WAKE UP! with Joni

Joni Caldwell Lerner: Leadership and Life Strategist Coach
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"WAKE UP! with Joni" where ancient wisdom meets modern purpose. This is a podcast for soul-led leaders, seekers, and spiritual rebels- We are devoted to conversations that ignite your inner knowing and elevate and explore what it means to lead with soul—in your relationships, career, health, and healing journey. From sacred embodiment to conscious communication, spiritual entrepreneurship to elder wisdom, you'll find guidance, stories, and truth-telling from fellow wisdom-keepers walking the path. Music by Sounds of Sion https://soundcloud.com/soundsofsion Vocals Stella Smyth

  1. 1D AGO

    Wake Up to Die Again | Scott Lackey on Collapse, Masculinity, Identity & Becoming Whole

    In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Joni sits down with author, speaker, entrepreneur, veteran, and Ironman athlete Scott Lackey to explore what happens when the identities we build our lives around begin to collapse. From war zones to business success, devastating losses to spiritual awakening, Scott shares the hard-earned wisdom that emerged from confronting failure, broken promises, ego, doubt, and the relentless pursuit of external validation. Together, Joni and Scott dive into: The difference between who we are and the roles we play Why success alone never makes us whole The quiet inner voice that keeps us stuck Learning to trust yourself again Small promises vs. massive breakthroughs Healthy masculinity and grounded leadership The courage required to face collapse instead of running from it Why pain can become instruction rather than punishment The spiritual meaning behind Scott's book Wake Up to Die Again How to reclaim your most alive life This episode is an invitation to stop performing, stop hiding, and begin the courageous work of becoming whole. Connect with Scott Lackey Website: ScottLackey.com Book: Wake Up to Die Again (Available on Amazon) Connect with Joni Website: wakeupwithjoni.com Book: STOP. LOOK. CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom If this episode moved or inspired you, please subscribe, rate, review, and share it with someone you care about.

    55 min

  2. 1D AGO ·  BONUS

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing Douglas Stuart: “John of John” | Oprah’s Book Club from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast As part of the 30th anniversary of Oprah’s Book Club, Oprah picks her 123rd selection: John of John by celebrated Scottish author Douglas Stuart. His other novels include Young Mungo and Shuggie Bain which won the prestigious Booker Prize in 2020. John of John is set in a small, fictional farming and textile town, Falabay, on an isle off northern Scotland where everybody knows everyone’s business. The story centers around three generations living under the same roof: a father, his son and the son's grandmother. The central theme to this enthralling book is the secrets these three so desperately hold on to: secrets from each other, from their neighbors and from the church. A love story at its heart, Douglas Stuart tells Oprah how he spent six years writing this book, spending 16 weeks researching the Outer Hebrides Isles on the northwest coast of Scotland talking to local people who inspired his 26 supporting characters. Oprah and Douglas Stuart are joined by an audience in New York City who enthusiastically read the book and have questions for the author. BUY THE BOOK! https://groveatlantic.com/book/john-of-john/ 00:00:00 - Welcome Douglas Stuart, author of “John of John” 00:03:01 - The setting of the book 00:04:05 - Where he found this story 00:07:30 - What Douglas needed to learn to write “John of John” 00:09:20 - Douglas describes “John of John” 00:11:43 - Oprah compares the book to Heated Rivalry 00:13:30 - An unexpected love story 00:17:40 - The conflict between father and son 00:20:40 - His writing process 00:25:55 - Father and gay son on “John of John” 00:30:30 - How man found acceptance of his son 00:34:20 - Feeling seen in a novel 00:38:27 - What Douglas wants the reader to feel 00:44:50 - Masculinity and the patriarchy 00:46:10 - The experience of growing up gay 00:47:20 - The end of the novel Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: Instagram Facebook TikTok Listen to the full podcast: Spotify Apple Podcasts #oprahsbookclub Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. APR 30

    Poetry, Presence & the Truth Beneath the Surface with Allie Michelle

    In this deeply personal and expansive episode of Wake Up! with Joni, I sit down with poet, author, and spoken word artist Allie Michelle for a conversation that moves beyond performance and into truth. Together, we explore what it really means to be seen in today's world—where vulnerability can become identity, beauty can be both a gift and a distortion, and creative expression becomes a pathway to healing. Allie shares openly about: The emotional cost of visibility Navigating beauty, identity, and depth as a woman in the public eye The line between authentic connection and projection What she still holds sacred—and why Her creative process as both a channel and a discipline We also step into something more intimate… a mother–daughter conversation about becoming, unlearning, and meeting each other beyond roles. With her upcoming poetry release Don't Wait to Light the Candles, Allie continues to invite us into a life lived fully—without waiting, without shrinking, and without apology. This episode is not just a conversation. It's an invitation. If this episode resonates, please subscribe, rate, review, and share with someone you love. Where to find Allie Michelle:  Substack:  https://alliemichellel.substack.com Book: Don't Wait to Light the Candles  https://www.harpercollins.com/products/dont-wait-to-light-the-candles-allie-michelle?variant=44262764806178 Instagram: @alliemichellel Book Signing: May 5, 2026 @ The Last Bookstore - contact for reservations -  453 S Spring St, Ground Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013 +1 213 488 0599 WHERE TO FIND JONI: WAKEUPWITHJONI.COM for coaching or her book STOP LOOK CHOOSE: your journey to peace and freedom PARADISERANCHRETREAT.COM for solo and couples retreat experiences #WakeUpWithJoni #AllieMichelle #SpokenWordPoetry #ConsciousLiving #EmotionalHealing #Authenticity #PersonalGrowth #MotherDaughter #CreativeExpression #SelfAwareness #PoetryCommunity #HealingJourney

    48 min

  4. APR 23

    She Healed Herself Naturally… What If Your Body Isn't Broken? | Karen "ZuZu" Armes

    In this episode of Wake Up! with Joni, we explore a powerful and unconventional journey of healing, resilience, and radical trust in the body. Karen "ZuZu" Armes shares her experience of living with epilepsy from a young age — navigating seizures, medication, and uncertainty — until a turning point in her life led her to explore a completely different path. What followed was a transformation that would shape not only her own life, but the lives of thousands she now teaches. As the founder of Holistic Health Educators, ZuZu is passionate about helping people understand the body's innate intelligence and capacity to heal when given the right conditions. This conversation dives into: Reframing the belief that the body is "broken" The difference between managing symptoms vs. supporting the body Why natural health education has been largely absent from mainstream systems The responsibility and empowerment that comes with understanding your body What it takes to create lasting change in your health This conversation offers one person's lived experience with healing. It's not a prescription — but an invitation to explore your own relationship with your body more deeply. 🌿 Connect with Karen "ZuZu" Armes https://zuzuunleashed.com 🌿 Connect with Joni https://wakeupwithjoni.com Book a 1:1 session: https://calendly.com/wakeupwithjonicoaching/30min If you're feeling the call to deepen your self-leadership, clarity, and conscious awareness, Joni's work is designed to meet you there. Her approach blends grounded insight with real-life integration — supporting you in not just thinking differently, but living differently. 🌴 Retreats with Joni https://paradiseranchretreats.com Paradise Ranch Retreats are immersive, soul-centered experiences designed to help you step out of the noise of daily life and reconnect with what's true. Through intentional space, guided experiences, and meaningful connection, these retreats support real transformation — the kind that stays with you long after you leave.

    56 min

  5. APR 16

    "Stop Drifting, Start Living" BLAINE BARTLETT on Conscious Leadership, Imagination & the Soul of Business

    What if business wasn't just transactional—but transformational? In this powerful episode of Wake Up! with Joni, I sit down with Blaine Bartlett—internationally recognized executive coach, leadership expert, and author of Stop Drifting, Start Living—to explore the deeper truth behind leadership, consciousness, and the soul of business. With over four decades of global impact, Blaine shares how imagination shapes reality, why most people are unconsciously "drifting" through life, and how true leadership begins with awareness, not control. We dive into: The hidden cost of unconscious leadership Why imagination is the gateway to creation The difference between motivation and inspiration How to move through grief, growth, and transformation consciously What it really means to be a "center of distribution" in life and leadership The intersection of science, spirituality, and business This conversation is a masterclass in living and leading from a place of deep alignment, presence, and purpose. Connect with Blaine: Website: https://blainebartlett.com Company: https://avatarresources.com Podcast: Soul of Business with Blaine Bartlett LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook: @blainebartlett BLAINE'S NEW BOOK: Stop Drifting, Start Living by Blaine Bartlett Connect with Joni: wakeupwithjoni.com  Joni's Book: STOP, LOOK, CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom

    53 min

  6. APR 9

    CLIFF BEACH: Part 2 - Music, Meaning & the Truth About Creative Living

    Welcome to Wake Up! with Joni, the podcast where embodied consciousness meets leadership through awareness — awakening lived, not theorized. In this second conversation with Cliff Beach, we go deeper into the intersection of creativity, leadership, identity, and conscious living. Cliff is an author, entrepreneur, leadership expert, and accomplished musician whose journey spans boardrooms, stages, and profound inner transformation. In this episode, we explore how music shaped the man he became—and how leadership refined his creative expression. This conversation is a powerful reflection on: Creativity as a spiritual and energetic practice The truth about identity vs. expression Conscious leadership and self-awareness Integration over balance in modern life Why alignment—not approval—is the real success Cliff shares how growing up in a deeply musical and spiritual environment shaped his worldview—and how embracing both discipline and devotion allowed him to live in alignment with his purpose. This is more than a conversation about music. It's about who you are when you stop performing—and start living from truth. 🎧 Connect with Cliff Beach: Music + Socials: @clbeachmusic 📘 Explore more: Joni's book: Stop. Look. Choose. Your Journey to Peace and Freedom 🌐 https://wakeupwithjoni.com 🔖 Hashtags #WakeUpWithJoni #CliffBeach #ConsciousLeadership #CreativeAwakening #SpiritualPodcast #AuthenticLiving #PurposeDrivenLife #LeadershipDevelopment #CreativityAndConsciousness #InnerWork

    58 min

  7. APR 2

    WILL STEEL: The Truth About Self-Sabotage + Becoming Free to Lead + Freedom, Leadership & Truth

    What if the biggest thing holding you back… is something you cannot see? In this powerful episode of Wake Up! with Joni, leadership expert Will Steel shares how hidden beliefs, unconscious patterns, and unspoken stories quietly shape your results in leadership, relationships, and life. From graduating with top honors at Royal Air Force College Cranwell to flying as a military pilot, to coaching CEOs, world leaders, and high performers across the globe—Will reveals the moment that changed everything: realizing that success does not resolve what's unresolved within. Together, we explore: Why high achievers still feel unfulfilled The root of self-sabotage and "proving" behavior What ontological coaching really means How to identify and shift limiting beliefs The power of completion in relationships Why authenticity—not strategy—is the real breakthrough This episode is an invitation to stop performing… and start seeing. Because when you see clearly—you lead differently. 🔗 Connect with Will Steel 🌐 Website: https://willsteel.com/about.php 📘 Book: Free to Lead: Unleash Your Hidden Leadership Genius 🔗 Connect with Joni 🌐 https://wakeupwithjoni.com 📘 Stop, Look, Choose: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom

    50 min

  8. MAR 26

    DEBORAH YAGER: You Are Not Your Past — The Art of Radical Transformation

    What if your past didn't define you — but prepared you? In this deeply honest and expansive episode of Wake Up with Joni, I sit down with Deborah Yager — Master Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, High Performance Coach, and co-founder of Yager Training — for a conversation that bridges transformation, spirituality, and the power of identity. Deborah shares her extraordinary journey from addiction, toxic relationships, and profound shame… to becoming a leader who now helps others rewire their minds, reclaim their worth, and step into unapologetic freedom. Together, we explore: ✨ How the language you use shapes your reality ✨ The roots of shame — and how to release it ✨ Rewriting identity at the deepest level ✨ The connection between NLP and spiritual awakening ✨ Why "rock bottom" can be a powerful initiation ✨ Embracing your perfectly imperfect path This conversation is an invitation to see yourself differently — to move beyond the stories that have kept you small and into the truth of who you really are. If you've ever felt stuck in your past, struggled with self-worth, or sensed there's more available for your life… this episode is for you. 🌐 Connect & Explore ✨ Learn more about Deborah Yager and her work: yagertraining.com ✨ Connect with me and explore coaching opportunities: wakeupwithjoni.com 📘 And if you're navigating the space between who you've been and who you're becoming, my book: STOP. LOOK. CHOOSE. — Your Journey to Peace and Freedom is available wherever books are sold.

    41 min
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4.8
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

"WAKE UP! with Joni" where ancient wisdom meets modern purpose. This is a podcast for soul-led leaders, seekers, and spiritual rebels- We are devoted to conversations that ignite your inner knowing and elevate and explore what it means to lead with soul—in your relationships, career, health, and healing journey. From sacred embodiment to conscious communication, spiritual entrepreneurship to elder wisdom, you'll find guidance, stories, and truth-telling from fellow wisdom-keepers walking the path. Music by Sounds of Sion https://soundcloud.com/soundsofsion Vocals Stella Smyth

Information

  • Creator
    Joni Caldwell Lerner: Leadership and Life Strategist Coach
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    201
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    WAKE UP! with Joni

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