• Ep 122: ft. Val Alcorn on Herbal Bitters, Ancestors, and Gardening as a Spiritual Act

    Val is an herbalist, gardener, writer, and artist. She is the owner of Woodspell Apothecary where she cultivates resources for folks to connect to the plant world around them.

    In this episode we talk about:

    • The mythical nature of the forest
    • The connection between fairytales and the forest
    • Working with fear in nature
    • Connecting to ancestors through the land
    • Herbal bitters and how they affect the body
    • The ancestral gut connection to bitters
    • How to incorporate herbs into your daily wellness practice


    Connect with Val:

    Instagram: @woodspell.apothecary

    Substack: Medicine Garden and Under the Linden Tree

    Connect with Leya: @leyavandoren

    Join Us for The Poetry Of Plant Magic

    Connect To Your Writing Practice & Deepen Your Connection With Nature

    When: April 9th-April 30th, 2024

    Where: Anywhere in the world via Zoom

    • 4 weekly creative writing sessions
    • Creative Writing and Journal Prompts
    • Learn about herbal medicine and how to incorporate herbs into your wellness practice
    • Write and read poetry in safe community
    • Develop a deep connection with nature
    • Herbal folklore and ancient uses of herbs

    Sign up here.

    Creative Resources Mentioned:

    • Spiritual Ecology
    • Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
    1h 5m | Mar 28, 2024
  • Ep 121: The Poetry of Plant Magic - A 4 Week Creative Writing Workshop

    Tune into this week's solo episode as Leya shares all the details behind the upcoming creative writing workshop, The Poetry of Plant Magic!

    The Poetry Of Plant Magic

    Connect To Your Writing Practice & Deepen Your Connection With Nature

    When: April 9th-April 30th, 2024

    Where: Anywhere in the world via Zoom

    • 4 weekly creative writing sessions
    • Creative Writing and Journal Prompts
    • Learn about herbal medicine and how to incorporate herbs into your wellness practice
    • Write and read poetry in safe community
    • Develop a deep connection with nature
    • Herbal folklore and ancient uses of herbs


    Learn more and sign up here.

    Connect with Leya: @leyavandoren

    31m | Mar 21, 2024
  • Ep 120: ft. Brooke Novick on Plant Medicine and Microdosing with Intention

    Brooke Novick is a licensed psychotherapist and graduate of the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She has worked for a psilocybin retreat company, assisted a shaman during Ayahuasca ceremonies, and has years of experience working with individuals, couples, and groups.

    In this episode, we talk about:

    • Integrating therapy and medicine work
    • Cultivating your intuition on when to work with plant medicine
    • Working through fear before and during a ceremony
    • Allowing integration to be part of the medicine experience
    • How to start an intentional microdosing practice


    Creative Resources:

    • How To Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
    • Fantastic Fungi (Documentary on Netflix)
    • The Last Shaman (Documentary on Amazon Prime) 


    Connect with Brooke:

    Website: https://axismundiceremony.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axismundiceremony/


    Learn more about The Poetry of Plant Magic: https://leyavandoren.com/the-poetry-of-plant-magic

    56m | Mar 14, 2024
  • Ep 119: Creative Habits, Writing to Feel, and Friendship Breakups

    In this solo episode, Leya shares the two intentions she made for 2024 and how sticking to her habits has created more stability, structure, and safety.

    We discuss:

    • The changing of the seasons
    • What Leya loved about winter this year
    • The hardest part about sticking to your habits
    • Writing as an act of embodiment
    • Feeling your feelings
    • Friendship breakups
    • Healing the sister wound


    DM @leyavandoren or email me at leyavandoren@gmail.com with the word "RETREAT" for more info on The Soul Radiance Retreat May 17-20th, 2024. The deadline to sign up is March 17th.

    Discover Your Creative Soul Playlist: Listen here.


    32m | Feb 29, 2024
  • Ep 118: ft. Britt Olson on Healing through Motherhood

    Britt is a certified health coach, spiritual life coach, podcast host, entrepreneur, energy healer, plant-based nutrition advocate, speaker, and integrative wellness enthusiast.

    In this episode, we talk about:

    • How Britt hosted the MAGIC retreat in Puerto Rico and the gifts it gave us
    • Trusting your visions
    • Pausing your career for motherhood
    • Navigating parenthood and mental health with your partner
    • How to not self-abandon in motherhood


    Listen to our first episode here:

    Episode 55: ft. Britt Olson on Saturn Returns, Intuitive Eating, and the MAGIC Retreat

    Connect with Britt: @thebrittolson

    Apply for the Soul Radiance Retreat, May 17-20th in San Diego, CA:

    Find more info here


    1h 22m | Feb 15, 2024
  • Ep 117: ft. Ning Tendo on Dreamwork and the Gifts of Grief

    Ning is a published poet, grief guide, spiritual healer and dream yogi specializing in the intersection of the healing power of dreams, rituals, and spiritual constellations as potent tools for helping the bereaved evolve and continue their relationship with their dead loved one and find the light side of grief.

    Her work as a grief guide is an integration of 10+ years of Tibetan dream yoga, 6+ years of Spiritual Healing and Constellations work, shamanic breathwork, African mourning and grief rituals, western grief models, sleep and dream science, a master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology from Columbia University as well as an embodiment of her personal experience grieving the death of her mother in 2018.

    Her life’s work is to inspire people to develop a softer relationship with death and grief by learning how to consciously journey into their pain, evolve relationships with their dead loved ones, and extract the medicine, soul gifts and purpose hidden within their grief.


    In this episode we discuss:

    • The gifts from death and grief
    • Connecting with your loved ones after they pass
    • The five dimensions of grief
    • Connecting with your loved ones through dreaming
    • How to start remembering your dreams
    • Interpreting the symbols from your dreams
    • Crafting rituals to support transitions in your life
    • The connection between creativity and grief


    Connect with Ning:

    @ning_tendo

    Website: www.dreamreunions.com

    Ning's Poetry Book: Death Song in Green

    Creative Resources Mentioned:

    • The Dream Messenger by Patricia Garfield
    • Grief Dreams by T.J Wray and Ann Back Price
    • Unattended Sorrows by Stephen Weller
    • The Dark Interval by Rainer Marie Rilke
    • The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller
    • Grief Dreams by Dr. Joshua Black
    1h 5m | Feb 1, 2024
  • Ep 116: Announcing The Soul Radiance Retreat!

    Leya announces the launch of The Soul Radiance Retreat - a sisterhood, creativity, and self-love focused retreat from May 17th-20th, 2024 near San Diego, California.

    An invitation to slow down, connect with your true self, and experience the magic of sisterhood.

    She invites her co-hosts for the retreat, Shannon Keating and Ashley Love to discuss:

    • All the details for the upcoming retreat, The Soul Radiance Retreat
    • What Shannon, Ashley, and Leya have all gained from attending various retreats (including how they met at a retreat!)
    • Our WHY for creating The Soul Radiance Retreat + what you can expect to receive!
    • The fears that can come up before investing in a retreat
    • The magic of sisterhood and finding soul-aligned friendships


    Learn more about the retreat: bit.ly/thesoulradianceretreat

    Connect with Leya:

    @leyavandoren // www.leyavandoren.com

    Connect with Ashley:

    @ashleycreatrix // www.theashleylove.com

    Connect with Shannon:

    @shannonkeating // www.shannonkeating.com

    1h 14m | Jan 18, 2024
  • Ep 115: My Favorite Books From 2023 and Why Reading Is Good For The Creative Soul

    In this bonus episode, Leya shares some of her favorite books she read in 2023.

    She talks about:

    • The importance of reading and why she's loved books and reading since childhood
    • Why this year she stopped reading as many self-help books and started reading more fiction!
    • How social media can be a window, but books can be a mirror
    • How books connect us to the collective unconsciousness


    Some of the books mentioned:

    • Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker
    • Mother, Nature by Jedidiah Jenkins
    • Letting Magic In by Maia Toll
    • A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J Maas
    • The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch

    + tune into the episode to hear 10+ more!

    Connect with Leya:

    Instagram: @leyavandoren

    Website: www.leyavandoren.com

    31m | Jan 11, 2024
  • Ep 114: 2023 Year in Review - Highs & Lows

    Tune into this special solo episode where Leya reflects on the highs and lows of 2023, the lessons learned, and some of her hopes for 2024.

    From spending the first six months of the year wedding planning, to hosting a bachelorette retreat trip in Tulum, to being a bridesmaid in a friends wedding, to getting married in June, to honeymooning in Mexico, to moving to D.C., to connecting with family and ancestors, and experiencing the contrasts of life, this year was one to remember!

    Creative Resources Mentioned:

    • The Conscious Bride by Sheryl Paul
    • The Wisdom of Anxiety by Sheryl Paul


    Connect with Leya:

    @leyavandoren

    leyavandoren@gmail.com


    Purchase The Creative Soul Practice for $44 here.

    1h 15m | Jan 4, 2024
  • Ep 113: Receiving PRESENCE for my 29th Birthday

    Happy winter solstice and happy 29th birthday to our host, Leya!

    In this episode, Leya shares what she's celebrating for her 29th birthday, including a celebration of this year and her favorite podcast episodes from the past year.

    Today is the LAST day to receive 10% off The Creative Soul Practice using code "CREATIVESOUL10". After today, the price will remain at $44.00.

    Leave a rating and review to get a free guided writing meditation.


    Creative Resources Mentioned:

    It Didn't Start With You by Mark Wolynn

    20m | Dec 21, 2023
  • Ep 112: ft. Nikki Novo on Soul-Led Living and Grounding Tips for Starseeds

    Nikki Novo is a Cuban-American, best-selling author and master intuitive reader with a waitlist exceeding 1,000 people, and the founder of the Soul Reading Method®, a certification program where she has taught more than 1,300 students how to activate their own intuitive abilities. Nikki is the go-to spiritual advisor for the biggest names in the wellness industry and a leader in the spiritual Latinx community.

    In this episode we talk about:

    • Her new book, Soul-Led Living
    • Grounding tips for starseeds
    • Developing the voice of the inner mother/inner parent
    • Reparenting yourself while raising kids
    • Spiritual reasons behind panic attacks
    • Your souls work and your career
    • The seasons of your soul's purpose


    Creative Resources Mentioned:

    • Journey of Souls by Michael Newton
    • Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss
    • Aaron Abke


    Connect with Nikki:

    Website: nikkinovo.com

    Book: Soul-Led Living: Discover Your Soul's True Path and Become Brave Enough to Follow It


    The Creative Soul Practice - a 7 day guided writing meditation series is now live! Purchase it here for $44.

    Listen to the free heart chakra meditation on Episode 111!

    Use code "CREATIVESOUL10" to get 10% off

    Discount available through Dec. 21st, 2023

    Connect with Leya: leyavandoren.com

    1h 11m | Dec 14, 2023
  • Ep 111: The Creative Soul Practice is HERE! & Heart Chakra Writing Meditation

    The Creative Soul Practice is officially LIVE! It's a 7 day guided writing meditation series to help you reconnect back to your writing practice and your creative soul.

    Listen to this episode as I share the WHY behind creating The Creative Soul Practice and what you can expect inside

    +++PLUS a SNEAK PEEK of the practice - Get Day 4 completely free inside this episode, connecting you to your heart <3

    The Heart Chakra Meditation starts at 16:29

    Purchase the Creative Soul Practice HERE

    Use code "CREATIVESOUL10" for 10% off

    Discount Available through December 21st, 2023


    Website: www.leyavandoren.com

    The Creative Soul Practice: https://leyavandoren.com/the-creative-soul-practice


    34m | Nov 30, 2023
  • Ep 110: Learning Self-Care Through The Seasons

    Tune into this week’s solo episode as Leya explores the topic of self-care and how to support and take care of ourselves through the darker, colder seasons:

    • What does it mean to really take care of ourselves?
    • Why millennials are the “self care” generation and why it’s not a bad thing
    • Who are examples in your life of women who take care of themselves?
    • Allowing self-care to change with the seasons
    • How plants can support your self-care practice
    • How where you live can affect your self-care routine
    • Some of my favorite ways to take care of myself through the seasons


    Join me on December 5th for a free workshop:

    The Poetry of Plant Magic

    hosted with Creative Mornings. Sign up here


    Rate and review the podcast for a free guided writing meditation!

    21m | Nov 16, 2023
  • Ep 109: On Body Love And Self Acceptance

    In this episode, Leya shares about her soul sister retreat weekend in San Diego and talks about the lessons she learned from letting herself be seen in her most natural form in a photoshoot.

    We also talk about:

    • How ancestral work deepens your sense of belonging
    • Leya discovering her great great grandmother is from an indigenous tribe in Siberia
    • The Taurus/Scorpio Eclipse cycle from November 2021 to October 2023
    • Lessons from the Taurus Lunar eclipse
    • The importance of female friendships
    • Letting yourself be witnessed and seen
    • Recapping the soul sister retreat weekend in San Diego
    • The feminine form
    • Releasing shame and judgement about our bodies
    • Being a future ancestor


    Resources:

    Connect with @leyavandoren

    Photographer: @ashleycreatrix


    51m | Nov 2, 2023
  • Ep 108: ft. Amikaeyla Gaston on Music as Medicine

    Amikaeyla Gaston is a force for change. Proclaimed as one of the “purest contemporary voices” by National Public Radio (NPR), Amikaeyla is a public keynote speaker, performer, educator, and author. She travels the world serving as a Cultural Arts Ambassador for the State Department and is the Founder of the International Cultural Arts and Healing Sciences Institute and co- Executive Director for World Trust Educational Services Organization.

    In this episode we talk about:

    • How music helped Ami heal from a traumatic hate crime
    • Restorative Justice
    • The subconscious power of music
    • How to start singing even if you think you're a bad singer
    • Using the voice to heal the body
    • Sustaining hope through hopeless times
    • Examining privilege and power


    Creative Resources:


    Connect with Ami:

    www.amikaeyla.com


    Get on the waitlist to be the first to know when The Creative Soul Practice launches!

    DM @leyavandoren

    55m | Oct 19, 2023
  • Ep 107: ft. Jamie Varon on Identity Shifts and Writing her Book, Main Character Energy

    Jamie Varon is a Writer, Course Creator, Branding Expert and Executive Producer. Her first book “Radically Content” (along with the companion journal Radically Content: The Journal) was released in 2022 and her fiction book, Main Character Energy was released in 2023. She also created a course called Live With Intention and writes a newsletter on Substack called Plot Twist.

    In this episode, we talk about:

    • The Identity Shifts That Come with Reaching Success
    • How Writing For 2 Hours A Day Is More Productive Than Writing For 8 Hours 
    • Finding Internal Self-Worth As A Creative, Even After Achieving Your Dreams 
    • How To Live With Intention In The Age of Social Media
    • Dealing With Criticism Once Your Book Is Published
    • Valuing Your Own Creative Voice and Writing What You Believe In
    • How to Cultivate a Growth Mindset
    • The Differences of Writing A Self-Help Book Vs. A Fiction Novel
    • Her Book Writing Process for Main Character Energy


    Creative Resources:

    • Outrageous Openness by Tasha Silver


    Connect with Jamie:

    Website: https://www.jamievaron.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamievaron/


    DM @leyavandoren for first access to The Creative Soul Practice - a 7 day guided writing meditation series to start your daily creative practice.

    1h 8m | Oct 5, 2023
  • Ep 106: How to Plan a Conscious and Intentional Bachelorette Trip, Maiden to Bride Ceremonies + my bachelorette trip RECAP to Tulum

    In this episode, Leya shares about her bachelorette trip to Tulum, Mexico.

    We talk about:

    • How to curate an intentional bachelorette trip and shift the focus from excessive drinking to conscious ceremony
    • Mindful travel
    • Navigating fears, self doubt, and low self worth when having an event celebrating the BRIDE!
    • How to ACTUALLY support the brides in your life
    • The full bachelorette itinerary in Tulum, Mexico
    • Why women gathering is SO healing
    • How to create intentional ceremonies to honor the transition from maiden to bride


    + Leya sings a special song devoted to Goddess Ixchel at the end :)

    This episode is a must listen for any bride or maid of honor planning a bachelorette trip who wants to do it in a mindful, conscious, intentional way to really HONOR the transition and CELEBRATE with the women in your life.

    Connect with Leya:

    @leyavandoren

    Write a rating and review to receive a free guided writing meditation.

    1h 2m | Sep 21, 2023
  • Ep 105: Welcome to Season 2 - Life Updates, Upcoming Creative Writing Workshops, and a NEW ERA

    Welcome to Season 2 of The Creative Soul Podcast!

    In this episode we talk about:

    • Post wedding energy and the change Leya has felt since getting married!
    • Navigating a dark night of the soul and making it to the other side
    • Stories from our honeymoon ft. turtles, the full moon, and the sea
    • Embracing change and new beginnings
    • What you can expect for Season 2 of the podcast!
    • Shares upcoming exciting creative projects, including The Creative Soul Practice - a guided writing meditation series, writing workshops focused on herbalism, ancestral work, finding the magic in everyday life, and RETREATS coming to you in 2024.


    Join the waitlist for the upcoming writing workshops:

    @leyavandoren

    Write a rating and review and receive a free guided writing meditation!

    47m | Sep 7, 2023
  • Ep 104: WE'RE GETTING MARRIED IN TWO WEEKS! A Convo with Paxton on Spirituality, Love, and Growth

    In this episode, Leya and Paxton discuss their 5 year journey on the road to marriage, with their upcoming wedding in 2 weeks!

    They discuss:

    • What brought them together as a couple
    • The differences they had when they first met
    • The growth they've experienced as a couple
    • What Paxton is most excited for the wedding
    • Their different perspectives on religion and spirituality


    Connect with Leya:

    @leyavandoren

    1h 40m | Jun 13, 2023
  • Ep 103: ft. Alexandra Franzen on Marketing Without Social Media for Self Employed Creatives

    Alexandra Franzen is a best-selling author, award-winning editor, and entrepreneur based in Hawaii. She has written seven books including two novels. She has written articles for Time, Forbes, Newsweek, The Huffington Post, and Lifehacker. Her work has been mentioned in The New York Times Small Business Blog, The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, Fast Company, BuzzFeed, Inc., in Tim Ferriss’ newsletter, and she has appeared on the Peabody Award-winning radio show, Marketplace.

    She’s the co-founder of a company called Get It Done and a brick and mortar bookstore called One Idea Books and Gifts.

    In this episode, we talk about:

    • How she became a self-employed creative
    • Her decision for getting off social media
    • How to market without social media
    • Her daily routine
    • Why she instituted a 4 day work week for her company
    • Working on projects for clients vs yourself
    • Self publishing vs Traditional Publishing


    Creative Resources:

    • Alphabetizer
    • The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss


    Connect with Alex:

    Website: www.alexandrafranzen.com

    www.youcangetitdone.com

    57m | Feb 23, 2023
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