In this heartfelt conversation, Scott Schwenk welcomes author, poet, and teacher Elena Brower for a luminous dialogue centered on her new book Hold Nothing. Together, they explore what it means to live—and love—with radical honesty, spiritual discipline, and open-hearted presence. Elena shares the intimate stories, somatic wisdom, and poetic insights that shaped this newest offering, weaving themes of motherhood, grief, recovery, and devotion. A timely conversation about courage, creativity, and choosing to hold nothing back.

Elena Brower – Teacher, Author, Artist

Mother, mentor, poet, artist, volunteer, bestselling author and host of the Practice You Podcast, Elena Brower graduated Cornell University in 1992, designed textiles and apparel for almost a decade before shifting her focus to yoga, meditation, writing and art. Teaching asana since 1999, studying and practicing Zen meditation since 2020, she received the Buddhist Precepts from Roshi Joan Halifax at Upaya Zen Center in 2023. Now a candidate for Buddhist Chaplaincy, Elena offers her time in hospice and penitentiary settings. Her bestselling journals and books explore stages of life and listening. Her next book, Hold Nothing, just published by Shambhala Publications is available now..

Elena's Perceptive Parenting audio course is a key resource for parents; her signature course Simplify serves hundreds in reimagining priorities in order to experience more meaning every day, and she's also the founder of free global podcast The Matter of Menopause. Her weekly live yoga practices and meditations are featured on Glo; she offers retreats and workshops a few times a year, and her spoken word poetry can be heard on Above & Beyond's Flow State albums, for which she's received an RIAA-certified Gold Record for her writing on "Don't Leave." Elena works to elevate bright futures for girls, women and children through her support for Girls on Fire Leaders, On The Inside and Free Food Kitchen.

Scott Schwenk

Scott’s teachings, courses and master coaching guide leaders, seekers and creatives to explore the embodiment of their deepest selves in service of thriving on all levels of being, both individually and relationally.

You can receive a free guided meditation and explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.

Stillness, Surrender, and the Sacred: Elena Brower on Holding Nothing 

In this heartfelt conversation, Scott Schwenk welcomes author, poet, and teacher Elena Brower for a luminous dialogue centered on her new book Hold Nothing. Together, they explore what it means to live—and love—with radical honesty, spiritual discipline, and open-hearted presence. Elena shares the intimate stories, somatic wisdom, and poetic insights that shaped this newest offering, weaving themes of motherhood, grief, recovery, and devotion. A timely conversation about courage, creativity, and choosing to hold nothing back.

Elena Brower – Teacher, Author, Artist

Mother, mentor, poet, artist, volunteer, bestselling author and host of the Practice You Podcast, Elena Brower graduated Cornell University in 1992, designed textiles and apparel for almost a decade before shifting her focus to yoga, meditation, writing and art. Teaching asana since 1999, studying and practicing Zen meditation since 2020, she received the Buddhist Precepts from Roshi Joan Halifax at Upaya Zen Center in 2023. Now a candidate for Buddhist Chaplaincy, Elena offers her time in hospice and penitentiary settings. Her bestselling journals and books explore stages of life and listening. Her next book, Hold Nothing, just published by Shambhala Publications is available now.. 

Elena's Perceptive Parenting audio course is a key resource for parents; her signature course Simplify serves hundreds in reimagining priorities in order to experience more meaning every day, and she's also the founder of free global podcast The Matter of Menopause. Her weekly live yoga practices and meditations are featured on Glo; she offers retreats and workshops a few times a year, and her spoken word poetry can be heard on Above & Beyond's Flow State albums, for which she's received an RIAA-certified Gold Record for her writing on "Don't Leave." Elena works to elevate bright futures for girls, women and children through her support for Girls on Fire Leaders, On The Inside and Free Food Kitchen.

Scott Schwenk 

Scott’s teachings, courses and master coaching guide leaders, seekers and creatives to explore the embodiment of their deepest selves in service of thriving on all levels of being, both individually and relationally.

You can receive a free guided meditation and explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.



In this episode of The Choice to Grow, Scott Schwenk is joined by systems thinker, educator, and inner development guide Dr. Abigail Lynam. Together, they explore what it means to lead during planetary transformation—how our internal development shapes our external impact. From generational healing to the science of interconnectedness, Abigail shares her path through grief, shadow, and emergence. A profound dialogue on belonging, leadership, and the conscious evolution of systems and self.



Abigail Lynam

Abigail Lynam is a guide for transformation—of self, of systems, of the shared life we inhabit. As a coach, facilitator, and creator of transformative learning journeys, she invites individuals and groups into deeper presence, expanded perspectives, and more awake, whole ways of leading and living.

She serves as senior faculty for Pacific Integral’s Emergent Leadership and Generating Transformative Change programs, offered on three continents, and teaches in Fielding Graduate University’s PhD program in Human and Organizational Development. A teacher candidate in Integral Polarity Practice, she is also a developmental coach and scorer with Stages International and a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory.

Rooted in adult developmental psychology and informed by awareness-based, embodiment, and relational practices, Abigail’s work bridges inner and outer transformation. She is particularly passionate about the interdependence of individual and collective development—bridging divides, cultivating capacities for emergence, and supporting the awakening and unfolding of humanity in service to all life.



Scott Schwenk 

Scott’s teachings, courses and master coaching guide leaders, seekers and creatives to explore the embodiment of their deepest selves in service of thriving on all levels of being, both individually and relationally.

You can receive a free guided meditation and explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.



Emergent Leadership for a Thriving Planet with Abigail Lynam

In this riveting conversation, Scott Schwenk welcomes journalist, award-winning author, and intention researcher Lynne McTaggart, known for her groundbreaking books The Field, The Intention Experiment, The Power of Eight and more. Together, they explore the potent science and consistently miraculous results of focused group intention, consciousness beyond the brain, and how shifting our perspective from “me” to “we” may just heal the planet. From the quantum field to collective healing experiments, this episode dives deep into how intention and interconnection can reshape our reality.

Lynne McTaggart, one of the central authorities on the new science and consciousness, is the award-winning author of seven books, including the worldwide bestsellers The Field, The Intention Experiment and The Power of Eight. She is also cofounder of the international magazine What Doctors Don’t Tell You (www.WDDTY.com), and the architect of the Intention Experiments, a web based “global laboratory” to test the power of intention to heal the world.A highly sought after public speaker, Lynne is consistently listed as one of the world’s 100 most spiritually influential people.

Scott Schwenk

Scott’s teachings, courses and master coaching guide leaders, seekers and creatives to explore the embodiment of their deepest selves in service of thriving on all levels of being, both individually and relationally.

You can receive a free guided meditation and explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.

From Me to We: Unleashing the Miraculous for Global Change with Lynne McTaggart

In this rich and multidimensional conversation, Scott Schwenk is joined by Saniel 

Bonder and Linda Groves-Bonder—founders of the Waking Down in Mutuality work—for a dialogue on what it means to live a fully awakened and fully human life. Together, they explore the paradox of recognizing ourselves as being radiantly whole simultaneously with flaws and lots of room to grow, the power of mutuality in relationships, and why awakening doesn’t mean erasing your ego.  This episode is a deep dive into radical embodiment, healthy shadow work, and the courage to be known and shows how relationships hold a mirror up for the ongoing inner work.

Saniel Bonder and Linda Groves-Bonder have developed a relational, integrative, and readily accessible breakthrough approach to spiritual enlightenment and wholeness best known as Waking Down in Mutuality®. For over three decades, as pioneering coaches of this embodied process they’ve taken enlightenment from remote temples and ‘Olympic athletes’ of spiritual practice, evolved it into a humane, ethical process and realization, and conveyed it into the towns, households, and workplaces of everyday people globally. 



Born in 1950, Saniel was a Harvard Honorary National Scholar, earning a B.A. in Social Relations. After completing his spiritual quest, he has spent 30+ years “democratizing” awakened living with Linda and others. He has authored many spiritual books, including Waking Down and Healing the Spirit/Matter Split, and two novels. 



Linda graduated from Ball State University with a B.S. in Art Education. A singer-songwriter, photo stylist, and artist, she toured with an international band and has released two solo albums, I’m Here and Joy of Being. Since 1996 she has focused with Saniel on teaching intensive transformation through their total suite of offerings, now known as the Human Sun HEART Work™. 



Learn more about Saniel & Linda and Waking Down® at www.sanielandlinda.com and check out their main introductory offering at maxjoyinfo.com.  









Scott Schwenk 



Scott’s teachings, courses and private mentoring guide leaders, seekers and creatives to explore their deepest selves in service of thriving on all levels of being, both individually and relationally.



You can receive a free guided meditation and explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.





 Radiantly Whole and Perfectly Flawed: Saniel Bonder & Linda Groves-Bonder

In this spacious and soul-touching dialogue, Scott Schwenk is joined by Carl Lindeborg—founder of the Flow Festival, wellness entrepreneur, and integrative guide through the thresholds of the human spirit. Together, they explore what it means to return to wholeness in a fractured world—how to meet intensity with breath, how to turn fear into fuel, and how the practices of presence, nature connection, and conscious leadership can realign our deepest purpose. With stories from his journey through burnout, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and stillness, Carl offers luminous reflections on living from the inside out.



Deeply curious about human development, Carl Lindeborg has sought out learning in many places, from studying with the Dalai Lama at his home in Dharamsala to participating with global networks like Conscious Capitalism.  With a Masters from the Stockholm School of Economics and first career as a management consultant, Carl has worked for over twenty years with people and organizations in change as an advisor, consultant and teacher, both in Sweden and internationally.  



Carl has extensive experience as programme director and faculty member at SSE Executive Education, Oxford Leadership and Companions for Leadership. He’s been a guest speaker at Harvard Business School and published some 25 articles in the Swedish business magazine Affärsvärlden.



Carl just recently released his newest book The Authentic Shift: Inner Development for a Changing World.







Scott Schwenk 



Scott’s teachings, courses and private mentoring guide leaders, seekers and creatives to explore their deepest selves in service of thriving on all levels of being, both individually and relationally.



You can receive a free guided meditation and explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.



Transforming Burnout and Fear Into Fuel and Leadership: Carl Lindeborg's Journey to Wholeness

In this soul-deep episode, Scott Schwenk sits down with Hawaiian mystic and intuitive guide Keoni Hanalei for a profound conversation on returning to wholeness. Keoni shares powerful teachings from the land and from his own awakening—what it means to listen to the “inner Earth,” how trauma disrupts our sacred geometry, and why healing isn’t about fixing, but about remembering. With humor, raw honesty, and visionary depth, this dialogue is a call to reclaim our divinity, live in coherence, and recognize that we already belong.

A conversation that maps the mystical and the embodied with stunning clarity.

Ke’Oni Hanalei is Mū-Hawaiian cultural practitioner who thrives on the island of Maui, Hawai’i. Raised by his traditional Hawaiian grandmother, Kau’ikeonalani, Ke’oni inherited a rich legacy that spans an incredible 1,017 generations and over 20,000 years of ancestral knowledge. This vast heritage deeply informs his Body of Work, which includes the sacred spinal technology known as ‘ULU, the healing properties of botanical fern Medicine, and the profound spiritual teachings of ALOHA MĀ. His cultural practices also includes operating a Hawai’i-based apothecary called PŌHALA.

Scott Schwenk - Master Coach, Spiritual Teacher, Culture Architect

Scott’s teachings, courses and private mentoring guide leaders, seekers and creatives to explore their deepest selves in service of thriving on all levels of being, both individually and relationally.

You can receive a free guided meditation and explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.



Living From Wholeness In A World On Fire with Ke'Oni Hanalei

In this illuminating conversation, Scott Schwenk sits down with branding genius, entrepreneur, podcaster, and creative force Matt Gottesman for a powerful dialogue on what it means to grow from within. Together, they explore the distinction between alignment and hustle, why nervous system regulation is the new success metric, and how to live a life that reflects soul—not ego. With stories of personal unraveling and radical rebuilding, Matt shares his own journey of reclaiming purpose, creativity, and the freedom of showing up fully as yourself.



Matt Gottesman is a 3x founder, podcaster and writer... and has successfully intertwined his life’s work with his passions, purpose and interests.



While The Niche is You podcast consistently ranks among the world’s top downloads, featuring conversations that seamlessly weave together business strategy, creativity, spirituality, and personal growth, his writing on Substack continues to command some of the platform’s highest subscription rates... currently ranked #7 in Philosophy worldwide out of 50M.



Nah, Bigger Media, his publishing and production company, has emerged as a powerhouse platform (1B+ impressions, 500M+ video views &amp; 300K+ social media followers) for emerging voices who share his vision of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. 



“We’re not just building brands and businesses; he says, we’re building worlds... not fitting into old spaces but helping redefine new ones.”



With an extensive background, an MBA in International Business and over 20+ years in tech media, he’s worked and partnered with some of the most iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy.



Links:

Writing: mattgottesman.substack.com

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-niche-is-you/id1645205346

Website: mattgottesman.com

Instagram: @mattgottesman

Apparel: The Niche Is You

Twitter: @matt_gottesman

Linkedin: /in/mattgottesman





Scott Schwenk - Master Coach, Spiritual Teacher, Culture Architect



Scott’s teachings, courses and private mentoring guide leaders, seekers and creatives to explore their deepest selves in service of thriving on all levels of being, both individually and relationally.



You can receive a free guided meditation and explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.





Inner Path, Outer Impact: A Deep Dive with Matt Gottesman

In this wide-ranging, vulnerable conversation, dancer, actor, and father Adam Garcia joins host Scott Schwenk for a deep dive into self-worth, inner child healing, and the surprising power of making peace with our many identities. From the stage to the stillness, Adam reflects on choosing growth through curiosity, imperfection, and connection. A rich journey through the river of life—with a few good laughs along the way.

Adam Garcia - Actor, Dancer, Leader

After training at Kerry & Glenn Dumbrells’ Capital Performance Studios in

Sydney, David Atkins & Dein Perry kindly offered Adam a slight detour from the

pursuit of biological sciences by taking him touring around Australia with the

musical Hot Shoe Shuffle. The show carried him to London where he was lucky to have a varied

and expansive career including 12 West-End musicals & plays.

He has appeared in numerous films and TV shows such as Coyote Ugly, Flight of The Conchords, Afterlife Of The Party & The Serpent Queen.

Most recently Adam has completed Johnathan Church’s production of 42nd Street as Julian

Marsh, a new film The Performance about vaudeville tap dancers’ experience in 1937 Berlin and also achieved writing, co-choreographing & co-directing the Irish & Tap dance show Emerald Storm that completed its first tour of the UK.

Scott Schwenk - Master Coach, Spiritual Teacher, Culture Architect

Scott’s teachings, courses and private mentoring guide leaders, seekers and creatives to explore their deepest selves in service of thriving on all levels of being, both individually and relationally.

Host and creator of the podcast The Choice To Grow, Scott is known for his hugely popular courses and workshops with OneCommune.com, Younity.com, Wanderlust Festivals, and Unplug Meditation, Scott has been catalyzing the inner evolution of others for decades: helping them to grow, transform obstacles into opportunities, and find Love within.

Scott spent several years living and studying in a meditation monastery which introduced him to the core body of Tantric meditation traditions which continue to flow through each of his teachings. Scott continues to study and teach from two key Tantric lineage streams.

Apprenticeships in leadership development, meditation and philosophy training, shadow work/shadow resolution and spiritual awakening are all part of Scott’s development into the thought-leader that he is today. He continues to refine his offerings studying and practicing with key innovators at the leading edges of human development.

Scott’s teachings support the entire person to not only progressively recognize, stabilize and embody our inextricable oneness with the source of creation (Waking Up), but also to resolve the wounds of the past (Cleaning Up), continually expand our capacities for wider and more inclusive perspectives on any moment (Growing Up) and creatively and joyfully participate and collaborate with all of life as a loving thriving human being (Showing Up).

You can receive a free guided meditation and explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.

Adam Garcia on Loving All Your Parts

Eugene Pustoshkin is an integral psychologist, translator into Russian of Ken Wilber’s work, and co-founder of the Integral Awareness Meditation process. He brings forward a richly textured transmission on waking up, growing up, and showing up in life. Drawing from integral theory, mystical traditions, and his own path of translating wisdom into lived practice, Eugene weaves a map of radical wholeness, creativity, and presence. If you’ve ever wondered how deep philosophy meets direct experience, this is your portal.

With two decades of experience studying and working with and teaching from the Integral Framework and various transpersonal approaches, Eugene has developed an intimate knowledge of this field through his translation of a dozen books by Ken Wilber into Russian. He serves as Chief Editor at Eros & Kosmos (ErosKosmos.org), the Russian Integral online journal, and as Bureau Chief for Russia at Transdisciplinary Leadership Review (formerly Integral Leadership Review). 

"Eugene Pustoshkin is a major representative and promoter of Integral Meta-Theory in Russia. He has a superb understanding of this radically new approach, and he has worked endlessly to get it accepted and spread in Russia (and elsewhere). He has particularly helped by translating many of my works into Russian, and has done a brilliant job with this task. I'm deeply grateful to the work he has done to help promote and spread Integral Meta-Theory, and I can certainly recommend highly any projects that he is associated with." — Ken Wilber, philosopher, founder of Integral Metatheory and Practice, author of A Brief History of Everything and The Religion of Tomorrow (and other books)

Eugene’s website in English: http://integralmeditation.ru/en

Integral Space YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYHMVZO6Z6gL12bORk6LLw

Blog Transcendelia: https://www.pustoshkin.com/

Integral online journal Eros & Kosmos [abbreviated English version]:

http://eroskosmos.org/english

Scott Schwenk - Master Coach, Spiritual Teacher, Culture Architect

Scott’s teachings, courses and private mentoring guide leaders, seekers and creatives to explore their deepest selves in service of thriving on all levels of being, both individually and relationally.

Host and creator of the podcast The Choice To Grow, Scott is known for his hugely popular courses and workshops with OneCommune.com, Younity.com, Wanderlust Festivals, and Unplug Meditation, Scott has been catalyzing the inner evolution of others for decades: helping them to grow, transform obstacles into opportunities, and find Love within.

Scott spent several years living and studying in a meditation monastery which introduced him to the core body of Tantric meditation traditions which continue to flow through each of his teachings. Scott continues to study and teach from two key Tantric lineage streams.

Apprenticeships in leadership development, meditation and philosophy training, shadow work/shadow resolution and spiritual awakening are all part of Scott’s development into the thought-leader that he is today. He continues to refine his offerings studying and practicing with key innovators at the leading edges of human development.

Scott’s teachings support the entire person to not only progressively recognize, stabilize and embody our inextricable oneness with the source of creation (Waking Up), but also to resolve the wounds of the past (Cleaning Up),  continually expand our capacities for wider and more inclusive perspectives on any moment (Growing Up) and creatively and joyfully participate and collaborate with all of life as a loving thriving human being (Showing Up).

You can receive a free guided meditation and explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.



Your Life Is the Practice with Eugene Pustoshkin

"It takes courage to push yourself to places you have never been before... to test your limits... to break through barriers. And the day came when the risk it took to stay tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." ~Anais Nin

What tools, practices and perspectives can help you to thrive more in life? To build your abilities for using challenges and unfamiliar experiences as powerful opportunities to grow and add value?

The Choice to Grow tunes into stories of positive impact. Spotlighting change makers, innovators and trailblazers in wellness, leadership, music, and art whose continual choice to grow is adding value, forging innovation and opening up new possibilitiies around the world.

Each guest is someone who’s met plenty of obstacles and challenges and continues to make the key choice — The Choice to Grow and to keep on growing.

Dialogues, discoveries, tips and tools for an extraordinary life that feels great and inspires others to grow.

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly." ~Anonymous

Scott Schwenk

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