WAKE UP! with Joni

Joni Caldwell Lerner: Leadership and Life Strategist Coach

"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. 3D AGO

    PATTY AUBERY: From Secretary to a Billion-Dollar Brand - Patty Aubrey on Building Chicken Soup for the Soul and A Life Time of Choosing the Challenge

    From answering a classified ad to helping build one of the most recognizable personal development brands in the world… In this episode of Wake Up! with Joni, I sit down with visionary entrepreneur and bestselling author Patty Aubery. Patty began her career as a secretary for Jack Canfield and went on to become President of Chicken Soup for the Soul, helping grow it into a global phenomenon with hundreds of titles and hundreds of millions of books sold. But Patty's story isn't just about business success. It's about visibility, courage, asking for what you want, and learning to stop hiding your gifts. In this candid conversation we explore: How a $25,000 goal changed the trajectory of Patty's life The behind-the-scenes story of building the Chicken Soup empire Why so many women stay invisible—even after massive success The power of asking for help and surrounding yourself with truth tellers How habits and self-talk quietly shape the life we live Why success is measured in experiences, relationships, and contribution—not just money Patty also shares the promise she made to her mother on her deathbed—to stop hiding and show up fully—and how that moment reshaped the work she does today. If you've ever wondered whether you're playing too small, or if it's too late to step into your voice, this conversation is a powerful reminder that your next chapter can begin right now. Work with Patty: https://www.pattyaubery.com/ Check out her free resources vault too. Lot's of GOLD! Work with Joni: wakeupwithjoni.com  https://calendly.com/wakeupwithjonicoaching/30min Joni's Book: STOP LOOK CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom (wherever you get your books)

    51 min
  2. MAR 5

    BLAISE KENNEDY: Everything Exists Within Consciousness + Embodying Coherence

    In this expansive episode of Wake Up with Joni, I sit down with Blaise Kennedy to explore a radical and transformative idea: What if everything exists within your consciousness — rather than you existing inside a world "out there"? Blaise's work invites us beyond spiritual concepts and into lived realization. We discuss what it means to experience the body as the center of reality, how coherence between inner and outer life becomes a spiritual practice, and why curiosity may be the most powerful doorway to awakening. This conversation is not about escaping the human experience — it's about inhabiting it more fully. If you've ever felt the tension between what you know spiritually and how you live daily, this episode will meet you there. ✨ In This Episode We Explore: The shift from intellectual spirituality to embodied realization Why the body is not separate from consciousness What "coherence" actually looks like in daily life How awakening changes relationships and purpose A grounded way to begin living as awareness now 🔗 Connect with Blaise Kennedy Website: www.blaisekennedy.com/media-podcasts/wakeup 🌿 Work With Joni Website: https://wakeupwithjoni.com Book a Complimentary Coaching Call: https://calendly.com/wakeupwithjonicoaching/30min 📖 STOP LOOK CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom In STOP LOOK CHOOSE, I guide you through the sacred pause — the space between stimulus and response — where true freedom lives. This book is a practical spiritual companion for navigating life's in-between moments with awareness, clarity, and empowered choice. If this episode resonated, this book will help you integrate it. If this conversation stirred something within you, share it with someone walking their own awakening path.

    57 min
  3. FEB 26

    ZACH RODRIGUEZ: From Navy Helicopter Crash to Financial Awakening + Money, Meaning & Time

    🎧 From Navy Helicopter Crash to Financial Awakening Zach Rodriguez on Money, Meaning & Time What happens when a helicopter crash becomes a spiritual wake-up call? In this powerful episode of Wake Up! with Joni, I sit down with Zach Rodriguez, former Navy pilot and founder of Outlive Financial Planning (https://outlivefinancial.com), to explore the intersection of money, time, health, and conscious living. Six months into his first operational tour, Zach survived a crash landing on an aircraft carrier. He walked away physically intact—but something internally shifted. That moment planted a truth: Life is fragile. Time is nonrenewable. From there, Zach began asking deeper questions: What are we working so hard for? What does success actually mean? How do we build wealth without sacrificing presence? How do we live well now and still prepare for the future? In this episode, we explore: ✨ The "golden handcuffs" trap ✨ Future-focused overachievers & delayed gratification ✨ Money as life energy ✨ Financial habits in your 30s & 40s ✨ The three-bucket method (Now, Mid-Term, Future) ✨ Money scripts from childhood ✨ Wealth inequality, inflation & the K-shaped economy ✨ Why health is as important as wealth ✨ How to define success beyond dollars This conversation is about freedom—not just financial freedom, but conscious freedom. 🔗 Connect with Zach Website: https://outlivefinancial.com 📘 Go Deeper with Me My book: STOP LOOK CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom Available wherever books are sold. Website: https://wakeupwithjoni.com Book a 30-minute intro coaching call: https://calendly.com/wakeupwithjonicoaching/30min If this episode moved you, please rate, review, and share. It helps this message reach the people who need it most.

    1h 3m
  4. FEB 19

    JACK ZWISSIG: The Tao of Conscious Leadership with Jack Zwissig + What does it really mean to lead from consciousness?

    In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, I sit down with my longtime friend and leadership partner, Jack Zwissig—executive coach, senior facilitator, keynote speaker, and author of The Tao (Path) of High Performance Leadership and The Land of GoBacks. Jack and I have traveled the world together since the 1980s facilitating leadership and culture change workshops. In this episode, we go beyond corporate strategy and into what truly transforms leaders from the inside out. We explore: The six points of consciousness in leadership Why performance without awareness eventually collapses The intersection of Taoist wisdom and modern business Culture change that actually sticks The internal evolution required for external results What Jack is still learning about himself as a leader This is a conversation about presence, responsibility, humility, courage—and the deep inner work required to lead at the highest level. If you are a CEO, entrepreneur, team leader—or simply someone committed to personal mastery—this episode will meet you exactly where you are. 📚 Jack's Books: The Tao (Path) of High Performance Leadership https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Tao+(Path)+of+High+Performance+Leadership+Jack+Zwissig The Land of GoBacks https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Land+of+GoBacks+Jack+Zwissig Joni's Site & Book:  wakeupwithjoni.com STOP LOOK CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom wherever you get your books!

    1h 6m
  5. FEB 12

    DR. JEFF GROSS: Regenerative Medicine & Biohacking + Stem Cells, Exosomes, Anti-Aging & Longevity

    In this expansive and illuminating episode of Wake Up with Joni, Joni sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Gross, neurosurgeon and founder of ReCELLebrate, to explore the evolving frontier of regenerative medicine, longevity, stem cell activation, exosomes, peptides, and conscious biohacking. Together, they bridge science and spirit, unpacking what it truly means to heal at the cellular level — not by "fixing what's broken," but by restoring the body's innate intelligence and capacity for regeneration. Dr. Gross shares his personal evolution from traditional neurosurgery into regenerative medicine, explains stem cells and exosomes in clear, accessible language, and offers powerful insights into inflammation, aging, brain health, joint repair, autoimmune conditions, cancer considerations, and the future of personalized medicine — including AI, plant-derived exosomes, and precision biohacking. This conversation is as much about energy, vitality, and consciousness as it is about biology — a reminder that when the body is regulated and supported, the spirit has room to thrive. ✨ What You'll Learn in This Episode Why regenerative medicine represents a paradigm shift in healthcare The real difference between stem cells and exosomes How inflammation drives aging — and how to reverse it How exosomes deliver healing messages at the cellular level The role of peptides in longevity, brain health, muscle, mood, and metabolism Plant-derived exosomes and why they dramatically increase nutrient absorption Stem cells, joints, cartilage repair, and avoiding surgery Brain health, nasal delivery, and cognitive vitality Natural killer cells, senescent ("zombie") cells, and biological aging The future of precision medicine, AI, and personalized healing Where to begin if you want to optimize health, energy, and longevity 👤 About Dr. Jeffrey Gross Dr. Jeffrey D. Gross is a pioneer in regenerative and longevity medicine and the founder of ReCELLebrate, a leading regenerative medicine practice specializing in stem cell activation, exosome therapy, peptides, and precision biohacking. A former neurosurgeon with advanced training in molecular cell biology, Dr. Gross now focuses on whole-being wellness — integrating cutting-edge science with deeply personalized patient care to support healing, vitality, and long-term health. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Jeff Gross & ReCELLebrate 🌐 Website: https://recelebrate.com 📱 Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn: @recelebrate 🌿 Connect with Joni 🌐 Podcast & Community: https://wakeupwithjoni.com 📖 Book: STOP LOOK CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom

    49 min
  6. FEB 5

    TABATHA DeBRUYN: Breath as Regulation, Safety, and Transformation + Nervous System Reset

    In this deeply grounding and illuminating episode of Wake Up with Joni, Joni is joined by Tabatha DeBruyn, Transformational Breath Master and one of the few certified 9D Breathwork practitioners in Canada. Together, they explore breath as a bridge between science and soul—how conscious, somatic breathing supports nervous system regulation, emotional resilience, trauma release, and sustainable awakening. This is a powerful conversation for anyone feeling anxious, burned out, overwhelmed, or "awake but unregulated." Tabatha shares her personal journey—from high school teacher to global entrepreneur to breathwork facilitator—along with how grief, caregiving, and panic attacks ultimately led her to the healing power of somatic breathwork. You'll learn why breath is not just a calming tool, but a physiological gateway to safety, clarity, and transformation. In this episode, we explore: Why awakening without regulation can feel destabilizing How breath directly impacts the nervous system and brain function The difference between calming breath and activating breath What somatic breathwork is and how trauma lives in the body Why breathwork can feel like "10 years of therapy in one session" How breathwork supports children, teens, parents, and families Nervous system regulation as the missing link in healing and embodiment Simple, science-backed breathing practices you can use immediately Tabatha also guides listeners through practical breath techniques and offers a simple one-minute assignment to help you regulate, ground, and reconnect—starting today. This episode is an invitation to slow down, feel safe in your body, and remember that your breath is your superpower. 🔗 CONNECT WITH TABATHA DEBRUYN 🌐 Website: https://tabatha.online 📘 Book: Ordinary to Extraordinary: An Inspired Guide to Living the Life of Your Dreams (Amazon) https://a.co/d/amYg8HD 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabatha_debruyn 🧘‍♀️ Weekly Group Breathwork: Tuesdays, 7:30pm ET (online) Free resources & email list This link includes three complimentary experiences your audience may enjoy: – A 7-minute cinematic introduction to 9D Breathwork – A 5-minute nervous system reset – A 7-minute guided morning routine https://tabatha.myflodesk.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH JONI 🌐 Website: https://wakeupwithjoni.com 📘 Book: Stop. Look. Choose: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom

    52 min
  7. JAN 30

    SANDRA LENA SILVERMAN: Midlife Isn't a Breakdown—It's a Breakthrough

    Midlife Isn't a Breakdown—It's a Breakthrough with Sandra Lena Silverman Episode Description Welcome to Wake UP! with Joni, the podcast where spiritual awakening meets real life—real conversations, real courage, and the invitation to stop performing, start telling the truth, and remember who you are. In this candid, funny, and deeply illuminating episode, Joni sits down with Sandra Lena Silverman—author, speaker, beauty rebel, and host of The Party's Over. Sandra is living proof that midlife isn't a breakdown—it's a breakthrough. Together, they explore what happens when a woman looks in the mirror, tells herself the truth, and chooses reinvention over illusion. From love bombing and narcissistic relationships to beauty standards, Botox, heartbreak, boundaries, and embodied self-worth, this conversation goes where many avoid—but so many women need. Sandra shares her deeply personal journey through a 27-year marriage, emotional manipulation, radical self-reckoning, and ultimately reclaiming her power, her body, and her soul. With humor, honesty, and heart, she reminds us that the party isn't over—it's just getting interesting. In This Episode, You'll Hear About: Why midlife is not an ending, but an initiation Love bombing, gaslighting, and narcissistic relationship dynamics How beauty standards can become a prison—and how to break free External transformation vs. true inner work Rebuilding self-worth after emotional abuse Dating after divorce, red flags, and boundaries that protect your peace Embodiment, self-care, lymphatic health, and strength training as empowerment Why loving yourself changes everything About the Guest Sandra Lena Silverman is an author, speaker, and unapologetic truth-teller redefining what beauty, love, and aging really look like. As the host of The Party's Over, she brings humor and heart to the chaos of midlife reinvention—one laugh, one heartbreak, and one Botox injection at a time. Sandra's journey didn't begin with a microphone—it began with a mirror and a reckoning. Through candor, comedy, and courage, she challenges outdated narratives and helps women build confidence rooted in truth, not illusion. Find Sandra Lena Silverman Website: https://www.sandralenasilverman.com Instagram: @sandrasilverman Books: From Bullsht to Botox* (available on Amazon & Barnes & Noble) From Bullsht to Broken Hearts* (releasing soon) Podcast: The Party's Over (YouTube & all podcast platforms) About the Host Joni Lerner is the host of Wake UP! with Joni, a podcast dedicated to conscious conversations about awakening, embodiment, healing, and living fully alive—especially through life's initiations, losses, and reinventions. Find Joni Lerner Website: https://wakeupwithjoni.com Book: STOP LOOK CHOOSE: Your Journey to Peace and Freedom If this conversation moved you, stirred something in you, or gave language to what you've been feeling, please take a moment to rate, review, and share this episode with someone you care about. It truly helps these conversations reach the women who need them most. If you're ready to learn how to live an embodied, excellent life, connect with Joni directly through her website, book a session, or explore her book to uncover and sustain your aliveness. And now, beautiful human—it's your turn. Go out and live your most alive life. ✨

    48 min
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