Sacred Stories of the Spirit

Jordan Harcourt-Hughes

In this podcast, hosted by author and artist Jordan Harcourt-Hughes, we explore storytelling as a method of intuitive way-finding, and as a way to re-imagine our personal narrative. We aim to create a knowledge base of personal stories and experiences that show different ways to feel, experience, tune into, understand and perceive life.

  1. Jun 8

    Ep 23: the Spiral of Integration with Evylyn Rose

    What if spiraling isn't a sign that you're falling apart? In this episode of Sacred Stories of the Spirit, I sit down with intuitive tarot reader, educator, healer and U.S. Army veteran Evylyn Rose to explore a different understanding of growth, healing and personal evolution. Together, we discuss Evylyn's powerful metaphor of life as a spiral rather than a straight line. Instead of seeing ourselves as moving from one point to another, she invites us to consider how we revisit familiar lessons throughout our lives, each time bringing new wisdom, perspective and understanding. Along the way, we explore: • Why life may be better understood as a spiral than a straight line• The stories we inherit from family, culture and society• Rewriting narratives that no longer serve us• Military service, resilience and belonging• Tarot as a tool for storytelling and self-reflection• Storytelling as medicine in times of uncertainty• The journey of integrating the many parts of ourselves into a coherent whole At the heart of this conversation is a simple but profound question: What is the connecting thread that runs through every chapter of your life? For Evylyn, the answer is simple. "Me. It's me." This is a conversation about identity, integration, and finding yourself within the spiral of your own story. About Series 3 of Sacred Stories of the Spirit: Consciousness in the World of Work: we're exploring the stories, practices and perspectives that help us navigate life, work and meaning with greater awareness, presence and purpose. Find out more about our my guest, Evylyn Rose: Website: https://www.evylynrose.com/ Linkedin Find out more about your host, Jordan Harcourt-Hughes Website: https://jordanharcourthughes.com/ LinkedIn

    48 min
  2. May 20

    Leadership, Presence and the Art of Listening with Digby Scott

    How leaders and facilitators can become more present, responsive and attentive in times of change In this episode, Jordan speaks with Digby Scott — leadership coach, facilitator, speaker, podcaster and author — about leadership, change and the practice of attendance. Together, they explore what it means to become truly attentive in conversations, facilitation and leadership spaces - particularly in times of uncertainty, complexity and rapid change. Digby shares his framework for the Four Ways of Listening: Personal ListeningRelational ListeningDirectional ListeningContextual ListeningThe conversation explores: noticing over predicting,presence over performanceemotional literacy and intuitionthe illusion of control in leadershipembodied communication,psychological safety,and how leaders can become more responsive to the people and dynamics around them.This episode is especially relevant for leaders, facilitators, coaches,educators, OD practitioners, and anyone working closely with people and groups. About Digby Scott Digby Scott is a leadership coach, speaker, facilitator, podcaster and author who works with senior leaders and leadership teams across Australasia. His work focuses on helping leaders create meaningful and lasting impact while sustaining momentum and energy. He is the author of Change Makers and Out There, and host of the Dig Deeper podcast. LinkedIn: Digby Scott on LinkedInWebsite: Digby Scott WebsitePodcast: Dig Deeper Podcast

    31 min
  3. Apr 2

    Curiosity, Consciousness and Hope- Reclaiming Our Humanity in the World of Work

    What happens when curiosity becomes more than a learning tool, and instead becomes a pathway back to ourselves? In this opening episode of Series 3: Consciousness in the World of Work, Jordan sits down with leadership coach and learning and development specialist Kathryn Jackson to explore the deeper human questions behind performance,engagement and leadership. Together, they reflect on the growing fatigue facing middle managers, the pressure to separate our personal and professional selves, and the quiet role that spirituality -understood as connection, meaning and hope - can play in helping people navigate uncertainty. This conversation invites listeners to reconsider what it means to feel aligned at work, to reconnect with curiosity, and to notice the signals from our own inner landscape in a world that is moving faster than ever. If you've ever felt squeezed between expectations, searching for meaning in your work, or wondering how to bring more of yourself into the workplace, this episode is for you. About our Guest Kathryn Jackson is a leadership coach and learning anddevelopment professional with deep experience designing programs that move beyond quick fixes and surface-level solutions. Her work focuses on helping leaders build resilience, connection and self-awareness — not just capability — and creating learning experiences that support people to navigate the complexity of modern work with clarity and strength. You can learn more about Kathryn’s work at: careerbalance.co.nz About This Series Series 3 of Sacred Stories of the Spirit explores consciousness in the world of work. This series examines how people are navigating identity, leadership, learning and wellbeing inincreasingly complex organisational environments. Through conversations with leaders, practitioners and thinkers, Jordan explores:This series is part of The Human Capability Project — a field study exploring how organisations build people, leadership and learning in a changing world.

    25 min
  4. 12/10/2025

    Your Body Is Not Broken - and Cristie Robbins is here to show you why.

    What if your anxiety, exhaustion, insomnia or overwhelm weren’t signs that something is wrong with you — but signals your body is asking to be listened to? In this episode of Sacred Stories of the Spirit, I’m joined by Cristie Robbins, mental wellness coach, former HR professional, poet and author of Scars Like Constellations. Cristie shares her deeply human approach to healing — one that centres the nervous system, the wisdom of the body, and the courage it takes to slow down and listen rather than push through. In our conversation, we explore: Why the body holds intelligence we’ve been trained to ignore Nervous system dysregulation and what it’s really communicating Trauma-informed leadership and how the world of work is evolving Tapping, breathwork and simple practices that bring the body back to safety Grief, storytelling and the long arc of healing Why sensitivity isn’t a weakness — it’s a strength Releasing the belief that being “strong” means doing everything alone This is a gentle, grounded conversation for anyone who’s tired of fixing themselves — and ready to remember they were never broken. 🧭 Connect with CristieWebsite: https://thewellnessblueprint.orgInstagram: @cristie.robbins Connect with your host, Jordan Harcourt-Hughes 🔗 Website: https://jordanharcourthughes.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanharcourthughes/✨ If this episode resonated, please follow the podcast, leave a rating, or share it with someone who might need to hear it today.

    28 min
  5. 12/03/2025

    Science and the Sacred: Life After an NDE with Ray Catania

    What happens when a near-death experience shatters your worldview and opens a doorway into a reality that blends science, spirituality, and consciousness? In this profound and deeply human conversation, Ray Catania shares the story of his NDE at just 20 years old and the extraordinary transformation that followed. Together, we explore: The moment Ray left his physical body and entered a field of pure love How his NDE initiated a lifelong journey into metaphysics, physics, and mentorship What it takes to awaken, integrate, and believe your own experience Why resonance, vibration, and emotion are keys to communicating with the universe The role of journaling in healing and rewriting your story How to discern what truly resonates — versus what you were taught to pursue How to navigate the fear of sharing spiritual experiences publicly The importance of finding guides, mentors, and a community that “gets it” Ray's story is a bridge between scientific curiosity, mystical experience, and the possibility of redefining who we are. Connect with Ray Catania:🔗 Website: https://raycatania.com🔗 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@raycataniaofficial🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raycataniaofficial/ Connect with your host, Jordan Harcourt-Hughes:🌐 Website: https://www.jordanharcourthughes.com🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanharcourthughes/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordaninthestudio/

    27 min
  6. 11/20/2025

    From Broadway Publicist to Ivy League Witch: Tarot, Neurodivergence & New Identities

    From Broadway red carpets to spiritual psychology at Columbia, Emily McGill has walked a wild, winding path. In this episode, Emily – also known as the Ivy League Witch – shares how she moved from being a successful Broadway publicist to embracing her work as a spiritual psychologist, tarot reader, and creator of the Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot. We explore what it really feels like to shed an old identity, unmask neurodivergence in high-pressure workplaces, and reintroduce yourself to people as you change. Emily also reframes tarot as a psychological tool – “like texting yourself a meme from your subconscious” – rather than a fortune-telling gimmick, and shares insights from her Master’s thesis at Columbia on tarot as a tool for self-reflection. At the end of the episode, Emily offers a playful “pick-a-card” reading just for listeners, using the Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot deck that weaves together Broadway archetypes, theatre history and spiritual symbolism. In this episode, we explore: Emily’s journey from theatre kid to Broadway publicist to Ivy League Witch Masking neurodivergence in traditional PR culture – and what happens when you stop The uncomfortable, brave work of reintroducing yourself as your identity shifts Tarot as a mirror and psychological tool, not a prediction machine Insights from Emily’s Master’s thesis on tarot and increased clarity for clients How the Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot brings together theatre archetypes and the major arcana A live “pick-a-card” reading for listeners using The Hermit and The Magician Connect with Emily Instagram (spiritual psychology & tarot): @emilyannemcg Website: emilymcgillentertainment.com Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot: via Emily’s website and linked from her Instagram Connect with Jordan & the podcast Podcast: Sacred Stories of the Spirit Website: jordanharcourthughes.com If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, or leave a review – it helps these stories find the people who need them most.

    43 min

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About

In this podcast, hosted by author and artist Jordan Harcourt-Hughes, we explore storytelling as a method of intuitive way-finding, and as a way to re-imagine our personal narrative. We aim to create a knowledge base of personal stories and experiences that show different ways to feel, experience, tune into, understand and perceive life.