The Four Sacred Gifts Podcast with Dr. Anita Sanchez

Be Here Now Network

For decades, Dr. Anita Sanchez, Nahuatl (Aztec/Toltec) and Mexican American, has committed herself to bridging indigenous wisdom and science for individual, business, and societal renewal. Drawing on her indigenous life experience and inner-city origins, Anita is a messenger of the Eagle Hoop Prophecy and gifts: forgiving the unforgiveable, healing, unity, and hope in action. A renowned consultant, trainer, coach, and speaker, she focuses on cultural transformation, leadership, diversity, inclusion, and belonging for Fortune 500 companies, education, and global non-profit organizations. Anita is a board member of Bioneers, a member of the Evolutionary Leaders and Transformational Leadership Council, an Elder Council member of The Wellbeing Project, Wisdom Weavers of the World, and the Fire Circle Earth.  Anita is a grandmother, Auntie, mother, and activist who holds a Ph.D. in organizational development. The author of seven books, including her international award-winning book, The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times, and her upcoming book, Your Kaleidoscope Mind: Getting More Done by Letting More Go, Anita shares tools for transmuting trauma and pain into freedom and joy. Dr. Anita’s recent awards include 2022 Mogul’s Top 100 DEI Leaders, 2020 Conscious Company Media “World Changing Woman”, and the 2020 World Woman’s Foundation “Woman of the Hour”- #SheisMyHero, a campaign to inspire one million girls to live their dreams and leadership. Each year, Anita leads an annual journey into the sacred headwaters of the Amazon, continuing her personal mission of inspiring people to discover and trust their gifts so that they become a life-giving force to all, people and the earth.  In this podcast, our intention is to amplify Native voices that are essential, and largely muted. Indigenous leaders from every part of the world – the east, west, north, and south, share their life experiences, unleash their knowledge, wisdom and expand our perspective: to inspire us to dream a different dream. They light the way from a dream of separation and illusions to one of connections and relationships, highlighting the “original knowledge” that provides an essential path to ensuring our (and the planet’s) survival. When we allow ourselves to be quiet enough to listen to the wisdom from within, from Elders, and from Mother Earth, we give ourselves the opportunity to experience unity and oneness with all life.  Learn more about Dr. Anita, her acclaimed self-paced online course, and her free song at FourSacredGifts.com and Anita-Sanchez.com

  1. Sep 22

    Ep. 26 - The Gift of Forgiveness for Self and Others with Basil Brave Heart, Oglala Lakota Elder

    Renowned Oglala Lakota Elder Basil Brave Heart explores forgiveness, unconditional love, and our mystical relationship with all creation. This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Basil explore: A lesson on forgiving the unforgivable The concept of ‘it takes a village’Lakota childbirth and bringing the formless to formHonoring the thunder beingsThe breath as a cosmological prayer that is aligned with the divineThanking the divine with an offering of tobacco Unconditional love and embracing each other fully Defining ourselves, accepting ourselves, and forgiving ourselves each morningBasil’s spiritual experience in the midst of a mental health crisis About Basil Brave Heart: Basil Brave Heart is an Oglala Lakota Elder who lives in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, a place with a 53.75% unemployment rate and the lowest life expectancy in the United States. Also known as Prisoner of War Camp #334, Pine Ridge was established in 1899 when the United States Government forced Basil’s ancestors onto reservations. He is a Catholic boarding school survivor, retired school administrator, addiction counselor, and Korean War combat veteran who served as a paratrooper in the 1950s.  As a young child in the 1930s, Basil’s Grandma Lucy told him about the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre.  She counseled him to forgive the soldiers who perpetrated the massacre.  A dream of his Grandma later guided Basil to change the name of a peak in the Black Hills.  In 2016, it was renamed “Black Elk Peak” at the federal level.  Basil studies how quantum physics corroborates the wisdom woven throughout the Lakota language and other Indigenous languages.  Over the last decade, he has been facilitating truth, healing, and forgiveness across historical divides. “When I get up every morning, I thank the breath. I say my prayers and I read something that is going to put me in line with the divine. I love myself and forgive myself.” –Basil Brave Heart See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  2. Aug 26

    Ep. 25 - Stewards of the Ocean with Bodhi Patil

    UN-recognized climate solutionist Bodhi Patil deep dives into the wisdom of the ocean, which connects all living things and carries the story of our creation. This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Bodhi explore: Exploring the depths of the ocean Water as a sacred gift connecting all life formsRemembering how to care for the planet we are a part ofSeeing the past, present, and future via the ocean Considering how we connect to the ocean individually Blending coastal indigenous knowledge with science and technology The matriarchal species of the ocean How the ocean is what makes our planet so special Ensuring the prosperity of coastal communities and ecosystemsTeaching young people about interconnectedness and becoming a stewardAbout Bodhi Patil: Bodhi Patil is a UN-recognized, award-winning GenZ ocean-climate “solutionist”, the co-creator of Ocean Uprise and the founder of InnerLight. He is a recent Masters of Management dual degree graduate with a BA in Environment and Sustainability from the University of British Columbia. He has been featured on CNN, TEDx, United Nations Web TV, Forbes, Apple, and many international media outlets for improving ocean & human health. His life mission is to help a generation discover their InnerLight (Strong Body, Calm Mind, Vibrant Spirit) and, in doing so, become ocean guardians. Through InnerLight, he aims to prove that young and Indigenous people have an outsized benefit in protecting the ocean and boost investment accordingly. Utilizing next-gen education tools as a catalyst for ocean impact is key to his life’s mission. Bodhi just screened The Sea Keepers, a documentary about an Indigenous community in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea, rebuilding their connection to the ocean. He's fired up about getting this message out to the planet and creating real educational resources around it. If you're interested in the ocean, Indigenous knowledge, or impact storytelling, check it out! “Life emerged from the ocean and we have a sacred responsibility to steward the ocean. One of the many sacred gifts of our planet is water; water is connected through all life forms.” –Bodhi Patil See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  3. Jul 29

    Ep. 24 - The Miracle Within Us All with Aaron Ableman

    Multimedia storyteller Aaron Ableman explores how listening to our hearts can help us uncover our unique gifts and create a more conscious world. This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Aaron explore: Spoken word from Aaron’s book, Rebels of KindnessHow Aaron’s upbringing exposed him to a multitude of spiritual experiences Aaron’s time in Nicaragua working alongside his father to preserve landsThe profound miracle inside of us allGrowing our relationship with others through our relationship with ourselves Consulting our hearts rather than the mediaGoing both backwards and forwards, taking wisdom from the past and moving towards a better futureThe planet as a living, benevolent intelligence  “We are actually all born inherently gifted. We have the universe inside us. How we reveal that is unique to the nurturing journey that we go on. The environment, the food we eat, the books we read, the dynamics of what our unique journey is.” –Aaron Ableman About Aaron Ableman: Aaron Ableman is a United Nations award-winning multimedia storyteller, artist/rapper, and innovative producer whose work bridges entertainment, impact business, education, ecology, and spirituality. As the author of four acclaimed books—his most recent co-authored with Robert Edward Grant as a best selling mythological children’s series called Gaia’s Game—Ableman continues to inspire revolutionary hope. His debut, Pacha’s Pajamas, became a ground breaking edutainment brand featuring 75 collaborators, reaching over 4 million children with 22 awards, and inspiring an environmental-tech company using mushrooms to solve the plastic-pollution crisis. His second book, Welcome to Earth, chronicles his first year as a father through daily letters and creative practices for new parents. His previous work, Rebels of Kindness, blends poetry, parables, and real-world heroism to champion the transformative power of care. Ableman’s projects span the globe—from  planting a million trees in one day to producing humanitarian music campaigns with brands. As a producer for the #SaveSoilmovement, he helped reach 4.4 billion people, engaging 70 world leaders and securing Vatican support. He has collaborated with legends like U2, MosDef, Michael Beck with, and Michael Franti, and has appeared on MTV, HBO, and TIME.com. With loving presence, philosophical wisdom, and comedic sensibilities, Ableman continues to champion conscious planetary evolution. For more information, visit www.aaronableman.com.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  4. Jul 1

    Ep. 23 - Restoring Sacred Lands with Stephanie Trager

    Conscious futurist Stephanie Trager inspires listeners to heal the Earth through the Kogi's wisdom, the restoration of sacred lands, and the power of reciprocity. Check out this recent feature article on Stephanie’s work restoring sacred Kogi lands and learn how you can contribute! In this episode, Anita and Stephanie discuss: Returning sacred lands to the Kogi people, the four tribes of the Sierra Nevada de ColombiaThe Duanama stone carvings and other sacred sites A powerful message from the Kogi people Collectively navigating ancestral trauma and trauma to Mother EarthThe Sierra Nevada as a regulatory system for our planetTending to sacred land sites as a way to protect the entire worldFinding our path for the future by first healing the earth and giving the land back to our indigenous peoples Reaching within our own hearts to see what we can offer to the worldAbout Stephanie Trager: Stephanie Trager, JD is a transformational catalyst, earthkeeper, medicine woman, and advocate for the wisdom of the natural world. With over 30 years of experience spanning law, environmental justice, conscious governance, leadership development, and human potential, she bridges ancient wisdom with modern science to help visionary leaders create meaningful change. A former environmental attorney and co-founder of one of the first corporate responsibility law firms in the U.S., Stephanie has worked on forest conservation, human rights, and sustainability initiatives worldwide. She now serves as a board member of Dream Change, advises on rights of nature and ethical governance, and is developing an Earth School in collaboration with Indigenous communities in Colombia. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Rise of the Conscious Futurist. Check out Stephanie’s website and her podcast, Catalyst Talks  “The Kogi know, and the tribes know, the Sierra Nevada as the great regulatory system for the entire planet. If we look at the Amazon as the lungs of the earth, the Sierra Nevada they consider the heart of the earth. The sacred sites need to be tended to, and unless they are, the systems of the earth cannot be maintained. Sacred sites are the organs, the nervous system, the brain of the earth.” –Stephanie Trager See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  5. Jun 5

    Ep. 22 - Tracing Ancestral Roots with Britt Gondolfi

    Help us celebrate 10 years of Be Here Now Network and support the next chapter of Ram Dass Here and Now. Gifts are matched dollar for dollar through June 30. Learn more and give at https://beherenownetwork.com/10years. This time on The Four Sacred Gifts podcast, Community organizer Britt Gondolfi joins Anita to explore the impact of knowing your roots, embracing your story, and becoming a force for good. Anita and Britt explore: What it means to understand the self and the shame we carry with us The importance of tracing where you come fromConnecting to our ancestors in dream life and waking lifeTaking responsibility for the care of ecosystems The beauty of being in community with people who want to do something goodNavigating conflict through love Going to court on behalf of our environment About Britt Gondolfi: Britt Gondolfi, born and raised in Southeast Louisiana, is a children’s book author, community organizer, and mother. Since 2017, Britt has worked with the Bioneers Intercultural Conversation Program, facilitating programming for students from Atlanta, Bogalusa, and Houma. While in law school, Britt supported the Bioneers Rights of Nature initiative by researching the intersection of tribal sovereignty and Federal Indian law, facilitating workshops on the Rights of Nature at the Ho-Chunk and Mashpee Wampanoag nations. She recently took a stand for women’s rights, running a fierce campaign for State Senate in Louisiana. Her first Children’s book, “Look Up! Fontaine the Pigeon Starts a Revolution,” is a hilarious social commentary on digital distraction and Nature’s fight to save us from ourselves.  “I have to recognize that all of that historical memory lives in me, and within this body and lifetime. How do I alchemize the lessons of all of my ancestors? ” – Britt Gondolfi See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  6. Apr 16

    Ep. 21 - Rewilding Our Planet with Mackenzie Feldman, Hawaiian

    Environmental health advocate Mackenzie Feldman reveals how grassroots action and land stewardship can reshape our relationship with the earth, from the grounds of college campuses to the food systems that sustain us all.  This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Mackenzie explore: Pesticide testing in Hawaii: ground zero for industrial agriculture Learning about our food systems and grassroots movements against GMOsMackenzie’s work transforming college campuses to not use pesticidesThe fight against Monsanto and cancer-causing chemicals The direct connection between land care and the food we consumeTaking a stand and challenging the dominance of humans over natureTransforming our relationship to the land we live on Following our purpose in life and the natural unfolding of our divine path Connecting our personal life and our professional lifeTaking inspiration from indigenous cultures even if we ourselves are not indigenous  “It’s all connected and now my work is focused on school campuses and getting pesticides out, but it’s also about so much more than that. It’s really about taking a stand on how we want to interact with the land, how we want to be in relationship with land, how we want to challenge this dominance of humans over nature.” –Mackenzie Feldman About Mackenzie Feldman: Born and raised in Hawai'i, Mackenzie Feldman is the founder and co-director of Re:wild Your Campus, an organization that works with institutions to eliminate pesticide use and support groundskeepers in the transition to organic, biodiverse landcare. Re:wild Your Campus has partnered with 100+ schools and trained 800+ students and community members through its Advocacy Bootcamp. They have helped improve thousands of acres of campus landscapes, protecting over half a million students annually from toxic pesticide exposure. Mackenzie is a 2026 Forbes 30 U 30 honoree and a 2025 Obama Foundation USA Leader. She holds a MS from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and is the author of the cookbook, Groundbakers. Contact Mackenzie at www.rewild.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  7. Mar 19

    Ep. 20 - Co-Creating with the Universe with Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn, Maori

    From The Four Sacred Gifts Ep. 20 - Co-Creating with the Universe featuring Anita Sanchez & Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn, Maori Indigenous activist Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn teaches Māori wisdom, guiding listeners to co-create reality and find their place within the universe. This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Catherine chat about: - Catherine’s early life, upbringing, and academic background in law and philosophy - Indigenous rights and Māori negotiations with the Crown in New Zealand - The Māori concept of pure potential and spiritual cosmology - The fractal nature of things, how the micro and macro reflect each other in the universe - How humans and the universe can co-create reality - The tension between science and indigenous spirituality - Expanding awareness: humanity’s role within a greater cosmic intelligence About Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn: Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn hails from the Ngāti Kurī and Te Rarawa Māoripeoples of Aotearoa (New Zealand). She has been an Indigenous human rights activist, advocate for decolonisation, and environmental defender most of her adult life. Her credentials include a Master of Laws; official roles in both of her tribes' Treaty Claims negotiations with the New Zealand Government; two UN human rights Indigenous Fellowships (representing the Pacific); and as a delegate representing her Māori people at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.A former educator and now proud grandmother, she is currently focused on building climate resilience and food sovereignty in her community through an organisation to which she belongs, Climate Action Tai Tokerau. "That is the infrastructure of the universe. That is the scaffolding of reality, that we as humans are able to interact and somehow engage that scaffolding and co-create reality as we go along." –Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  8. Feb 19

    Ep. 19 - The Fight Against Human Trafficking with Hasina Kharbhih, Khasi Tribe

    Leading figure in the fight against human trafficking, Hasina Kharbhih, joins Anita for a powerful talk on feminine leadership and dismantling exploitation.  In this episode, Anita and Hasina Kharbhih chat about: A woman’s journey into taking care of the ancestral homeThe joy, curiosity, and responsibility of communityHasina’s nonprofit Impulse NGO Network, combating human trafficking, unsafe migration, and exploitationHow vulnerable populations become trapped in cycles of trafficking and systemic abuseCommunity-based strategies for preventing crime and addressing social injusticeThe “Six R’s” framework for human trafficking intervention: report, rescue, rehabilitation, repatriation, reintegration, and restitutionReducing exploitation by training other nonprofits in human trafficking interventionsCultivating hope, resilience, and the belief that social change is possibleNurturing as a transformative model of women’s leadership and ethical social impactAmplifying the life-giving forces that all of us haveAbout Hasina Kharbhih: Hasina Kharbhih of the Khasi Tribe in Northeast India is an Ashoka Fellow and Aspen ILI Fellow. Ms. Kharbhih created the nationally and internationally acknowledged Impulse Model (formerly known as The Meghalaya Model), a holistic method to address human trafficking. On the basis of the model, key stakeholders from the public and private sectors work in collaboration to combat human trafficking and strengthen each other’s work by incorporating some fundamental components. Karbhih is also the founder and managing director of Impulse Social Enterprises which aims to promote local artisans and create sustainable livelihood that helps prevent unsafe migration, which often leads to human trafficking. She is also founder chair of the board of Impulse NGO Network, a significant force against human trafficking today. For 31 years now, she has been working to provide sustainable livelihood in a safe environment for women and children. What started out as a mission in her home state of Meghalaya, has today evolved into a global program that aims to put an end to human trafficking and exploitation worldwide. Keep up with Hasina on Instagram. "Shared leadership is the strength of addressing any development challenges or a crime as human trafficking. When we all stand together, we respond much more efficiently." –Hasina Kharbhih See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

For decades, Dr. Anita Sanchez, Nahuatl (Aztec/Toltec) and Mexican American, has committed herself to bridging indigenous wisdom and science for individual, business, and societal renewal. Drawing on her indigenous life experience and inner-city origins, Anita is a messenger of the Eagle Hoop Prophecy and gifts: forgiving the unforgiveable, healing, unity, and hope in action. A renowned consultant, trainer, coach, and speaker, she focuses on cultural transformation, leadership, diversity, inclusion, and belonging for Fortune 500 companies, education, and global non-profit organizations. Anita is a board member of Bioneers, a member of the Evolutionary Leaders and Transformational Leadership Council, an Elder Council member of The Wellbeing Project, Wisdom Weavers of the World, and the Fire Circle Earth.  Anita is a grandmother, Auntie, mother, and activist who holds a Ph.D. in organizational development. The author of seven books, including her international award-winning book, The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times, and her upcoming book, Your Kaleidoscope Mind: Getting More Done by Letting More Go, Anita shares tools for transmuting trauma and pain into freedom and joy. Dr. Anita’s recent awards include 2022 Mogul’s Top 100 DEI Leaders, 2020 Conscious Company Media “World Changing Woman”, and the 2020 World Woman’s Foundation “Woman of the Hour”- #SheisMyHero, a campaign to inspire one million girls to live their dreams and leadership. Each year, Anita leads an annual journey into the sacred headwaters of the Amazon, continuing her personal mission of inspiring people to discover and trust their gifts so that they become a life-giving force to all, people and the earth.  In this podcast, our intention is to amplify Native voices that are essential, and largely muted. Indigenous leaders from every part of the world – the east, west, north, and south, share their life experiences, unleash their knowledge, wisdom and expand our perspective: to inspire us to dream a different dream. They light the way from a dream of separation and illusions to one of connections and relationships, highlighting the “original knowledge” that provides an essential path to ensuring our (and the planet’s) survival. When we allow ourselves to be quiet enough to listen to the wisdom from within, from Elders, and from Mother Earth, we give ourselves the opportunity to experience unity and oneness with all life.  Learn more about Dr. Anita, her acclaimed self-paced online course, and her free song at FourSacredGifts.com and Anita-Sanchez.com

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