Wake Up, Human

Shannon M. Wills

Wake Up, Human is an exploration of the native powers of the human being. This podcast examines the ways we humans have become disconnected—from our innate wisdom, from each other, and from the natural world—and explores practical strategies for reconnecting to wholeness. Drop in for information and inspiration to help us reawaken and heal ourselves, our relationships, and our planet.

  1. FEB 1

    Ep.29: Exercise Your Freedom of Mind (no Bill of Rights required)

    In this episode, I'm exploring the fundamental freedom of mind: a freedom we all share that does not require permission from any government or authority to be true. Let's learn to exercise our freedom of mind, so we can all become a bit more human.

    37 min

  2. 03/30/2025

    Ep.28: Bending Spoons and Other Powers of the Mind | with Petra Monson

    In this episode my guest and I explore the fascinating skill of bending spoons with the mind—something that all of us humans are capable of!—as a portal to greater self-knowledge, inspiration, and connection with the world around us.

    52 min

  3. 11/17/2024

    Ep.27: Politics of Reconnection: the US Election and the Power of You and Me

    I explore the aftermath of the 2024 US election through a lens of rehumanization, focusing on how we can heal divisions by understanding others' needs—and thinking for ourselves. Some topics I touch upon... The dangers of falling into lockstep with political "teams" without questioning our beliefsThe importance of dialogue and curiosity instead of assumption and judgmentThe red/blue binary that's making us all look like sheepBuilding effective coalitions while maintaining personal values and boundariesCultivating resilience through self-care, rest, and joyThe story of the hummingbird: the power of doing what you can.If you'd like to learn more about me and Wake Up Human, visit my website, shannonwills.com. If you love the podcast, please take a minute to give me a review - it would mean so much to me and help the podcast reach more people. And if you know anyone who would appreciate this podcast, please share it with them. Thank you for listening.

    26 min

  4. 10/26/2024

    Ep.26: Intentional Living: Manifestation as a Lifestyle | with Irina Portnova

    Manifestation is not just about vision boards and wishful thinking—it's an intentional practice of aligning our energy with our desire, through the power of the mind. In this episode I talk with Irina Portnova about the practical side of manifestation: "We don't attract what we want, we attract who we are." Some of the topics we cover... Everything in our world is energy, including our thoughts, words, and emotionsWe are manifesting all the time, whether we know it or not—often unconsciously attracting what we fearA manifesting tool: creating a "to-be list" instead of just a "to-do list"How tapping into our emotions can accelerate manifestationWhat vision boards and the material objects we want to manifest really represent in our livesA practice for manifesting miracles instead of perpetuating problems.Join Irina's upcoming summit "Experience Love Again After Divorce" by clicking the registration link in the show notes. You'll get the link to my "Rewilding the Heart" meditation when you register.

    37 min

  5. 09/16/2024

    Ep.25: Honoring the Death of Things: An Ode to Letting Go

    Our modern world rushes past death and endings, urging us to "move on" before we've properly acknowledged what's been lost. But what if this cultural tendency keeps us subtly tethered to the past, preventing us from fully opening to what comes next? Inspired by the death of the hawk on a busy urban street (and the woman who stopped to collect her body), this episode examines how cultural barriers like commodification, clock-time orientation, and death aversion block our natural grieving processes, and how pushing back against these norms allows us to reclaim our basic humanness. By following our "sacred compass" rather than cultural pressures, we create space not just for proper grieving, but for the new life waiting to emerge. Honoring the death of things—whether relationships, dreams, hopes, or phases of our lives—is essential for genuine healing and growth. Rituals of acknowledgment, from earth altars to simple moments of prayer, can help us properly release what has ended. As we enter the harvest season, a time traditionally associated with both abundance and the beginning of nature's dying cycle, it's a potent moment to consider: What in your life needs proper acknowledgment? What might be waiting to enter if you open your hands heart, and release what has already gone?

    40 min

  6. 06/29/2024

    Ep.24: Israel, Palestine, and the Hatred in Our Own Hearts

    The seeds of hatred can take root in any human heart—even those most committed to compassion and peace. In this episode, I share my journey through betrayal and rage alongside reflections on the genocide in Palestine, exploring parallels between personal and collective trauma. What happens when appropriate anger—that evolutionary response designed to protect us—has nowhere to go? Like an encounter with a bear in the wilderness, anger can serve us brilliantly in moments of danger. But when that same energy gets trapped, recycled, and amplified through experiences of victimhood and righteous indignation, it transforms into something far more destructive. "Resentment is like drinking poison and wishing someone else would die," goes the saying—yet that poison can taste surprisingly good. From social media rhetoric that dehumanizes "the other" to generational trauma passed down through bloodlines, hatred perpetuates itself with remarkable efficiency. The antidote to violence lies not in denying our anger, but in redirecting its energy toward healing solutions that connect us across even the deepest divides.  This isn't about ignoring structural violence or colonial oppression. Rather, it's about fighting the problem, not the person—recognizing that the real enemy isn't any group of humans but hatred itself. When we drop from our heads into our hearts, we discover a different kind of power—one that can stand firmly against injustice without perpetuating the very cycle we seek to break. Join me in this difficult but necessary conversation about what it means to wake up human in a world on fire.

    51 min

  7. 05/02/2024

    Ep.23: The Tyranny of Urgency and the Wisdom of Slowing Down

    The constant pressure to do everything immediately has become so normalized we barely notice it anymore – but this "tyranny of urgency" is destroying our wellbeing, relationships, and connection to life itself.  Urgency isn't just about feeling rushed; it's a colonial, capitalist programming that keeps us disconnected from our bodies and each other. When we're constantly in emergency mode, our nervous systems become dysregulated, our critical thinking shuts down, and we lose touch with what truly matters. As your host Shannon Willis shares from personal experience, this urgency paradigm can lead to physical injury, emotional burnout, and a profound sense of isolation. But there is another way. Drawing from wisdom teachers like Eknath Eswaran and Dr. Rocio Rosales Mesa, Shannon explores simple yet revolutionary practices that can break urgency's spell. The gentle phrase "take your time" – offered to others and ourselves – works like magic to diffuse pressure. Physically slowing down signals safety to our nervous systems. Reconnecting with natural rhythms reminds us that periods of rest are essential to life's cycles. Perhaps most powerfully, resisting urgency helps us reconnect with our shared humanity. In our hyper-individualistic society, we've forgotten that no one is meant to carry life's burdens alone. When we slow down enough to see each other – really see each other – we remember that relationships, not task completion, are what we'll value most at life's end. Ready to reclaim your birthright to move at a sacred pace? This episode offers both validation and practical tools for swimming upstream against urgency culture. As the Tao Te Ching reminds us, "Nature never hurries, yet everything gets done." Listen now to discover how slowing down might be the revolution your life is waiting for.

    52 min

  8. 03/02/2024

    Ep.21: [Short Story] A Red Truck, a Mountain on Fire, and Other People's Intuition

    Have you ever had a moment where everything went sideways – literally? This storytelling episode takes you deep into the Guatemalan countryside where a borrowed red Toyota truck, a burning mountainside, and a muddy crevasse converge to deliver some fun insights about decision making and human connection. The story explores how both intuition and experience serve as powerful guides when we face uncertainty, and how stepping away from our need to be right can sometimes allow the most creative of solutions to unfold.

    31 min
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About

Wake Up, Human is an exploration of the native powers of the human being. This podcast examines the ways we humans have become disconnected—from our innate wisdom, from each other, and from the natural world—and explores practical strategies for reconnecting to wholeness. Drop in for information and inspiration to help us reawaken and heal ourselves, our relationships, and our planet.

Information

  • Creator
    Shannon M. Wills
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Wake Up, Human
  • Show Website
    Wake Up, Human