WAKE UP! with Joni

Joni Caldwell Lerner: Leadership and Life Strategist Coach
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"WAKE UP! with Joni" where ancient wisdom meets modern purpose. This is a podcast for soul-led leaders, seekers, and spiritual rebels- We are devoted to conversations that ignite your inner knowing and elevate and explore what it means to lead with soul—in your relationships, career, health, and healing journey. From sacred embodiment to conscious communication, spiritual entrepreneurship to elder wisdom, you'll find guidance, stories, and truth-telling from fellow wisdom-keepers walking the path. Music by Sounds of Sion https://soundcloud.com/soundsofsion Vocals Stella Smyth

  1. 20 hr ago

    Coffee with John & Joni #6: Uncertainty, Freedom & the Art of Waking Up

    We all want certainty—and yet we also want freedom, adventure, possibility, and a life that feels truly alive. So what happens when we realize that uncertainty is not something we can eliminate? In this episode of Coffee with John & Joni, we explore uncertainty through the lens of Ancient Toltec Wisdom and ask a deeper question: Can we learn to live powerfully without needing to know what happens next? John and Joni explore: ☕ Why the human being is wired to anticipate what could go wrong ☕ The difference between preparing for what might happen and living in fear of it ☕ How anxiety can become an attempt to control outcomes that are outside our control ☕ The collective dream—and why we are part of it without being bound by it ☕ What it means to "wake up" throughout the day ☕ Non-attachment and releasing our need to control outcomes ☕ How acceptance can transform our relationship with uncertainty ☕ The difference between acting from love and reacting from fear ☕ Tony Robbins' Six Human Needs and the fascinating tension between certainty and variety ☕ Why our personal power lies in how we show up, not in controlling the world around us ☕ And ultimately, the question: Who are you really? From the Toltec perspective, life is a dream—but that doesn't mean it isn't real. It means we have the opportunity to become conscious within it. We may not be able to control the collective dream. We may not be able to control other people, world events, or everything that happens to us. But we can wake up. We can take responsibility for our own dream. We can choose how we respond. And we can learn to act rather than react. As John says, the destiny of the human being is to experience divinity in the physical—to become aware of who we truly are. And perhaps that is where freedom begins. If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who could use a little encouragement on their journey. And if you're ready to go deeper, John and Joni offer workshops and coaching through Paradise Ranch Retreat. Until next time, beautiful humans—go out and live your most alive life. Paradiseranchretreat.com visit here to see what is available for you! The upcoming retreats on "The True Nature of the Human Being"  To ask questions: wakeupwithjoni@gmail.com

  2. 20 hr ago ·  Bonus

    Today's Headlines from: Morning Brew Daily

    Introducing iPhone Duo is Already Cracking & Chinese Brands Drop Mbappé Over Meme Controversy from Morning Brew Daily. Follow the show: Morning Brew Daily #964: Coca-Cola reports their earnings and it shows Coke Zero Sugar has risen to become a popular choice among soda drinkers. Soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé apologizes for referring Mao as a ‘dictator’ which led to Chinese brands ending their endorsement deals with him. Early buyers of Apple’s foldable iPhone are showing massive cracks of their screen. Cheerios and Ziploc are teaming up to make resealable cereal bags…finally.  Tickets to our Holiday Spectacular are available NOW! https://www.morningbrew.com/events/mbd-holiday-spectacular-2026 Get $10 off with code: MBDPRESALE Start your quote at https://www.libertymutual.com  Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    Today's Headlines from: Morning Brew Daily

  3. 22 Oct

    Coffee with John & Joni #5: Petty Tyrants, Victims & Rescuers: How We Give Our Power Away

    What if the people who frustrate you the most are actually showing you where your power is waiting to be reclaimed? In this episode of Coffee with John & Joni, we take a deep dive into one of the most powerful concepts on the Warrior's path: the Triangle of Disempowerment. John explains the three positions of the triangle—the Victim, the Rescuer, and the Perpetrator or Petty Tyrant—and how each role keeps us trapped in patterns of control, fear and suffering. We explore: • Why petty tyrants can become powerful teachers • How victims, rescuers and perpetrators can keep each other trapped • The hidden payoff of each position • Why rescuing someone can actually disempower them • How projection creates unnecessary conflict in relationships • What control has to do with fear • How to recognize the patterns we participate in ourselves • Why the common denominator in repeated patterns is often us • How to move from victimhood into personal power • The difference between fear-based action and love-based action • How "non-suffering" changes the way we respond to circumstances we cannot control • The Seven Deadly Sins as "missing the mark" rather than simply religious concepts • How mirrors can reveal the very behaviors we are trying to eliminate • And how to deal with petty tyrants—from the annoying neighbor to situations where physical safety is involved We also share a powerful story from John's own life about breaking a long-standing family dynamic and repairing his relationship with his father. And, as always, we end with the question: How do we go out and live our most alive lives? This time, the answer is beautifully simple: Love yourself. Not as an idea. As a practice. Coffee with John & Joni explores modern life through the lens of Ancient Toltec Wisdom—offering tools, questions and perspectives for becoming more conscious, empowered and free. Grab your coffee and join us. And then go out and live your most alive life.

  4. 24 Sept

    Coffee with John & Joni #4: If You Spot It, You Got It: The Toltec Practice of Mirroring

    What if the people who trigger you aren't simply annoying, difficult, controlling, judgmental, or frustrating? What if they're showing you something about you? In this episode of Coffee with John & Joni, Joni Lerner and John English explore one of the most powerful and practical concepts on the Toltec Path of Freedom: mirroring. John explains the idea of the universe as a mirror and how the people around us can reflect back behaviors, character traits, and even positive qualities that we may not yet recognize in ourselves. The key signal? Emotional charge. If someone else's behavior really gets under your skin, John suggests asking two simple questions: "How do I do that?" "Where do I do that?" Rather than immediately blaming, judging, taking something personally, or creating a story about another person, mirroring invites us to pause, become curious, and look within. Joni and John also explore: • Why significant relationships can trigger us more powerfully • The difference between a mirror and a "petty tyrant" • How mirroring can transform conflict in intimate relationships • Why admiration can be a mirror too • How judgment can become a signpost for self-awareness • The connection between emotional charge and personal power • How gratitude can replace blame • When mirroring should NOT be used to excuse abuse or unhealthy behavior • How working with mirrors can create more peace, freedom, and connection Joni shares a personal story from the pickleball courts, while John shares a powerful story about his relationship with his father and how years of working with mirrors changed that relationship. This isn't about making everything "your fault." It's about discovering where your power of choice lives. And sometimes the most useful question isn't: "Why are they doing this to me?" It's: "Huh… where have I done that before?" ☕ Coffee with John & Joni is an ongoing conversation about ancient wisdom, relationships, leadership, awareness, and the practical work of becoming more conscious human beings. If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who might benefit from it. Send your questions for John and Joni to wakeupwithjoni@gmail.com. Ready to go deeper? Join us for The Warrior's Gate I: Seeing the Dream, October 8–11, 2026, at Paradise Ranch in southern Colorado. Learn more at ParadiseRanchRetreat.com. And remember: It's your turn, beautiful humans, to go out and live your most alive life.

  5. 3 Sept

    Coffee with John & Joni 3: Understanding The Four Agreements — A Path to Freedom, Choice & Personal Power

    What if love doesn't require attachment? What if grief doesn't have to become suffering? And what if discernment—not judgment—is what actually protects our peace? In this episode of Coffee with John & Joni, John English and Joni Lerner respond to a thoughtful listener question about several powerful Toltec concepts before diving deeply into Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements. Together, they explore: • Attachment vs. Love — the difference between unconditional love and the expectations, conditions, and stories we attach to relationships. • Suffering vs. Grief — how grief can become an expression of how deeply we love rather than another story about what has happened to us. • Judgment vs. Discernment — moving away from making people or situations "good" or "bad" and instead asking a much more useful question: Do I want this in my life? Then John and Joni unpack the Four Agreements: Don't Take Anything Personally Other people do what they do for their own reasons. Their projections don't have to become our reality. Don't Make Assumptions Our minds create stories based on our filters and beliefs. What happens when we stop pretending we know how things will turn out? Be Impeccable With Your Word The words we speak to others—and the words we speak to ourselves—have power. What would change if we became kinder to our own internal dialogue? Always Do Your Best Your best changes from day to day. Letting go of perfectionism and simply showing up fully can free us from the "shoulda, coulda, woulda" cycle. At the heart of this conversation is a simple but powerful invitation: Stop. Look. Choose. Pause. Become aware of what is happening. Notice the story you're telling yourself. And then choose how you want to participate in your own life. If you're ready to explore these teachings more deeply, join John and Joni at Paradise Ranch Retreat in Trinidad, Colorado, or explore Joni's book, STOP LOOK CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom. 🌿 Retreats & workshops: paradiseranchretreat.com ☕ Podcast & resources: wakeupwithjoni.com 📖 STOP LOOK CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom: https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Look-Choose-Journey-Freedom/dp/B0D8RWF251

  6. 13 Aug

    Are You Giving Away Your Power? The 4 Practices That Create Freedom | Coffee with John & Joni #2

    What if the things causing you the most suffering are also the places where you're giving away your power? In this second episode of Coffee with John & Joni, we go deeper into the Toltec understanding of power and explore the Four Practices of Power: non-attachment, non-judgment, non-suffering, and walking in beauty. John English, bestselling author and longtime teacher of the practical Toltec Path of Freedom, explains how these four practices can transform the way we experience relationships, challenges, decisions, and everyday life. We talk about: • How attachment creates expectations—and suffering • The difference between connection and attachment • Why letting go doesn't mean giving up • How non-judgment opens the door to discernment • Why the need to be right creates conflict • How to distinguish physical pain from emotional suffering • Why talking about our challenges can help us see more clearly • What it means to "walk in beauty" • How the Four Practices connect with The Four Agreements • How to use these teachings as practical tools rather than simply ideas Joni also shares personal stories about relationships, people-pleasing, learning discernment, and discovering the freedom that comes from no longer needing to be right. These are the kinds of conversations John and Joni have been having over coffee for years. Now they're inviting you into the conversation. And perhaps the most important invitation from today's conversation is this: Dare to believe that you are so much more than you ever dared to dream—and that walking in beauty is your birthright. The next Coffee with John & Joni conversation will explore The Four Agreements and how they can be applied to everyday life. Learn more about coaching, retreats, and Warrior's Gate 1: Seeing the Dream at ParadiseRanchRetreat.com.

  7. 5 Aug

    Coffee with John & Joni #1: What Is True Power? Ancient Toltec Wisdom for Everyday Life

    What if everything you've been taught about power is backwards? In the very first episode of Coffee with John & Joni, we explore one of the most misunderstood concepts in personal growth: Power. Most people think power means control, dominance, or getting others to do what they want. Ancient Toltec wisdom teaches something radically different. True power is unconditional love in motion—the creative force flowing through every thought, feeling, and action. Together we explore: • Why power isn't about controlling others • How your thoughts create more of what you focus on • What it really means to live impeccably • Why regret and self-judgment diminish your personal power • Practical ways to reconnect with your highest self • Ancient Toltec principles that can transform your relationships, leadership, and daily life This conversation is the first of many authentic morning coffee discussions between husband and wife, teachers and lifelong students of the Toltec Path. Join us as we explore timeless wisdom and practical tools for living with greater freedom, awareness, and purpose. If this episode inspires you, please subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Learn more: 🌿 WakeUpWithJoni.com 🌿 ParadiseRanchRetreat.com Joni's Book: STOP LOOK CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom John's Books: The Little Book on Relationship or The Shift Remember... You are so much more than you've ever been told, taught, or even dared to dream.

  8. 30 Jul

    From Fear to Freedom: Reclaiming Your Spiritual Power with David Hulse

    For centuries, many of us have inherited spiritual beliefs without ever asking whether they truly resonate with our hearts. What happens when we begin asking deeper questions? In this thought-provoking conversation, I sit down with spiritual teacher, minister, and founder of the Academy for Spiritual Awakening, David Hulse, to explore what it means to move beyond fear-based religion into a direct experience of the Divine. Together we discuss: ✨ The difference between religion and spirituality ✨ Why awakening often begins with discomfort ✨ Childhood beliefs that quietly shape our lives ✨ Healing emotional and energetic patterns ✨ Why breakdowns often precede breakthroughs ✨ Divine consciousness versus ego consciousness ✨ The hidden wisdom behind ancient spiritual teachings ✨ How love—not fear—becomes the foundation for true transformation Whether you come from a religious background, consider yourself spiritual but not religious, or are simply searching for greater peace and authenticity, this conversation invites you to explore your own inner knowing with curiosity and compassion. Guest: David Hulse Learn more: DavidHulse.com Host: Joni Caldwell Lerner wakeupwithjoni.com Joni's Book - "STOP LOOK CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom"

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About

"WAKE UP! with Joni" where ancient wisdom meets modern purpose. This is a podcast for soul-led leaders, seekers, and spiritual rebels- We are devoted to conversations that ignite your inner knowing and elevate and explore what it means to lead with soul—in your relationships, career, health, and healing journey. From sacred embodiment to conscious communication, spiritual entrepreneurship to elder wisdom, you'll find guidance, stories, and truth-telling from fellow wisdom-keepers walking the path. Music by Sounds of Sion https://soundcloud.com/soundsofsion Vocals Stella Smyth

Information

  • Creator
    Joni Caldwell Lerner: Leadership and Life Strategist Coach
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    201
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    WAKE UP! with Joni

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