Spiritual Grit

Leslieann Hobayan

Welcome to Spiritual Grit, the podcast where we talk real-talk about spirituality through the lens of activism and social justice. What happens when activism and spiritual practices collide? What sparks of change call for the grit we need to create meaningful strides in social justice. I'm your host, Leslieann Hobayan, poet, priestess, activist, professor, hip hop dancer, and bad-ass mama. Join me as we dive in to learn more about our deepest selves so that we can be better ancestors to create a stellar world for our descendants. Grab your dancing shoes and let's get groovy with the grit!

  1. FEB 20

    Ep 307 - Best of Spiritual Grit - On Being Human During Times of Collective Grief with JS Park

    In this episode, I'm in conversation with JS Park, a Korean American hospital chaplain based in Florida whose compassion has made an incredible impression on so many people, including myself.  J.S. Park is a hospital chaplain, former atheist/agnostic, sixth degree black belt, suicide survivor, Korean-American, and follows Christ. He. is author of The Voices We Carry: Finding Your One True Voice in a World of Clamor and Noise. Published by Northfield/Moody. He is currently serving at a 1000+ bed hospital, one of the top-ranked in the nation, and was also a chaplain for three years at one of the largest nonprofit charities for the homeless on the east coast. We talk about compassion and grief, which do not have clear definitions or prescriptions for embodying them. Both grief and compassion look  different for each individual person. It's not a one-size-fits-all. We also talk about how we might hold compassion for those whose beliefs are rooted in our oppression. And how we might identify this collective grief we are currently feeling but can't quite name. Listen in as we dive into how we can human better together. Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Cards mentioned: Oracle Card: Trust the Timing Poem: "Torso of Air" by Ocean Vuong   Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned: Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠ JS Park Website: ⁠https://jsparkblog.com/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jspark3000/?hl=en

    56 min
  2. JAN 29

    Ep 304 - Caring for your body as a spiritualist and activist

    The pace of our world today makes it easy to forget that we have physical bodies. There are so many things in our face to distract us from being physically present in the Now. As spiritualists, we are more interested in what's happening deep within that we forget to ground ourselves. As activists, we want to single-handedly save the world, which gives us no time to pay attention to the fact that we have a physical body with needs, like food and water and rest.  In this week's episode, I am bringing us back to basics: care for our bodies. Tune in to hear about some somatic practices that help make sure that our bodies are in good health and resilient while the world continues to burn. We need to serve from full cups, not broken, leaky ones. Listen in today! Oh, and if you want to reach out and get on my mailing list to hear about future breathwork and Kundalini yoga sessions, email me here: leslieann@hobayanhouse.com (note: I've got a new domain!) Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠  Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠   =============== Today’s poems/ Books mentioned: Tarot/Oracle Card: The Devil Poem: “The Art of Forgetting” by Neil Akin ===============  Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned: Subscribe to mailing list + community: ⁠suryagian.com/subscribe⁠ and get the 7-day meditation challenge, “Spark Joy in Chaos” Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠ Instagram: @leslieannhobayan  Email: ⁠leslieann@suryagian.com⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy⁠ Kundalini Yoga Classes: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/anchor-amplify-kundalini⁠ Speak Your Truth: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/speak-your-truth⁠

    36 min
  3. JAN 15

    Ep 302 - Community and Creativity Keeps Us Going

    As empiré continues to crumble, it doubles down on its destruction by taking as many with it as possible. This is akin to the death rattle. Gasping for its last breath. As people living in the center of empiré, we must remain steadfast in our resolve for a liberated world. But how? Community and creativity. The key is to remember that we are not alone and that we have the power to create. And creativity doesn't just mean painting or writing or theater (which are all excellent things!), but it can be as simple as making a meal for yourself or for another person. Tune in to hear more about how this does not just mean survival, but thriving amidst the upheavals that include violence and tragedy. And yes, if you want to connect: reach out to me at leslieann @ suryagian.com Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠  Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠   =============== Today’s poems/ Books mentioned: Tarot/Oracle Card: The Page of Cups Poem: “Faith” by W. Todd Kaneko ===============  Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned: Subscribe to mailing list + community: ⁠suryagian.com/subscribe⁠ and get the 7-day meditation challenge, “Spark Joy in Chaos” Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠ Instagram: @leslieannhobayan  Email: ⁠leslieann@suryagian.com⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy⁠ Kundalini Yoga Classes: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/anchor-amplify-kundalini⁠ Speak Your Truth: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/speak-your-truth⁠

    31 min
  4. JAN 8

    Ep 301 - Intentions over resolutions. Goals as directions not achievements

    Happy New Year listeners! Welcome to a fresh new start! I don't know about you, but I am glad to see 2026! In this week's episode, I'm talking about the difference between setting intentions and making resolutions (don't even bother with the latter). And using goals as a place for your focus rather than a marker of achievement.  This year needs to be different. This year is about community and sharing, kindness and compassion–and of course LOVE! – all the soft things that we cannot assign metrics to. In order to build a world that is truly liberated, we need to work towards right relationship with each other as well as with mother Earth. Tune in to hear more! Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠  Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠   =============== Today’s poems/ Books mentioned: Tarot/Oracle Card: Ace of Pentacles Poem: “Televangelism” by K-Ming Chang ===============  Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned: Subscribe to mailing list + community: ⁠suryagian.com/subscribe⁠ and get the 7-day meditation challenge, “Spark Joy in Chaos” Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠ Instagram: @leslieannhobayan  Email: ⁠leslieann@suryagian.com⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy⁠ Kundalini Yoga Classes: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/anchor-amplify-kundalini⁠ Speak Your Truth: ⁠https://www.suryagian.com/speak-your-truth⁠

    31 min
5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to Spiritual Grit, the podcast where we talk real-talk about spirituality through the lens of activism and social justice. What happens when activism and spiritual practices collide? What sparks of change call for the grit we need to create meaningful strides in social justice. I'm your host, Leslieann Hobayan, poet, priestess, activist, professor, hip hop dancer, and bad-ass mama. Join me as we dive in to learn more about our deepest selves so that we can be better ancestors to create a stellar world for our descendants. Grab your dancing shoes and let's get groovy with the grit!