Initiations in Love Podcast

Britta Eskey
  • 5.0 (23)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Initiations in Love Podcast! I'm your host, Britta Eskey, master facilitator, leadership trainer, and author of the forthcoming "Initiations in Love" book. You know, they say life is the greatest teacher, and our journey through it, a constant initation. An Initiation into what, you ask? Into LOVE, my friends. And in each episode, we dive deep into the incredible, life-stirring stories of people who dare to say "YES!" to these initiations. They face the trials, and emerge stronger, wiser, and more loving. In this podcast, we will share the tools and practices so you can do the same! Want to discover how YOUR challenges can become your greatest gifts? Then get ready! We are about to set off on an exploration into the very heart of love, itself.

  1. 4d ago

    Beyond the Mask: What I Learned from Falling 44 Feet with Dr. Ilana Nankin (Episode 49)

    What happens when life suddenly interrupts the identity you've worked so hard to build? What if the very thing that breaks your momentum… also breaks through the masks you didn't even realize you were wearing? In this episode of Initiations in Love, Britta sits down with educator, entrepreneur, and Breathe For Change founder Dr. Ilana Nankin for a powerful conversation about achievement, perfectionism, control, and the identities we construct to feel worthy, successful, or enough. After surviving a devastating 44-foot rock climbing fall that should have left her paralyzed or worse, Ilana found herself in an initiation she never saw coming. Forced to slow down and unable to operate at the same pace and productivity that had long defined her, she began confronting what lived underneath the striving. Together, Britta and Ilana explore miracles, mortality, authenticity, the "achiever mask," and how life's disruptions can become invitations into deeper presence, gratitude, and truth. This conversation is an invitation to pause… listen inward… and ask yourself if you're willing to find out what remains if the masks fell away.   Dr. Ilana Nankin is the Founder and Co-CEO of Breathe for Change, a transformative higher education institution. Ilana is an award-winning educator and entrepreneur whose classroom experience revealed a powerful truth: when teachers thrive, students succeed. That realization led her to earn her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, where her research on educator well-being became the foundation for Breathe for Change. Through evidence-based Master's of Education programs, teacher trainings, and graduate-level certifications, Breathe for Change has empowered more than 20,000 educators across thousands of schools and districts nationwide to enhance their own well-being, improve educational outcomes, and unlock their full human potential. Learn more about Ilana and her movement at breatheforchange.com   - - - - - - - - -   Want to know which initiation stage you're in? Take the quiz and learn how to meet it with greater awareness and courage. Click here. If you liked this episode of Initiations in Love, tell your friends! Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts to rate/review/subscribe to the show.  Looking to buy Britta's book Initiations in Love? Click here. Want more? Visit our WEBSITE, connect with Britta on FACEBOOK, and follow her on Instagram: @brittaeskey or @cortrainings. Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! Resources and References:  Take the Quiz - What Stage of Initiation are You In? Britta's Book - Initiations in Love breatheforchange.com Show Notes: 1:00 - Britta introduces Dr. Ilana Nankin, educator, entrepreneur, and founder of Breathe For Change 2:50 - Ilana shares the origins of her life's mission and the inner drive that taught her to keep going until she arrived at what mattered most 6:25 - Britta introduces the "Initiations in Love" framework and invites Ilana to share the miraculous, life-altering story of surviving a 44-foot climbing fall 18:00 - Ilana reflects on the profound gratitude that emerged from her near-death experience and the perspective shift it created 21:45 - Ilana shares what feels most alive and integrated now: quieting the achiever identity, appreciating what she already has, and living with greater joy, awe, and presence 24:00 - Through personal stories, Ilana reflects on becoming more attuned to the preciousness of everyday life and the shift from victimhood into welcoming what is 27:20 - A deeper initiation unfolds as post-accident concussion symptoms force Ilana to stop working, leading to the crumbling of identity, surrender of control, and quieter layers of healing 34:50 - Britta and Ilana discuss being "in the midst of it" and what Britta refers to as the Emerging stage of initiation 37:15 - Britta reflects on the loosening of ego structures, the invitation to face deeper truth, and the awakening of awareness and meta-awareness 42:10 - Together they explore the "big bang" awakening moments that radically interrupt the familiar sense of self 44:00 - Ilana shares her growing intolerance for what feels misaligned or inauthentic, while Britta reflects on the subtle call to come home to oneself and cultivate a more balanced inner life 53:00 - Ilana speaks to authenticity, the exhaustion of "wearing masks," and how the experience reshaped the way she relates to herself and others 59:00 - Ilana offers final words of wisdom on gratitude, presence, and cultivating an "attitude of gratitude" 1:02:00 - Britta brings the episode to a close

    1h 3m

  2. May 20

    The Courage to Follow What Calls You - A Processing Exercise (Episode 48)

    Do you ever feel a pull inside you… an inner knowing that something in your life is asking to change, awaken, or deepen, even if you can't fully explain it? Or perhaps life has already disrupted your familiar way of being, and you sense you can no longer continue as you once did. In this follow-up episode to Britta's conversation with John Prendergast (Episode 47), she explores the nature of "The Call," that unmistakable invitation that asks us to listen and respond from the heart. Through a deeply personal passage from Initiations in Love, Britta shares her own initiation into the sacred feminine and the moment she first recognized the calling that would eventually become COR and her life's work. This episode explores what it means to trust the intuitive, receptive parts of ourselves, to loosen the grip of fear and overthinking, and to say yes to what is unfolding, even before we fully understand where it will ultimately lead. Through reflection and guided journaling prompts, you'll be invited to explore where a call may already be stirring within your own life, and what it might mean to stay close enough to truly hear it. - - - - - - - - -   Want to know which initiation stage you're in? Take the quiz and learn how to meet it with greater awareness and courage. Click here. If you liked this episode of Initiations in Love, tell your friends! Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts to rate/review/subscribe to the show.  Looking to buy Britta's book Initiations in Love? Click here. Want more? Visit our WEBSITE, connect with Britta on FACEBOOK, and follow her on Instagram: @brittaeskey or @cortrainings. Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! Resources and References  Take the Quiz - What Stage of Initiation are You In? Britta's Book - Initiations in Love Show Notes 1:05 - Britta welcomes you to the podcast, reflects on her conversation with John Prendergast and explores themes of awakening of the heart, early spiritual openings, the seeking mind, grief and suffering as portals, the sacred heart, and the subtle inner call that asks us to respond 7:10 - Britta introduces today's reading from Initiations in Love, Stage 2: The Call, exploring initiation, receptivity, and what it means to say yes to something deeper calling from within 9:38 - Britta reads the excerpt "The Call of the Feminine," sharing one of her first profound experience of initiation, sacred sisterhood, and awakening into her life's calling 22:18 - Britta invites listeners to pause and notice what was stirred by the reading: emotionally, physically, and spiritually 23:15 - Britta invites you to grab paper and a writing utensil for journaling prompts Where in my life do I sense a call—whether quiet or unmistakable—that is asking for my response? What form is that call taking right now? A subtle pull, a restlessness, a disruption, a clear knowing? What makes it difficult for me to say yes to this call? When I imagine responding to it, what do I feel in my body? How do I relate to the more receptive, intuitive aspects of myself—the parts that listen rather than figure things out? Is there a place in my life where I am being invited into a deeper expression of who I am, even if I don't yet know what that fully looks like? 27:20 - Britta closes the episode with a reflection on listening from the heart, connecting with the body's centers of receptivity, and trusting that something within is already listening and already knows

    29 min

  3. May 6

    When Life Breaks You Open: Awakening to Your Inner Truth with John Prendergrast (Episode 47)

    Have you ever felt a quiet sense that there must be more to life… even if everything looks fine on the surface? Or found yourself cracked open by loss, grief, or a moment that shattered the familiar? In this episode of Initiations in Love, Britta sits down with spiritual teacher and depth psychologist and therapist John Prendergast to explore the path of awakening, through both suffering and the what he calls "subtle inner call." John shares how early spiritual experiences, deep loss, and decades of devoted practice led him into a profound opening of the heart. Together, they explore what it means to move from seeking with the mind to discovering a deeper truth within, and how even our most painful experiences can become portals into love, presence, and connection. This conversation is an invitation to listen more deeply… and to trust that what you are seeking is already here. John J. Prendergast, Ph.D., is the author of Your Deepest Ground, The Deep Heart, and In Touch. He is a retired Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies and a retired psychotherapist. He studied for many years with the European sage, Jean Klein, as well as with the American spiritual teacher, Adyashanti. He offers residential retreats with his wife, Christiane, as well as various online offerings.   - - - - - - - - -   Want to know which initiation stage you're in? Take the quiz and learn how to meet it with greater awareness and courage. Click here. If you liked this episode of Initiations in Love, tell your friends! Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts to rate/review/subscribe to the show.  Looking to buy Britta's book Initiations in Love? Click here. Want more? Visit our WEBSITE, connect with Britta on FACEBOOK, and follow her on Instagram: @brittaeskey or @cortrainings. Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! Resources and References:  Take the Quiz - What Stage of Initiation are You In? Britta's Book - Initiations in Love John's website: www.listeningfromsilence.com   Show Notes: 1:00 - Britta introduces John Prendergast and the theme of awakening into Love 3:12 - John shares early awakening experiences and his seeker's path through religion, meditation, and psychedelics, describing a sense of remembering and dissolving into something deeper  9:30 - Britta and John explore the visible and hidden aspects of awakening, and why such experiences are often held quietly within 14:30 - John reflects on his deep commitment to meditation and the "love of truth," meeting his teacher, and how his path evolved into psychology and into the depths of the heart 19:45 - Britta notes that John distinguishes the three different centers of awareness: head, heart, and belly 20:10 - With immense gratitude, John shares the story of his own awakening of the heart center 29:15 – Britta invites John to share more about his former anxiety of relating; he reflects on his attachment with his mother, his fear of abandonment, and the role of safety in allowing the heart to open  36:05 - Together they discuss the role of safety between the heart center of awareness and the Great Heart, the Universal Heart, as well as the importance of tending to the inner flame of "loving awareness" 42:00 – John speaks to the moment where he said "Yes" to what Britta refers to as "The Calling" stage; he shares how the heartbreak and powerlessness of the loss of his first wife was a profound initiation into grief and compassion 50:15 - Britta reflects on John's initiation; they discuss the fabric of normalcy being ripped away, the moment of crisis – or as Britta refers to it as "The Transformation Cauldron" stage – and the invitation to go deeper, to know one's true nature 57:00 - Britta acknowledges John's gifts that emerged from his initiation: his capacity to be with other people, deeply present and open and welcome all they bring, no matter where they are or need to go 60:00 - Britta brings the episode to a close, inviting John to give final guidance: learn to hear and trust the inner voice of heart wisdom and you'll discover it is your very self that is calling you

    1h 3m

  4. Apr 22

    What If You Don't Have to Earn Love? - A Processing Exercise (Episode 46)

    Do you ever feel like you have to be better, get it right, or prove yourself in order to be loved?  In this follow-up episode of the Initiations in Love podcast, Britta explores the deeply rooted belief that love must be earned and how it shapes perfectionism, fear of abandonment, and the way we relate to ourselves and others.  Britta reads a passage from her spiritual memoir, "Initiations in Love," and offers journaling prompts to help you see where you might be overperforming in relationships, trying to prove your worthiness.  If you are ready to soften the grip of perfectionism and open to the possibility of unconditional love, this episode will support you.   - - - - - - - - - Want to know which initiation stage you're in? Take the quiz and learn how to meet it with greater awareness and courage. Click here. If you liked this episode of Initiations in Love, tell your friends! Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts to rate/review/subscribe to the show.  Looking to buy Britta's book Initiations in Love? Click here. Want more? Visit our WEBSITE, connect with Britta on FACEBOOK, and follow her on Instagram: @brittaeskey or @cortrainings. Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! Resources and References: Take the Quiz - What Stage of Initiation are You In? Britta's Book - Initiations in Love Show Notes: 1:00 - Britta welcomes you to the podcast and reflects on the discussion, themes, and learnings from our previously released episode with Monica Tanner, a marriage coach 4:00 - Britta introduces today's reading from Chapter 22, "First Reconciliation," from her spiritual memoir, Initiations in Love. This passage takes place in the Transformation Cauldron, where Britta faced the long-held stories of her worthiness. 6:50 - Britta gives a reading of today's chosen excerpt "First Reconciliation" from her book, Initiations in Love 17:33 - Britta asks processing questions to sense how you've been affected by the passage she read 18:45 - Britta invites you to grab paper and a writing utensil for journaling prompts Where in my life do I still believe I have to earn love? What did I learn, as a child, about being "good" or "bad"? How does that still shape me? When I make a mistake, what story do I tell myself about my worth? What might shift in my relationships if I truly believed that love cannot be earned — and cannot be lost? 22:40 - Britta brings the episode to a close, with an invitation to remember and trust that you are loved just the way you are.

    25 min

  5. Apr 8

    The Relationship Gym: Strengthening Love One Rep at a Time with Monica Tanner (Episode 45)

    What does it mean to take true responsibility for the quality of our relationships? In this episode of Initiations in Love, Britta speaks with relationship coach, podcast host, and author Monica Tanner about the power of agency in love. Rather than blaming our partner or waiting for them to change, real transformation begins when we are willing to face our own wounds, fears, and patterns. Monica shares her personal journey through anxious attachment, perfectionism, and fear of abandonment, and how healing those inner dynamics changed the way she shows up in her marriage. Together, Britta and Monica explore how couples can support one another through this kind of healing, learning to recognize their "losing strategies," communicate vulnerably, and build the skills that make love more resilient. This conversation is an invitation to move out of survival mode and into conscious partnership, where two people take responsibility for their own growth while supporting each other in becoming more loving, aware, and free. Monica Tanner, RLT trained, Relationship Coach and host of the Secrets of Happily Ever After podcast, transforms marriages with simple communication, connection, conflict resolution and commitment strategies. Her mission is to lower the divorce rate and improve marital satisfaction. Through her engaging podcast, new Amazon Best-Selling book, Bad Marriage Advice, vibrant social media community, and couple's coaching practice, Monica's expert guidance has impacted thousands of couples, by helping them ditch resentment and roommate syndrome and get back to living their happily ever after love story. - - - - - - - - - Want to know which initiation stage you're in? Take the quiz and learn how to meet it with greater awareness and courage. Click here. If you liked this episode of Initiations in Love, tell your friends! Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts to rate/review/subscribe to the show.  Looking to buy Britta's book Initiations in Love? Click here. Want more? Visit our WEBSITE, connect with Britta on FACEBOOK, and follow her on Instagram: @brittaeskey or @cortrainings. Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! Resources and References  Take the Quiz - What Stage of Initiation are You In? Britta's Book - Initiations in Love Website: monicatanner.com Monica's Book - Bad Marriage Advice Show Notes [01:02] - Britta welcomes relationship coach, podcast host, and author Monica Tanner and introduces the theme of agency in relationship [02:50] - Monica shares how her parents' divorce sparked her lifelong curiosity about relationships and the search for "happily ever after" [04:38] - Monica describes her breaking point and the anxiety that forced her to confront her patterns [7:15] - Monica shares the role her mother played in helping her heal generational wounds, what she describes as her initiation into loving herself [12:15] - Britta and Monica explore Monica's "Calling" to do deeper work and the idea of agency in relationship [19:00] - Monica explains how learning to face her fears and release control transformed the way she showed up in her marriage, a process Britta notes happens in the 3rd stage of initiations, "The Transformation Cauldron" [26:40] - Britta and Monica discuss vulnerability in partnership and how sharing our inner experience can open the door to deeper understanding and connection [30:40] - Monica shares her insights from this initiation [36:26] - Britta and Monica explore the "relationship gym" metaphor – why love requires awareness, skill, and ongoing practice – and Monica introduces the concept of "losing strategies" to protect ourselves in relationship [47:24] - Britta invites listeners to "just get there," to get yourself to the couples gym. [48:21] - Monica shares her final encouragement for couples who feel stuck, reminding listeners that relationship challenges are part of the growth process [50:30] - Britta brings the episode to a close and says good-bye

    52 min

  6. Feb 25

    Episode 44: Processing Exercise - The Privilege of Being Alive

    Feeling underwhelmed by your own life? Holding tightly to something that no longer feels alive? In this follow-up episode of the Initiations in Love podcast, Britta reads a passage from her spiritual memoir, "Initiations in Love," that speaks to how the extraordinary lives inside the ordinary, a truth that was revealed in the previous episode "Stop Waiting – and Follow What's Alive for You! with Jen Aly." In that powerful interview, Jen shared how the sudden loss of a dear friend became a profound initiation, awakening her to the preciousness of being alive. A year later, she answered an even deeper call: releasing the identity, belongings, and home she had worked so hard to build in order to step into a nomadic life. If you sense you're being invited into something new, or are ready to loosen your grip and see your life with fresh eyes, this episode will meet you right where you are.   - - - - - - - - - If you liked this episode of Initiations in Love, tell your friends! Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts to rate/review/subscribe to the show.  Looking to buy Britta's book Initiations in Love? Click here. Want more? Visit our WEBSITE, connect with Britta on FACEBOOK, and follow her on Instagram: @brittaeskey or @cortrainings. Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! Resources and References  Britta's Book- Initiations in Love Show Notes   1:10 - Britta welcomes you to the podcast and reflects on the discussion, themes, and learnings from our previously released episode 5:40 - Britta introduces today's reading from the very end of the book: the closing passage titled "Everything is a Miracle." This passage speaks to Jen's discovery that the extraordinary lives inside the ordinary 7:11 - Britta gives a reading of today's chosen excerpt "Everything is a Miracle" from her book, Initiations in Love 15:57 - Britta asks processing questions to sense how you've been affected by the passage she read 16:36 - Britta invites you to grab paper and a writing utensil for journaling prompts Where in your life are you holding on, possibly too tightly, to an old vision, identity, or dream - even though life may be nudging you in a different direction? What recent challenge or "problem" might actually be life inviting you into greater aliveness, clarity, or alignment? When you consider that the extraordinary lives inside the ordinary, what small, everyday moments could feel more miraculous to you today? If you fully trusted the current flow of your life - even the parts you don't yet understand - what small step might you take next? Where have you experienced Grace protecting you, redirecting you, or guiding you in ways you only recognized later? 21:15 - Britta brings the episode to a close, thanking you for taking time to turn inward, and inviting you to say YES - not someday, but NOW!

    24 min

  7. Feb 11

    Episode 43: Stop Waiting – and Follow What's Alive for You! with Jen Aly

    Feeling stagnant? Looking to shift your mindset and bring light to the darkest of times? This episode of the Initiations in Love podcast is for you. In today's episode, Britta sits down with Jen Aly, business coach, TEDx speaker, and creator of the Freedom & Flow Framework™. Together, they discuss the force of trying to make something happen that is not in flow, finding grace in the worst of times, and letting go of ideas to make room for new. Jen also reveals an epiphany that led her to live a nomadic lifestyle. Tune in if you are ready to stop waiting and say yes to what's alive for you.   Jen Aly is a business coach and TEDx speaker who helps entrepreneurs design businesses—and lives—that truly support who they're becoming. Through her Freedom & Flow Framework™, she guides clients to rebuild their work and lifestyle around clarity, confidence, and freedom. After twelve years in Asheville, NC, Jen downsized her life and became nomadic—a journey that deepened her love for life itself. She supports others to navigate their own transitions, whether that's redesigning a business, exploring life abroad, or saying yes to a new chapter.   - - - - - - - - - If you liked this episode of Initiations in Love, tell your friends! Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts to rate/review/subscribe to the show.  Looking to buy Britta's book Initiations in Love? Click here. Want more? Visit our WEBSITE, connect with Britta on FACEBOOK, and follow her on Instagram: @brittaeskey or @cortrainings. Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! Resources and References  Britta's Book- Initiations in Love Website: JenAlyCoaching.com Substack: JenAlyCoaching JenAlyCoaching.com/quiz   Show Notes   1:14 - Britta introduces special guest Jen Aly and shares the focus of this episode 2:32 - Jen recalls the epiphany she had while brushing her teeth that led her to pack up her stuff and live a nomadic lifestyle 7:02 - Jen and Britta discuss what Jen means when she says: "The worst thing had happened, and yet there was so much grace," and Britta mirrors it back to her in the Initiations in Love framework 15:12 - Jen shares her Calling to the nomadic lifestyle and the role of "trusting the flow" within that decision 24:51 - Jen recounts the grace she found in the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Helene on her community of Asheville, and what gifts emerged from the experience 33:22 - Jen addresses what it feels like not having one place where all of her belongings are 36:21 - Britta and Jen discuss Jen's recent experience with letting go of an idea she had, and the constant of accepting what is 39:03 - Jen divulges her best advice for those who are looking to downsize or become nomads 45:12 - Britta encourages listeners to reach out to Jen for support, as shebrings the episode to a close

    47 min

  8. Jan 28

    Episode 42: Processing Exercise - What is the Divine Invitation in This Situation?

    Today's episode of the Initiations in Love podcast is a follow-up to our previous episode: "Coming from Love: The Urgent Call of Our Times with Miranda Macpherson." In that conversation, Miranda shared some of her own initiations, and how each one became a gateway into greater trust, deeper compassion, and what she calls Boundless Love. In this follow-up episode, Britta reads a section from her spiritual memoir, Initiations in Love, called "The Examen Prayer," echoing Miranda's own evening review practice by sharing her own. Britta then guides listeners through a journaling exercise to help you process what you've heard and reflect on your own invitations to a greater Love.  This passage speaks directly to Miranda's evening review practice — that sacred moment at the end of the day when we turn toward all that has unfolded with loving awareness and humility 🎧If you've ever wondered how to identify opportunity and say "yes" to what calls you, this episode is for you.    - - - - - - - - - If you liked this episode of Initiations in Love, tell your friends! Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts to rate/review/subscribe to the show.  Looking to buy Britta's book Initiations in Love? Click here. Want more? Visit our WEBSITE, connect with Britta on FACEBOOK, and follow her on Instagram: @brittaeskey or @cortrainings. Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! Resources and References  Britta's Book- Initiations in Love Show Notes   1:10 - Britta welcomes you to the podcast and reflects on the discussion, themes, and learnings from our previously released episode 4:05 - Britta introduces today's reading from the third stage: The Transformation Cauldron - a chapter entitled "The Examen Prayer." This passage speaks directly to Miranda's evening review practice — that sacred moment at the end of the day when we turn toward all that has unfolded with loving awareness and humility 5:20 - Britta gives a reading of today's chosen excerpt "The Examen Prayer" from her book, Initiations in Love 13:18 - Britta asks processing questions to sense how you've been affected by the passage she read 14:14 - Britta invites you to grab paper and a writing utensil for journaling prompts What situation in your life might be carrying a Divine invitation, even if it feels uncomfortable or unclear? Where do you notice resistance to saying "yes"? When you reflect on your day, what moment stands out as an opportunity to come from Love rather than fear? How might you practice "ego relaxation" the next time you feel tight, reactive, or defensive? What helps you remember that Grace is already here - even in the middle of your challenges? 21:13 - Britta brings the episode to a close, encouraging us to walk with tenderness and courage, knowing that grace meets us when we dare to say "yes"

    23 min
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About

Welcome to the Initiations in Love Podcast! I'm your host, Britta Eskey, master facilitator, leadership trainer, and author of the forthcoming "Initiations in Love" book. You know, they say life is the greatest teacher, and our journey through it, a constant initation. An Initiation into what, you ask? Into LOVE, my friends. And in each episode, we dive deep into the incredible, life-stirring stories of people who dare to say "YES!" to these initiations. They face the trials, and emerge stronger, wiser, and more loving. In this podcast, we will share the tools and practices so you can do the same! Want to discover how YOUR challenges can become your greatest gifts? Then get ready! We are about to set off on an exploration into the very heart of love, itself.

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