In this episode, somatic guide and facilitator Venita Ramirez invites us into a deeper dialogue with the intelligence of the body. We explore how true healing unfolds when we slow down, honor the mystery, and learn to trust the subtle signals within. Venita shares how grief, surrender, and stillness can become portals into wholeness—and why becoming “no one” is sometimes the most liberating path forward.

This is a conversation about reclaiming embodiment in a disembodied world. And about remembering that, no matter how fractured things may feel, you have never been separate from the sacred.

Venita Ramirez - Master coach, adult development guide, shadow work samurai

Since 2016 Venita has focused her coaching practice on supporting people who are at later stages of awareness, assisting transformation through the clarity, bliss and stillness of boundless Awareness. With a graduate degree in psychology, she has forty years of experience counseling and facilitating individuals and groups on relationships, conscious breathing, subtle energy, and awareness practices. From the mid-80’s through the mid-90’s she trained extensively in somatic approaches to awareness and healing. Her deep study and practice includes shamanism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Tantra, and the work of Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory, and Dan P Brown’s Stages of Meditation. She also assisted in Terri O’Fallon’s research on later stages of adult development and was in the first group of trained scorers for the Stages Assessment.

More resources - https://www.venitaramirez.com/blog-1

Healing and the Extraordinary Mind paper - https://www.venitaramirez.com/post/healing-the-extraordinary-mind.

To do the STAGES assessment - https://www.stagesinternational.com/stagesassessments . There are also numerous resources on the STAGES website for learning.

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.

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.

The Body is a Doorway: Returning to Inner Knowing with Venita Ramirez

In this episode of The Choice to Grow, Suze Yalof Schwartz, founder of Unplug Meditation, shares the powerful story of how one mindful breath changed her entire life—and how it can change yours. From her high-fashion past at Vogue to becoming a leading voice in meditation, Suze invites us into the radical simplicity of the pause. She and Scott explore the science of stillness, the myth of “not enough time,” and how to shift from reactivity to presence, one breath at a time.



Suze Yalof Schwartz - Meditation Maven, Wellness Pioneer, Transformer





Suze Yalof Schwartz is the Founder and CEO of the Unplug Meditation App, and the world's first drop-in secular meditation studio, Unplug in Los Angeles. She is also the author of Unplug: A Simple Guide To Meditation for Busy Skeptics and Modern Soul Seekers. In 2012, Suze learned a three-minute meditation that changed her life forever. Prior to this, she was a fashion editor and "makeover guru" working at Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and Glamour Magazine with regular appearances on GMA, The Today Show, CBS Early Show, and more. Once she discovered meditation, she was determined to keep doing it but could not find a place to easily learn and practice. After taking hundreds of hours of classes, reading every book possible, and listening to podcasts and lectures from the world's most famous meditation teachers, Suze realized that meditation needed a makeover and she was the one to do it. Suze's mission is to make meditation simple, accessible, powerful and interesting enough so that everyone will want to practice it and experience the benefits for themselves.



Scott Schwenk - Master coach, spiritual teacher, culture architect



Scott Schwenk’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.





One Breath Can Change Your Life with Suze Yalof Schwartz

In this heart-centered, mind-expanding conversation, Scott and Kim explore how releasing the rigid expectations of how life “should” be opens the door to greater presence, adaptability, and personal freedom. They examine how attachment to ideology—across politics, relationships, and even self-concept—limits our capacity to engage with what is real, emerging, and alive, opening the floodgates for presence, love and fulfillment.

Kim Barta - Psychotherapist, Shadow Work Expert, Evolutionary Guide

Kim Barta is a globally recognized psychotherapist, award-winning speaker, and international workshop leader. He is widely known for his expertise in shadow work, including his meta-model for shadow work, his unique Shadow to Spirit protocol (developed during his 30 years working on a Native American Reservation), and his shadow trilogy: Illuminating Shadow, Healing Shadow, and The the 7 modalities of Shadow work. Kim cofounded STAGES INTERNATIONAL with Dr Terri O’Fallon, an organization that researches and teaches the evolution of consciousness. His new work is focused on launching his meta-model on relationships. Kim founded kimbarta.org, where you can get a free shadow assessment and a free relationship assessment to help you start and deepen your consciousness journey.

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.

Growing Past Illusions with Kim Barta

In this heart-opening episode of The Choice to Grow, Scott Schwenk is joined by mystic and transformational guide Bea Rubli for an unforgettable conversation that bridges the seen and unseen realms. Bea shares her lifelong journey from resisting her gifts as a medium to embracing a life of deep energetic service and soul remembrance. Together, Scott and Bea explore the collapse of the old matrix of fear and separation, the return of mystical knowing, and how each of us can reconnect with our own unique soul signature—our fractal of the divine.

Bea Rubli – Mystic, Medium, Transformational Guide

For three decades, Bea Rubli has dedicated her life to the extraordinary practice of channeling beings and streams of consciousness. As a world-class medium, she shares these powerful energies with individuals seeking deeper connection and transformation. Her gift allows her to guide people through profound transformational processes that reconnect them with their unique potentials and soul signatures.

Bea expresses deep gratitude for the opportunity to support others through channelings, workshops, and specialized training programs. Her work focuses on helping individuals rediscover their innate gifts and allowing their uniqueness to shine with full power and magic. She considers it a privilege to witness the transformation, radiance, and mystical brilliance that awakens within her clients—describing each journey as a wondrous and magical experience.

Her thirty years of experience have established her as a respected voice in spiritual channeling and transformational guidance, touching countless lives through her compassionate and insightful approach to spiritual development.

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.

Experiencing the Soul’s Signature with Bea Rubli

In this deeply intimate episode of The Choice to Grow, Scott sits down with beloved teacher, author, and artist Elena Brower. Together they explore the rich terrain of grief as an expression of love, the transformative power of daily practice, and what it means to live — and die — with Presence. From the alchemy of long meditations facing the wall in silent Zen practice to serving tea during a final goodbye, Elena opens her heart and offers fierce, unflinching grace. This is a conversation about what really matters — and how to stay close to it.

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, will be published by Shambhala Publications in late 2025. 

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 - 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).

No Self, All Love: A Conversation with Elena Brower

In this deep and luminous conversation, Scott Schwenk welcomes yoga nidra teacher, author, and spiritual guide Tracee Stanley for a heartfelt dialogue on what it means to grow—not by force, but by surrender. From samskaras (stored subtle energies that shape a person's personality, perspective and motivations) and sacred pauses to the profound practice of remembering, Tracee shares tools and stories to help us soften into life’s transitions and reawaken our innate worth. A conversation rich in wisdom, practice, and radical presence.

Tracee Stanley - Spiritual teacher, guide, mentor, author

Tracee Stanley is the author of the bestselling book Radiant Rest: Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation and Awakened Clarity and The Luminous Self: Sacred Yogic Practices & Rituals to Remember Who You Are (Shambhala Publications) and a forthcoming book Living Ritual (Sounds True). Tracee is the founder of Empowered Life Circle, a sacred community and portal of practices, rituals, and Tantric teachings inspired by more than 28 years of studentship in Sri Vidya Tantra and the teachings of the Himalayan Masters. As a post-lineage teacher, Tracee is devoted to sharing the wisdom of yoga nidra, rest, meditation, self-inquiry, nature as a teacher, and ancestor reverence. Tracee holds certificates from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Advanced Eco-Therapy, New Thinking, Best Practices, and Emerging Modalities and a certificate in Advanced Ecopsychology. Tracee is gifted in illuminating the magic and power found in liminal space and weaving devotion and practice into daily life. Learn more at traceestanley.com. 





Scott Schwenk - Master coach, spiritual teacher, culture architect



Scott Schwenk’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 explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.

 

 

"Scott Schwenk is a deeply skilled teacher and healer, with a rare and authentic gift for helping people create  positive inner change in their lives."

 ~Sally Kempton (aka Swami Durgananda), 

Master meditation teacher and author of Meditation for the Love of It and Awakening Shakti.



Tracee Stanley on Authenticity, Power and Practice

In this powerful episode, Scott Schwenk is joined by heart coach and author James “Fish” Gill to explore radical compassion, conscious communication, and the deep human longing behind even the most painful behaviors. Together, they unpack what it means to attune to our own pain and longing, recognize the humanity in others, and transform rupture into connection. From grief to traffic rage to childhood wounds, this is a soul-deep conversation on how we begin to fall in love with humanity—starting with ourselves.



James ‘Fish’ Gill - Heart coach, yoga teacher, author and transformational teacher



James ‘Fish’ Gill is a heart coach, yoga teacher and transformational facilitator based in Perth, Western Australia. He supports individuals and couples to grow mutual understanding and emotional intimacy in any moment of upset, rupture or conflict, in all the relationships that matter most. The conscious, heart-led communication approach that Fish transmits to his clients has a broad reach internationally.

Fish has supported individuals, couples, businesses, and community groups to regrow trust, connection and understanding in the face of conflict, complexity and change since 2008. His warm, compassionate style draws on his experiences as a facilitator, educator, yoga teacher, actor and loving father of two young adults.  You can learn more about his work at https://www.leadbyheart.com/ and on Instagram @james_fish_gill 





Scott Schwenk - Master coach, spiritual teacher, culture architect



Scott Schwenk’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 explore Scott’s courses, workshops, retreats, training and master coaching at https://scottschwenk.com and can find him on Instagram @thescottschwenk.

 

 

"Scott Schwenk is a deeply skilled teacher and healer, with a rare and authentic gift for helping people create  positive inner change in their lives."

 ~Sally Kempton (aka Swami Durgananda), 

Master meditation teacher and author of Meditation for the Love of It and Awakening Shakti.



James ‘Fish’ Gill on Falling in Love with Humanity

In this deeply honest and spiritually potent episode, Scott Schwenk sits down with bestselling author and thought leader Danielle LaPorte to explore what it really means to grow. Together, they unpack radical compassion, heart-centered living, and the surprising cost of hustle culture. Danielle shares her journey through burnout, ego death, spiritual surrender, and how she found her way back to peace—not by fixing herself, but by loving every fragment. This is an episode to feel, not just hear.

Presence Over Perfection: Danielle LaPorte on Real Growth

"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, forgoing innovation

and opening up new possibilities 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

The Choice to Grow Podcast Trailer

"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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