. And in any journey that involves venturing beyond what you’ve known, you’ll meet guides along the way. Today we’re in conversation with one of my…

1
April Gustafson: Opening Doors To Better Worlds 51:42

3+ y ago51:42

51:42

April Gustafson is a data engineer at Spotify and is opening doors to better worlds through math and science. After working as a science teacher for both middle and high school students, April went to grad school for computer science and has kept the throughline of her purpose clear even as she’s pivoted careers. Fueled by the desire to make scienc…

1
Trace Le: The Tension Is A Signal I’m Doing It Right 57:12

3+ y ago57:12

57:12

Today we’re diving into all the feelings with our guest—the artist, writer, and singer known as Trace. Based in LA, Trace has been releasing songs since 2016 when she brought her first project, the Low EP, to life through a Kickstarter campaign. Low garnered over 20 million streams and opened the door to her first record deal with Ultra Records. No…

1
BONUS EPISODE: ON AIR w/ Abe, Isaac, & Rebekah 26:25

3+ y ago26:25

26:25

Introducing our very first BONUS EPISODE of a series we've titled "On AIR w/ Abe, Isaac, & Rebekah" (hence the acronym). After each week's Empowered Human Academy interview, join us here for an even deeper dive for reflection, integration, and fun with Abe, Isaac, and Rebekah (EHA writer/producer). In these bonus episodes we'll share how we're dige…

1
Jing Gao: Coming Back To Self 52:36

3+ y ago52:36

52:36

Jing Gao is the founder and CEO of Fly By Jing, a modern Asian food brand that’s on a mission to bring diversity to the natural food space. After being featured in the New York Times right as quarantine began last year, Fly By Jing skyrocketed and has been growing at a rapid pace—and it’s the kind of growth that feels so grounded that we couldn’t h…

1
Myeashea Alexander: Being Ready For It 53:48

3+ y ago53:48

53:48

Today’s guest is Creative and Science Communicator, Myeashea Alexander. Abe first met Myeashea a few years ago through his work with the Clinton Foundation and has been consistently inspired by her power, perspective, and personhood ever since. Currently based in New York, Myeashea manages the Clinton Global Initiative University Commitment Mentor …

1
Frances Macleod: Giving Yourself Permission 51:35

3+ y ago51:35

51:35

Today’s guest is an immensely talented visual artist and designer, and our friend, Frances Macleod. Both dynamic and delightful, Frances is an artist who’s continually following her curiosity—and it’s taken her to some rad places so far. With a background in art direction and graphic design, Frances has worked with a wide range of brands and agenci…

1
Rebekah Pahl: Life Wants To Be Lived 58:14

3+ y ago58:14

58:14

Today’s guest is our dear friend and writer for the Lightward team, Rebekah Pahl. Rebekah typically writes these intros, but we’re taking over this week so she can get the Full Guest Treatment. We’ve known Rebekah for almost eight years now—our paths first crossed while we were living in California, and we’ve witnessed up close her artistic evoluti…

1
Rich Holton: Listening Your Way Into Self-Discovery 57:10

3+ y ago57:10

57:10

Today’s guest is our dear friend Rich Holton, who self-describes first and foremost as a listener. As an actor, he harnesses that ability of listening to the world around him—staying close to what life brings to the surface. Based in Chicago, Rich has appeared on Chicago PD and renowned theatres like Steppenwolf, Goodman, and Second City. Rich was …

1
Jonny Mendez & Aimée Mazzenga: Let's Make This Special 1:03:39

3+ y ago1:03:39

1:03:39

In celebration of our 25th episode, we’re trying something new this week—interviewing our first couple! We invited two of our dearest friends, Jonny Mendez and Aimée Mazzenga, for one intimate and lively conversation. Jonny and Aimée have been together for nine years and married for almost five. As artists, they’re both extremely talented in their …

1
Chloe Shovein: Standing In Your Magic 53:00

3+ y ago53:00

53:00

Chloe Shovein is a women’s health coach who thoughtfully supports her clients to operate from self-love and confidence, rather than guilt and shame. With a background in sociology, Chloe brings an understanding of systems and advocates for a holistic wellness approach built to last. Chloe is a bright and multi-faceted light in the realm of wellness…

1
Lola Wright: Connecting With Your Aliveness 1:00:51

3+ y ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Lola Wright is a Holy Disruptor and Guide—weaving together the mystical and material to help people listen for their own internal wisdom. She hosts a podcast called Find Your Fierce & Loving which we highly recommend (and linked below). For many years Lola also served as the CEO of Bodhi Center, an organization committed to personal transformation,…

1
Alicia Kiewitt: Presence, Desire, & Staying Awake To Life 49:03

3+ y ago49:03

49:03

Alicia Kiewitt is a magic-maker to her core. She’s beloved by everyone who knows her—and it won’t take you long to understand why. As a thoughtful curator and designer of social spaces, she’s deeply gifted at creating environments that foster soul connection. As a trained spiritual director, she companions people as they explore, notice, and get to…

1
Nate Bacott: Being At Home With Yourself 1:01:00

3+ y ago1:01:00

1:01:00

This week’s guest is our personal trainer and dear friend, Nate Bacott. With a background in both Human Development and Positive Coaching Psychology, Nate brings a refreshing and nuanced perspective to the world of fitness. His coaching clients range from Olympic and Crossfit athletes to young kids. Whoever the client, he thoughtfully listens to th…

1
Erin Holden: Finding Freedom In Chosen Anchors 51:48

3+ y ago51:48

51:48

Today’s guest is our dear friend of many, many years—Erin Holden. Erin currently lives in Chicago and works as a nurse in the intensive care unit, so in other words—a hero. Our deepest gratitude to all the frontline workers—your care, dedication, and sacrifice does not go unnoticed here. Identifying as an Enneagram 7, Erin has often been on the roa…

1
Megan Kantor: Feeling Deeply, With Levity 44:02

3+ y ago44:02

44:02

Our guest today is talented photographer and self-described deep feeler, Megan Kantor. Megan and her husband Nate run their own wedding photography business, Cedar & Pines, and we are major fans of their work. While Megan is typically on the road traveling for weddings, due to the pandemic she’s been settling into a slower pace, putting down roots,…

1
Michael Forsberg: Rediscovering Thyself. brb. 51:21

4y ago51:21

51:21

Our guest this week is the generous, thoughtful, and endlessly creative Michael Forsberg. Having spent time in both the corporate and non-profit worlds, Michael's ambition to amplify social impact is the unchanging undercurrent of his work. Now as an Associate Director at a brand strategy firm, Michael helps his clients unlock hidden potential by l…

1
Harriet Roberts: Engaging Your Passion 52:52

4y ago52:52

52:52

Harriet Roberts is shaking up the world of fitness by finding motivation from a deep, soul place and rooting her identity in something much larger than any title. A talented and hard-working CrossFit athlete, Harriet has competed at the CrossFit games—the ultimate achievement in the CrossFit world. Alongside her passion for fitness, Harriet is also…

1
Jennifer Peters: Attracting What You Are 55:10

4y ago55:10

55:10

Jennifer Peters is an innovator, creator, restaurant owner, and the creative force behind one of our favorite restaurants of all time—Just BE Kitchen. As the only Whole30-certified restaurant headquartered in Colorado, it’s truly a gem and we easily order it multiple times a week. Throughout this conversation we discuss how the universe always has …

1
Hailey Thomas: Creating Something That Is Your Own 48:28

4y ago48:28

48:28

Hailey Thomas is a mindset coach for entrepreneurs, a podcast host, and one of our dear friends. She helps her clients move through mental blocks, get clear about where they’re going, and reimagine what’s possible. Throughout this conversation we discuss becoming aware of your internal feedback loops, developing supportive mental tools, and identif…

1
Shira Bentley: Staying True To What Excites You 48:59

4y ago48:59

48:59

This week’s guest is Australia-based artist and illustrator, Shira Bentley. Shira began her career as a print artist, and her love of collaborative storytelling quickly led her to illustration. Her beautiful work transforms ideas into engaging visual stories filled with color, humor, and snippets of daily life. Shira’s art has been exhibited in mem…

1
Teresa Huggins: Changing The Story 54:57

4y ago54:57

54:57

Teresa self-identifies as intuitive, always learning, awake, and optimistic. After twenty-one years of working in public schools as a counselor, she decided to pivot and create Leaders For Life International—the leadership program that had always been living in her soul. Since its inception, L4L has planted seeds of empowerment in so many lives—rea…

1
Trisha McDonald: Owning Your Worthiness 46:39

4y ago46:39

46:39

As a self-described forever learner, Trisha McDonald has already lived what feels like multiple lifetimes. From surviving a traumatic stroke when she was only 19 to retiring from the US Air Force at 23 and to now building an inspiring career in the realm of tech and social impact—Trisha is constantly evolving. Her openness, vulnerability, and fierc…

1
Dr. Sara Siddiqui: Normalizing Progress Over Perfection 41:08

4y ago41:08

41:08

Dr. Sara Siddiqui self-describes as a “healthy lifestyle cheerleader”. In her work as a chiropractic physician with a holistic approach, she has a front row seat to witnessing how trauma and stress affect our bodies. She’s also keenly aware of how we have to want to change before anything new can happen. In this episode we discuss how traumas, thou…

1
Annalisa Munoz Funk: Moving Through Fear to Enchantment 40:40

4y ago40:40

40:40

Annalisa Munoz Funk is both a talented brand consultant and a dear friend. As a business visionary blazing trails in predominantly white and male-driven spaces, she’s a force in helping foster conversations centering diversity and inclusion. After taking time to sift through fear and listen to her soul, she wrote her dream job into existence. She d…

1
Alexis Robertson: Making The Unconscious Conscious 40:12

4y ago40:12

40:12

Alexis Robertson isn’t interested in being anyone other than what her soul wants to be. After nearly a decade’s investment as a lawyer, she took internal inventory of her skill sets, desires, and thematic throughlines and took a leap into the unknown. Now as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at a major law firm as well as a Whole30 coach, Ale…

1
Xiomara Araruz: Being With The Breath 54:49

4y ago54:49

54:49

Our guest today is Xiomara Araruz. Xiomara is a yoga teacher, holistic wellness counselor, and yoga programs coordinator at the Art of Living Retreat Center in North Carolina. As you’ll soon discover, Xiomara is a deeply grounded and calming guide for those ready to take the journey within. Throughout this conversation we discuss how to balance pla…

1
Chuy: Becoming Your Authentic Self 1:01:25

4y ago1:01:25

1:01:25

Chuy Rodriguez self-describes as a family man and an artist. As a wildly talented love photographer based in Los Angeles, Chuy is used to existing in vulnerable spaces with his clients. The nature of his work has taught him that we invite authenticity from others by embodying it first. In this conversation we discuss working through creative funks,…

1
Jacob Henriquez: Embracing Impermanence 52:12

4y ago52:12

52:12

Our guest this week is marketing director for The New Primal and our friend, Jacob Henriquez. He was also named Whole30 coach of the year in 2019. As you’ll soon discover, Jacob possesses an inspiring and magnetic sense of self—but it didn’t come easy. He candidly shares about the challenges of being queer in traditionally non-queer spaces as well …

1
Dr. Vickie Bhatia: From Surviving to Thriving 47:10

4y ago47:10

47:10

2020 has been overwhelming to say the least. Collective anxiety is high and fear is constantly looming. We thought it’d be the perfect time to pull in an emotional expert to help us move through it all. Dr. Vickie Bhatia is a licensed clinical psychologist and Whole30 Certified Coach who is making an impact by helping people get in touch with their…

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