Episodes

  • Ep 313 - Finding your Community
    Apr 23 2026

    How many of us feel alone and isolated as the world continues to burn with so many fires? How many of us have forgotten how to connect with each other? Why does it matter? In this week's episode, I'm talking about how important it is for us to find or build community so that when push comes to shove, we will have people to turn to. And these communities don't have to be solely about liberation, it can be as simple as a book club or a knitting group. Tune in to learn more!


    Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

    Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

    ===============

    Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

    • Tarot/Oracle Card: The Two of Cups (Reversed)

    • Poem: “The Fish and I will chat” by Hafiz

    ===============

    Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

    • Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

    • Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

    • Email: leslieann@hobayanhouse.com

    • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy


    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Ep 312 - Best of Spiritual Grit - The Wound and Light
    Apr 17 2026

    Inner work starts with thinking about how pain and sorrow is an opportunity for us to break down our barriers or any other walls. Allow yourself to feel the pain and sorrow.

    What if the wound is the place where the light shines forth from you? There is a light within that connects all of us.

    We are able to heal ourselves from the inside out.

    The work we do on ourselves affects those around us. Everyone can see your light radiating out and they will be inspired.

    Humans are communal beings. We are a species that thrives on supporting each other and helping each other.

    When you do the work of healing, observe the pain and sorrow, notice it, feel its presence, let go, and acknowledge the lessons learned.

    Thinking of starting a meditation practice for the new year? Grab my free resource, 5 Tips on Meditation, to get you started on a high note! Email: ⁠leslieann@suryagian.com⁠

    Want to learn more about healing your trauma? Visit ⁠https://suryagian.com⁠ for more insight on healing, offerings to learn how to heal, and invitations to practice.

    Follow me on Instagram for some real talk about healing AND play: @leslieannhobayan.

    Also, subscribe to my Youtube Channel: Leslieann Hobayan.


    Today’s poems:

    • “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” by Rumi
    • “Spiced Manna” by Hafiz


    Books/ Verses Mentioned:

    • Matthew 6:25-30

    25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Ep 311 - What is the universe trying to tell you?
    Apr 3 2026

    Last week was a little rough. I'm calling it Fury Week (kind of like shark week but without the sharks ha!). During that time, I found myself noticing patterns and asking: what is the universe trying to show me?


    In this week's episode, I'm inviting you to consider what your reactions (as opposed to intentional responses) might be trying to tell you. As empire and its oppressive systems continue to crumble, the familiar ways of doing things no longer work. Can you get insight on what direction to take next from your reactions? How can you get guidance from rage? Tune in to learn more!


    Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

    Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

    ===============

    Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

    • Tarot/Oracle Card: The Sun

    • Poem: “In the City, A New Congregation Find Her” by Barbara Jane Reyes

    ===============

    Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

    • Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

    • Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

    • Email: leslieann@hobayanhouse.com

    • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy


    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • Ep 310 - Doing your part for liberation
    Mar 20 2026

    We've got the new moon in Pisces, the Spring Equinox, and Mercury turns direct! Hooray! What have you learned during this time of reflection and review? Now is the time to move forward towards the light. Plant the seeds of your dreams (Pisces energy!) and nurture them for their full bloom later this season.

    In this week's episode, I am talking about how our frequency and who we are being already contribute to the fight for liberation. Of course, it is still crucial for us to take the necessary actions to dismantle empire and build this new world (boycotts, communicating to your elected officials, etc), but it's also important to honor our individual Divine calling as well as build meaningful connections in our communities. Tune to hear more!

    Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

    Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

    ===============

    Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

    • Tarot/Oracle Card: Seven of Pentacles

    • Poem: “Easter Sunday” by Shin Yu Pai

    ===============

    Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

    • Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

    • Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

    • Email: leslieann@hobayanhouse.com

      Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy

    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • Ep 309 - What to do when you lose your grit
    Mar 12 2026

    We get tired. We get run down. We burn out if we're not careful. How do you keep going when the world's fires continue to burn? What do you do when your spiritual practices fall short? When they start to get stale? Or when your grit to fight for social justice and liberation weakens?

    Tune into this week's episode where I admit to feeling less “spiritual gritty” and what you and I can do to shift out of it.

    Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

    Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

    ===============

    Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

    • Tarot/Oracle Card: Three of Pentacles

    • Poem: “Then Winks” by Hafiz

    ===============

    Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

    • Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

    • Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

    • Email: leslieann@hobayanhouse.com

    • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy


    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • Ep 308 - Let go of the old. Make room for the new
    Feb 26 2026

    Are you feeling stagnant or tired or uncomfortable? We are in eclipse season! So this portal is expediting change rapidly whether you want it to happen or not.

    This week, the Eight of Cups comes forward to remind us that letting go of old stories, limiting beliefs, even people in our lives is important to making room for our growth. In this episode, I offer a couple of tools (including one ritual) to help with identifying what needs to be released and how. Tune in to this lesson-filled episode to learn more!

    Email me to get the ritual for releasing the old: leslieann@hobayanhouse.com

    Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

    Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠


    Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

    • Tarot/Oracle Card: Eight of Cups

    • Poem: “Galleon of Prayer” by Barbara Jane Reyes

    ===============

    Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

    • Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

    • Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

    • Email: leslieann@hobayanhouse.com

    • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy

    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Ep 307 - Best of Spiritual Grit - On Being Human During Times of Collective Grief with JS Park
    Feb 20 2026

    In this episode, I'm in conversation with JS Park, a Korean American hospital chaplain based in Florida whose compassion has made an incredible impression on so many people, including myself.


    J.S. Park is a hospital chaplain, former atheist/agnostic, sixth degree black belt, suicide survivor, Korean-American, and follows Christ. He. is author of The Voices We Carry: Finding Your One True Voice in a World of Clamor and Noise. Published by Northfield/Moody. He is currently serving at a 1000+ bed hospital, one of the top-ranked in the nation, and was also a chaplain for three years at one of the largest nonprofit charities for the homeless on the east coast.




    We talk about compassion and grief, which do not have clear definitions or prescriptions for embodying them. Both grief and compassion look different for each individual person. It's not a one-size-fits-all. We also talk about how we might hold compassion for those whose beliefs are rooted in our oppression. And how we might identify this collective grief we are currently feeling but can't quite name. Listen in as we dive into how we can human better together.


    Today’s poems/ Books / Oracle / Tarot Cards mentioned:

    • Oracle Card: Trust the Timing

    • Poem: "Torso of Air" by Ocean Vuong

    Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

    • Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

    • JS Park Website: ⁠https://jsparkblog.com/⁠

      Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jspark3000/?hl=en

    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Ep 306 - The importance of nervous system resilience and regulation
    Feb 13 2026

    What does the nervous system have to do with activism? What does it have to do with spirituality? In this week's episode, I talk about the importance of caring for our nervous system, which serves as the bridge between the spirit realm and the earthly world. Without it, we can't see clearly where we are being guided and know what aligned action to take in order to move forward.

    We are of no use to anyone if our cup is empty and our nervous systems are fried. So it is essential to strengthen our nervous systems while also understanding how to regulate them. Our bodies have been living in survival mode for too long. We need to give ourselves real, somatic rest so that we can be effective in our fight for revolution. Tune in to hear more!

    Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu⁠

    Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520⁠

    ===============

    Today’s poems/ Books mentioned:

    • Tarot/Oracle Card:The Knight of Swords

    • Poem: “Blue Madonna” by Vandana Cana

    ===============

    Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:

    • Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: ⁠leslieann.substack.com⁠

    • Instagram: @leslieannhobayan

    • Email: leslieann@hobayanhouse.com
      Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRy

    Show More Show Less
    38 mins