Talk to kids about death | Dr. Korie Leigh on Be Alive

Dr. Korie Leigh has spent years studying how to talk to kids about death. In this episode, we dig into the biggest mistake parents make when it comes to talking to kids about death and grief. Plus the #1 quality you can build in kids.

Dr. Leigh highlights how unprocessed and disenfranchised childhood grief can contribute to adult anxiety, depression, substance use, and parentification. Resilience, however, can be built through “dosing” information, nervous-system regulation, and meaningful rituals around everyday endings.

Dr. Leigh describes how she came to helping children with death and grief, which includes working with kids with cancer and kids who have experienced parental loss.

00:00 Why Kids Need Truth

01:09 Meet Dr Corey Lee & Tea Blending Side Quest

04:06 Talking About Death

06:35 Kids Misconceptions Explained

08:14 Angels Took Grandma

10:50 How Hidden Grief Grows Up

16:43 Dosing Method For Answers

18:45 Resilience In Hard Times

23:39 Everyday Loss Teachable Moments

27:18 Rituals Create Core Memories

29:56 Puffy Paint Breakthrough

32:07 Core Memories Are Emotions

34:41 What She Actually Does

36:44 Born Into This Work

40:01 Science Meets Spirituality

42:32 Dyscalculia Explained

44:57 Are you an info-based coper or an emotion-based coper?

56:09 Where to Find Dr. Leigh, Season 2 Teaser & Farewell

BIO: Dr. Korie Leigh – Professor • Author • Thanatologist

Dr. Korie Leigh is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in childhood bereavement, trauma-informed care, and compassionate communication. She specializes in supporting children and families navigating illness, death, and loss.

Dr. Leigh has presented at national and international conferences and facilitates workshops on grief literacy, meaning-making, and trauma-informed care for professionals across healthcare, education, and community sectors. Her integrative approach draws from clinical practice, academic scholarship, and the profound understanding of our capacity to heal after loss.

Dr. Leigh is the author of Oprah Booklist title, What Does Grief Feel Like?, It Won’t Ever Be the Same: A teens guide to grief and grieving, and When Everything Changes: Parenting through loss and grief. Dr. Leigh’s books that help children and families process grief with honesty and compassion.

Follow Dr. Korie Leigh

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Get her books:

Newest book -- When Everything Changes: Parenting through loss and grief

It Won’t Ever Be the Same: A Teen’s Guide to Grief and Grieving

What Does Grief Feel Like?

Thanks for being alive with me. ⚡️

Come find me in the wild: Instagram and TikTok

Once a week, I’ll text you a nudge to help you feel alive wherever you are, on any ordinary day.

Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

What it's like completing a Masters of Psychology at 41

Solo ep! Finally announcing that I'm completing my Masters in Psychology this year. It's been a helluva ride. In this episode, I share WHY I decided to do this, some rad highlights (and difficult lowlights), and how my research affects YOU.

*slight audio drift on this one I can't fix, so we're rolling with it.

Chapters:

00:00 Masters Degree Reveal :)

00:51 Why Go Back to School?

02:42 Why Transpersonal Psychology - and what is that?

04:40 Program Structure and School Fit

07:51 Academic Writing Reality Check

11:36 My journey studying mortality awareness to now studying aliveness awareness

15:07 Designing my research study: The Aliveness Experiment

19:20 Early Insights and Why This Affects YOU

23:56 Closing Aliveness Moment

Thanks for being alive with me. ⚡️

Come find me in the wild: Instagram and TikTok

Once a week, I’ll text you a nudge to help you feel alive wherever you are, on any ordinary day.

Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

The Ultraview Effect: What Space Reveals About Being Alive

For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with the Overview Effect. It's a huge shot of awe, perspective, reorientation of priorities, and gratitude. I believe feeling alive is one way to get a micro Overview Effect without flying to space.

So when I came across space anthropologist Deana Weibel and her work on The Ultraview Effect, I knew I had to have her on the show. Deana has been studying astronauts for decades. She's interviewed them all and researches the psychological and spiritual impacts they experience in their work. While NASA research prioritizes physical risks like radiation and microgravity over emotional and spiritual impacts, Deana's doing the work to research the psychological effects.

Her discovery? Space exploration shapes meaning-making around awe, humility, spirituality, and the unknown.

But the Ultraview Effect and the Overview Effect are not the same thing. Weibel contrasts the overview effect (seeing Earth from space, often inspiring environmental concern and a sense of shared humanity) with the ultraview effect (seeing deep space/star fields in true darkness, producing disorientation and profound intellectual humility). The keyword there is HUMILITY.

The conversation in this episode connects awe to mortality awareness, beginner’s mind, and the practices us non-astronauts can use to cultivate The Ultraview Effect right here on Earth.

The Ultraview Effect: Awe, Humility, and What Space Reveals About Being Alive

00:00 Embrace Not Knowing

01:19 Meet Deana Weibel

03:19 Vastness and Ritual Awe

07:32 Space and Spirituality

10:35 Why This Matters Now

14:32 Overview Effect Explained

21:13 Ultraview Starfield Awe

24:42 Disorientation and Denial

29:24 Research Gaps at NASA

33:07 Ultraview Impacts and Humility

39:36 Beginners Mind and Curiosity

42:05 Humility as Superpower

43:16 Sailing Humility Lesson

45:11 Awe Makes Better Humans

49:42 Practicing Humility Daily

55:45 Mortality And Meaning

01:02:33 Grief And Creative Grace

01:09:22 Aliveness As Ecosystem

01:13:20 Book Plug And Next Project

01:18:05 Season Two Teaser

About Deana Weibel:

Deana Weibel is a Professor of Anthropology at Grand Valley State University and a leading voice in the study of human experiences of space exploration. Her work explores how astronauts and space professionals make meaning of awe, humility, and the unknown. She is the author of The Ultraview Effect: What We Can Learn from Astronauts About Awe, Humility, and Exploring the Unknown, which examines how looking out into deep space can transform the way we understand ourselves and our place in the universe. Through interviews, fieldwork, and storytelling, she brings a deeply human perspective to the future of space travel.

Get Deana's New Book: 30% off for listeners of Be Alive with Kate Manser The Ultraview Effect: What We Can Learn from Astronauts about Awe, Humility, and Exploring the Unknown

Book link: https://www.ucpress.edu/books/the-ult...

Deana's Top 3 areas of expertise

1. Awe, humility, and transformation through space exploration

2. The human side of space travel

3. The “Ultraview Effect” and looking outward

When you think about living your most alive life - what does that mean to you?

Living my most alive life means following curiosity into new experiences, especially when I’m in motion, traveling, talking to someone fascinating, or encountering something I don’t fully understand yet. I feel it in those moments when a place, food, or idea is completely unfamiliar and then suddenly starts to make sense, when the world opens up just a little more. I tend to feel least alive in routine or repetitive tasks, and most alive in environments full of energy and human activity, where there’s something to notice, learn, or ask about. One unexpected angle I’d love to explore is how aliveness isn’t always about calm or mindfulness for me, but about stimulation, curiosity, and that shifting edge between the unknown and the newly understood.

--Deana Weibel

Thanks for being alive with me. ️⚡️

Come find me in the wild: Instagram and TikTok

Once a week, I’ll text you a nudge to help you feel alive wherever you are, on any ordinary day.

Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

2026 Masters Research Project: The Conscious Awareness of Being Alive

Progress update on my 2026 Masters Research Project: The Conscious Awareness of Being Alive

The project investigates what happens when you bring a conscious, focal awareness to the simple fact that you're alive. Most of us carry a background sense of being alive without ever really feeling it. My research asks: what if you did? For 10 days, participants received daily text reminders designed to bring that awareness to the foreground — and I measured the effects on well-being and stress, alongside in-depth interviews exploring what people actually experienced.

I gave this progress report presentation as part of my Masters this past week and thought I'd share it with you here. I am in the final year of getting my Masters in Transpersonal Psychology. The culmination project is to run a research project and write a dissertation research report on it. This presentation shares what my project looks like and some interesting preliminary results.

Looking forward to sharing more when the project is complete this summer.

For more content on the conscious awareness of being alive, follow me on Instagram or head over to my website and join my free bi-weekly email list

Thanks for being alive with me

-Kate

Adjacent areas of research: Mortality salience, Terror Management Theory, Ernest Becker, Antonio Damasio, Emilia Barile, Thomas Fuchs, Subjective vitality, Foreground & background awareness, Transpersonal psychology

Voice:Vision:Visibility - Your Creative Liberation | Ayesha Ophelia

This one’s for the people yearning to be FREE. Where are you bound? Which set(s) of golden handcuffs keep you stuck? Ayesha Ophelia ​ ‪@ayeshaophelia‬ is one of my favorite spiritual guides and digital creators. She makes me feel like I am capable of more. She helps me feel my inner fire. What she won’t do is make you feel 100% comfortable all the time.

If you’ve got a dream but have been feeling apathetic or like you’ve lost the plot on it, listen to this episode. Ayesha makes living your most vibrant and expressed life INEVITABLE. We bonded over our shared love of Incubus, we talk about her Golden Handcuffs exercise, and she offers a 2-step process to starting down your most wild and wonderful dream path.

IN THIS EPISODE:

➖ Spirituality as subtraction

🔮 The importance of somatic intuition

🍒 Novelty-based pattern interrupts

🛠️ How to build your “architecture” to support your dreams

Timestamps

01:34 Incubus “Warning” IYKYK

04:06 “Harmonicity” Music Oracle

08:15 Audacity and Inner Genius

10:28 Body Terrain and Subtraction

15:31 Why You Need Novelty & Pattern Interrupts

22:09 Mortality and How I feel my Mom after her death

24:49 The Golden Handcuffs Exercise

31:17 WHO are your Dream Tenders?

33:58 Trusting Your Somatic Intuition

37:18 Dancing With Fear

37:42 The Addiction to Disassociation

38:40 The Egypt Purge Story

41:29 Devotion Over Achievement

46:34 ALIVENESS & “Brushes With Life”

50:54 Birthday Trauma and Transformation

55:37 Closing Reflections

About Ayesha Ophelia,

Ayesha Ophelia is an author, guide, and spiritual provocateur. She’s the founder of Humanities The Unlearning Portal, a hybrid classroom altar where seekers gather to learn, teach, and transform. She works at the crossroads of creativity, myth, and embodiment, and her latest creation, The New Romantics, is a sound based divination system now available wherever books are sold.

Ayesha Ophelia

Ayesha’s Top 3 Areas of Expertise Creativity & Mythic Expression The intersection of art, intuition, and ritual. Turning imagination into embodied practice. Helping people find their voice, their story, and their creative identity.

Transformation & Unlearning Somatic, spiritual, and psychological frameworks for shedding old identities, dissolving conditioning, and stepping into a deeper, more sovereign self. The Unlearning Portal, Vessel, and your teaching style all live here.

Divination & Soul Technologies Systems of knowing that bypass the mind. Music as oracle. Dreams as maps. Archetypes, Gene Keys, nature, symbols, and sound as pathways into self revelation. The New Romantics sits at the heart of this.

Follow Ayesha Ophelia

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Get her book: The New Romantics: The Art of Musical Divination

FREE GIFT The Vessel Devotional Field Guide: Get oriented to what wants to flow through you

Thanks for being alive with me. ⚡️

Come find Kate in the wild:

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Once a week, I’ll text you a nudge to help you feel alive wherever you are, on any ordinary day

Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

'Original sin is a lie'...but THIS is our real common thread | Bob Peck

Bob Peck thinks the doctrine of original sin is a lie...a later institutional add-on. He argues instead that we're not inherently flawed -- we are inescapably loved. His ‘volcano’ metaphor for how spiritual insight can harden into institutional religion really hit me.

We explore cyclical growth, “I am” language across traditions, a Swami Vivekananda quote on inner divinity, Robert Jay Lifton’s 5 modes of symbolic immortality, and non-duality’s view of material life as dreamlike. Bob describes practices that foster presence—writing, service, mindfulness, and humility—his interfaith “buffet” approach and his work on the Awareness and Compassion Project for schools.

🩵 Bob’s big question these days for external and internal obstacles is, "can I just love my way out of this?" I challenge you to ask yourself that today. Is there some way you can love yourself out of what’s getting under your skin?

Timestamps

00:30 Meet Bob Peck

01:22 Eastern wisdom on mortality

04:31 How to love the full spectrum of being alive

06:12 Original Sin Reframed

08:30 Volcano metaphor of religion

11:29 How to keeping the spark alive

15:02 The “I Am” reading of the Bible - on inner divinity

19:46 Bob reads from a mystical baseball card

21:57 The 5 modes of Symbolic Immortality (from Robert J. Lifton)

24:57 Mysticism And Nonduality

31:51 Alive Moments & presence

33:21 Awakening through small shifts

35:34 Service, creativity & humility

37:05 The Four Yogas Paths

40:14 “Buffet Line” Spirituality

46:30 Nondual beliefs - loosely

49:40 Can I just love my way out of this?

55:04 Loving Your Enemies Practice

57:31 Bob & his work

About Bob Peck,

Bob Peck is an author, filmmaker, and mindfulness teacher exploring the thread of mystical wisdom that runs through all traditions. His book Original Sin Is a Lie argues we're not inherently fallen—we're inherently good. He's just a billboard pointing toward the masters.

Follow Bob Peck:

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Website

Get his book: Original Sin Is A Lie: How Spirituality Defies Dogma and Reveals Our True Self

Thanks for being alive with me. ⚡️

Come find me in the wild:

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TikTok

Once a week, I’ll text you a nudge to help you feel alive wherever you are, on any ordinary day. Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Use Spiral Movement to Come Alive | Ting Ting Guan

After following Ting Ting’s work for a year, I am so excited to feature her on the show! Ting Ting’s GuanJing Method is aliveness in motion.

This episode is for those who have been feeling stuck, stagnant, and lacking a sense of vitality. Or perhaps you’ve been feeling that your yoga or running practice isn’t making you feel as alive and strong as it used to.

Ting Ting Guan’s GuanJing Method is a spiral-based practice at the intersection of Qigong, yoga, dance, and Chinese medicine. Ting Ting and Kate dive into how stress and disconnection show up in the body, how spiraling movement helps release energetic blockages, and how softness, play, and rest can coexist with real strength in both personal healing and how we show up in the world.

Key takeaways

🌊How to keep emotions from getting stuck in your body

🌀What’s so special about spiral, dynamic body movement

🏵️How to feel strong in your softness and vulnerability

👯Why vitality lives in presence and play

Timestamps

(01:11) Meet Ting Ting Guan

(02:26) The Birth of the GuangJing Method

(07:09) Transformation Story

(10:08) Understanding Stuck Emotions

(17:29) Managing Disassociation and Emotions

(22:49) Embracing Vitality and Aliveness

(27:59) Overcoming Self-Judgment

(28:53) The Power of Breath and Movement

(30:14) Building Confidence Through Dance

(31:19) The Michelangelo Approach to Self-Discovery

(33:21) The Significance of the Spiral

(37:45) Balancing Softness and Strength

(46:04) The Future Vision for Guang Jing Method

(48:26) Upcoming Retreats and Opportunities

(53:11) Embracing Rest and Fun

(55:06) Conclusion and Future Plans

Engage with Ting Ting

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YouTube

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Website

Connect with Kate Manser

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katemanser

Be immersed in living an alive life.

Get Kate’s weekly text: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Thanks for being alive with me ⚡️

The Life & Death Storyteller: Niki DiGaetano

Niki is a death doula, writer, designer, and backpacker who came to death work following a career and existential crisis in 2019.

By day, she works in design and copywriting. By night and by passion, she helps her clients tell the stories of their and their loved ones' lives. She also helps the bereaved navigate loss through individual grief support sessions.

In her free time, she is working on a book that explores death's transformative call to live - and how that call once saved her life - all set against the story of her 900 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail.

Key takeaways

🪴Grief never just “goes away”—we grow around it, learning to hold loss over time.

👯‍♀️Support from others, including professionals and peer mentors, is invaluable in heavy times.

🌅There’s no set timeline for healing; everyone’s process is different and deserves respect.

🌊Expressing grief and seeking validation helps counter shame and unnecessary suffering.

🥾Embracing uncertainty and “wandering” is essential both in recovery and in everyday life.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction and Personal Reflections on Mortality

(01:10) A Journey into Death Work

(02:43) Early Life and Career Path

(04:01) The Turning Point: Discovering a New Path

(08:09) Volunteering and the Birth of a Death Doula

(11:28) Blending Passions: Graphic Design and Storytelling

(16:44) Personal Transformation and Overcoming Darkness

(19:12) The Appalachian Trail Adventure

(29:17) New Beginnings in Utah

(30:52) Transition to Death Doula Work

(31:26) Starting Grief Support

(32:55) The Power of Letting Go

(37:43) Lessons from Grief Work

(45:31) Embracing the Wandering

(53:38) The Importance of Pattern Disruption

(57:34) Concluding Thoughts on Aliveness

(01:02:29) Closing Remarks and Future Plans

Engage with Niki Visit Niki's grief support website to learn more or book sessions: numbereddays

Subscribe to Niki’s newsletter (writing + grief insights)

Connect with Niki on Instagram

What are your top 3 topics & areas of expertise?

• Grief work/support/education: no, you're not "crazy" for not being "over" the death of your loved one after 2.5 months. It's neuroscience.

• Legacy and storytelling: how to document and capture your stories, your loved one's stories, and why it matters.

• Death's call to Live: we are impermanent. Everything and everyone we love is impermanent and will die someday. Sound morbid? It's not. It's a way to laser-focus your priorities, get clear on priorities, and enhance your relationships.

Connect with Kate Manser

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Katemanser

Be immersed in living an alive life. Get Kate’s weekly text: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850 Thanks for being alive with me ⚡️

The Aliveness Experiment - Join by 2/14/26

The Aliveness Experiment: Join the experiment!

Learn more: katemanser

Sign up: Forms

This is a groundbreaking research study exploring the conscious awareness of being alive and how it may influence well-being and anxiety.

❤ Why JOIN? To shift your aliveness from just a background detail to an embodied, conscious experience.

To discover what awakens within you when you pause each day for 10 days and become consciously aware of the life you exist within.

To reconnect to the foundational experience of being alive.

📲 In this free 10-day experiment, you will:

✔ Receive one text message per day for 10 days. Each text message will be a poetic, powerful reminder to feel your aliveness.

✔ Complete two short surveys (takes 5-7 minutes) at the beginning and end of the experiment.

✔ [optional] Meet one-on-one with the researcher, Kate Manser, in a 30-minute Zoom interview to more deeply uncover your experience and what shifted for you.

This research study is done under the supervision of Alef Trust University, Liverpool John Moore's University, and advisor Scott Buckler.

Art will save us | Rachel Cohen on Be Alive with Kate Manser

Rachel Cohen is a masters-level recreational therapist and the founder of UNBOREDROOM, a creative and inclusive art space for neurodivergent and disabled people. Rachel is serious about using art and play with measurable outcomes to change lives.

If you're looking for science-backed inspiration to prioritize art, creativity, and play - you NEED to listen to Rachel on this episode.

In this episode, Rachel also shares the story of how she thoughtfully created a her epic INCLUSION PROM event for neurodivergent and all-abilities people, complete with therapeutic DJing, artmaking, calm and sensory rooms, and of course, costumes -- illustrating how art and play unite and uplift diverse individuals.

This episode will help you:

🌟 Learn how to better relate to neurodivergent and all abilities people

👩‍🎤 Create your own definition of what it means to call oneself an artist

🙃 Find out how to inject more joy and whimsy into your everyday life

Timestamps

(01:16) Introducing Rachel Cohen: Founder of Onboard Room

(02:28) The Magic of Unboredroom: A Creative Haven

(02:53) Rachel's Journey and the Impact of Space on Creativity

(04:31) What is the role of Recreation Therapy?

(07:04) Teaching Art and Discovering Strengths

(09:28) The Importance of Self-Expression for People with Disabilities

(22:33) Creating Inclusive Spaces and Events

(38:20) The Importance of Play and Flow State

(40:52) Creating a Gingerbread Village

(41:23) Balancing Passion Projects and Day Jobs

(42:45) The Power of Community and Volunteerism

(46:59) Overcoming Failures and Persevering

(58:15) The Need for Self-Care and Avoiding Burnout

(01:03:28) The Role of Recreation During the Pandemic

(01:08:36) Adaptive Leadership and Community Support

(01:12:16) Encouraging Participation and Support

(01:14:31) Conclusion and Future Plans

Engage with Rachel: unboredroom

UNBOREDROOM on Instagram

Connect with your host Kate Manser

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Katemanser

Be immersed in living an alive life. Get Kate’s weekly text: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Thanks for being alive with me⚡

A Mouse Living in my Engine & Slowing Down for Winter | Stories [Solo Episode]

A quick life update with some reflections on the year, a Kate versus Mouse story, and what's going on in my world for the rest of 2025. I hope it brings you a laugh and some reflections for your own life. As always, sending you lots of love with every episode.

Coming up on 50 episodes of Be Alive with Kate Manser 🥳 Subscribe & share this show - let's spread the ALIVENESS in 2026 and beyond. ⚡️

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Life Update

01:09 Nomadic Lifestyle Reflections

03:56 2025 Personal Growth Project: Cutting Some Cords

07:17 Pajamas almost died but she is alive!

09:52 The Mouse was Living in my Engine

15:17 My Winter Experiment: Can I still be productive if I turn down my intensity?

20:03 Winter Travel Plans and Final Thoughts

Be Unshakeable - Haters, Confidence, & Resilience | Juls Bindi

Juls Bindi is an entrepreneur on fire. Featured on one of the funniest episodes of Shark Tank, a former celebrity massage therapist, inventor, and author...Juls has been on the receiving end of a lot of haters throughout her journey.

What do you do when you get death threats online, lawsuit threats, and people making fun of you? Listen to this episode to hear Juls' take on how to manage online and offline resistance to you, your business, invention, book, outfit - whatever.

Juls Rule #1: Not everyone will like you or your product.

In this episode, learn:

✅ How to make better decisions in business and in life

❤️‍🩹 The 1 essential element to emotional freedom and breaking generational trauma

🧒 How to build children’s emotional intelligence

🔁 How to see yourself as an evolving work of art rather so you can grow and realign over time.

(01:08) Introducing Juls Bindi

(03:02) My 1st Invention

(04:48) Going Viral and Shark Tank Success

(07:07) Handling Criticism and Death Threats

(10:00) Personal Growth Through Adversity

(15:22) Forgiveness and Childhood Trauma

(23:04) Empathy and Breaking Generational Trauma

(29:35) Empowering Children with EQ Kid Books

(32:21) Discovering Life Lessons

(33:52) A Life-Altering Divorce

(34:46) The Birth of a Children's Author

(36:34) Rebuilding a Business

(42:37) Embracing Emotional Intelligence

(44:12) The Power of Forgiveness

(48:34) Living a Vibrant Life

(57:38) Final Thoughts and Gratitude

🌐 Engage with Juls Attend Juls Bindi’s "Unshakeable" Zoom coaching sessions held first and third Thursday of each month, donation-base (under the "Unshakeable" section)

Explore and purchase Juls’s children’s books, including My Body, My Rules and related activity/coloring books

Instagram

Website

About Juls Bindi

Based in Austin, TX, Juls Bindi has been the driving force behind her self-funded ventures since 2003, specializing in sourcing, manufacturing, and strategic business planning. Her profound passion for animals and people inspired her to establish ZuGoPet in 2013. In 2017, ZuGoPet was internationally acclaimed as one of only three pet manufacturers globally to achieve perfect scores in the Center for Pet Safety crash tests. ZuGoPet's revolutionary product remains the world’s only multifunctional pet car harness that maximizes chances of survival for dogs in car accidents. Her entrepreneurial journey took a significant leap when Juls appeared on ABC’s 'Shark Tank', where the episode was celebrated as “The Most Hilarious Shark Tank Episode Ever Aired.” This exposure propelled the brand to new heights.

In 2017, Juls ventured into the e-mobility space, prototyping models that led to the creation of ZuGo Bike. Launching officially in 2019, ZuGo Bike rapidly generated over $20 million in sales within three years, capturing the attention of industry leaders and consumers across the U.S.

Juls's contributions to business and society have not gone unnoticed. She was nominated for the "Woman Making a Difference Award" by the Los Angeles Business Journal and has been featured extensively across major platforms including ABC, FOX, NBC, Business Insider, Business Rockstars Radio, Women Worldwide Radio, Press Pass LA, Product Hunt, Top Dog Tips, Cars.com, and more.

As a personal emotional intelligence coach and single mom, Juls draws on her experiences to create EQ KiD Books, which helps children and parents navigate difficult conversations. Each book sold results in a donation to a school or children’s organization, supporting community and family wellness. Launching this winter 2025, The first book released from the "Harmony Hills Collection" is My Body, My Rules. The collection encourages emotional growth, communication, and self-discovery, empowering families to connect and build stronger relationships.

Juls: What does living my most alive life mean to me?

Living my most alive life means being in full alignment with who I am, why I’m here, and how I serve—without abandoning myself to fit into someone else’s mold. It’s about living from a place of truth, emotional freedom, and creative expression, where every decision is guided by intuition, not fear.

It’s waking up with a sense of clarity and courage, knowing that even on the hard days, I’m walking a path I chose. It’s showing my daughter what it means to live fully, love fiercely, and never dim your light to make others comfortable.

To me, “alive” is expansion, connection, and impact—whether that’s through writing a book that helps a child feel safe in their body, helping an entrepreneur shed old beliefs in coaching, or riding an e-bike through Austin feeling the wind on my face after rebuilding what I lost.

⚡️ Connect with Kate Manser

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Be immersed in living an alive life. Get Kate’s weekly text: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Thanks for being alive with me ⚡️

You're overthinking your art | Monika Filipek, Artist & Gallerist

I met Monika while walking the streets of Oxford on a trip in 2024. I was immediately enchanted by Monika, her art, and her story. I'm thrilled to bring her wisdom on artmaking, sustainability, and creativity to the show.

In this episode of Be Alive with Kate Manser, Kate interviews Monika Filipek, an artist known for her unique upcycled cart gallery discovered in Oxford, UK. Monika shares her journey from Poland to the UK, detailing her passion for sustainable living, upcycling, and creating art from found objects. She discusses her artistic process, the importance of intuition, and the impact of embracing creative freedom.

In this episode:

🫠How to overcome self-criticism

👁️ On following one's creative intuition

🗑️ Finding beauty in trash, sustainability, & everyday life

00:00 Introduction to Art Creation

00:59 Meet Monika Filipek

02:00 The Journey of the Cart Gallery

02:56 Sustainable Living and Upcycling

03:48 The Magic of Oxford

04:39 Creative Intuition and Process

20:04 Advice for Aspiring Artists

26:37 Embracing Artistic Possibilities

27:06 Dealing with Criticism and Haters

27:50 The Collective Project of Art

29:54 Observations on Humanity

36:11 The Decision to Move to the UK

43:33 The Influence of English Art and Culture

48:08 Conclusion and Future Plans

About Monika Filipek, artist & founder of CArt Gallery

I am a Polish artist living and working in the UK, with a focus on ecophilosophy and sustainability. Over the last six years, I have been connected to Oxford and London, where I’ve developed my creative practice, experimenting with sustainable art movements and initiatives rooted in the circular economy and sustainable development. As the founder of The CArt Gallery—a mobile art space—and active participant in other initiatives supporting sustainability, I actively engage in creating innovative projects that bridge art, ecology, and social movement.

Connect with Monika:

monikafilipek.com

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Monika's answer to, "What does it mean to you to be alive?" To be alive means to me to create my own vision of reality, where even small steps and actions have a powerful impact on the rest of the world and can make a big change. I believe that we are all connected somehow, and only through our unique skills and individuality we can make a change. By sharing our unique gifts and ideas with the world we can grow all together as a society. I believe that even small actions and initiatives have the potential to change the world. For me, being alive is to be aware of your mission and what your skills are and follow this path without fear, even if it seems to be uncomfortable. By choosing trust over fear, risk over conformism, and, by seeing the results of this, you can really feel alive:)

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Be immersed in living an alive life. Get Kate’s weekly text: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Thanks for being alive with me ⚡️

ICU Nurse: What I Learned about Dying | Megan Titcomb

What are the lessons about living and dying that stick with an ICU nurse for life? Megan Titcomb shares the challenges of navigating the survival-focused medical system, the importance of listening to one's intuition about when it’s time to "call it," and her own journey transitioning career paths. The episode highlights the beauty and courage in facing mortality honestly and using that awareness as a catalyst to experience life fully.

⚕️Why navigating the healthcare system requires understanding about its survival-driven mindset.

❤️‍🩹What to do to prepare for unexpected illness or death (for you and the people you love)

🌻How an ICU Nurse lives after being around illness & death for years

👉Key points

(01:10) Introducing Megan Titcomb: A Journey from ICU Nurse to Life Coach

(03:03) The Realities of Nursing and Burnout

(04:41) Transitioning to Coaching: Finding New Purpose

(05:44) Defining Holistic Nursing

(07:44) Experiences in the ICU During COVID

(09:16) The Importance of Accepting Mortality

(12:35) Navigating the Medical System and End-of-Life Decisions

(22:43) Living in Alignment: Coaching for a Fulfilled Life

(30:25) Introduction to Dr. Irvin Yalom's Work

(31:36) Transition to Physical Wellness Coaching

(34:18) Personal Growth Through RV Renovation

(35:15) Facing Fears and Building Confidence

(40:55) The Nomadic Community Experience

(43:59) Reflections on Alternative Lifestyles

(49:10) Future Plans and Affirmations

(54:55) Closing Remarks and Gratitude

⚡️Megan’s answer to: What does living your most alive life mean to you?

It means living a life that is in line with my values and not a life of fear or hiding my true self. It means embracing the fact that one day I will die and I want to be prepared for that in both the logistical ways ("having affairs in order") and emotional and spiritual ways.

I've had many experiences with death throughout my life, each shaping my beliefs around it. A few particularly profound moments during my time working in the hospital have stood out, offering me great comfort and deepening my understanding.

About Megan Titcomb

Megan is a Registered Nurse, Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Yoga teacher, and Certified Critical Care nurse. For years, I've straddled the divide between conventional medicine and holistic healing. Unfortunately, these worlds often operate independently. My passion is bridging that gap. I'm dedicated to helping others navigate the complex world of Western medicine while uncovering their own inner compass, allowing them to make informed life (and end-of-life) choices. Thus empowering them to live a more purposeful life that honors them and their uniqueness.

🌐Follow Megan Instagram

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Be immersed in living an alive life. Get Kate’s weekly text: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Thanks for being alive with me ⚡️

Radical Accountability & Energy Alignment with Laura Morrice

Laura Morris is a speaker and coach from Scotland who teaches chakra healing and radical accountability. I am a huge proponent of coaches and healers who blend energetic practices with tangible mindset work. Laura’s work blends chakra & energetic alignment with healing for body and mind. She teaches her clients to align their energy centers AND intentionally work on thought patterns and conditioning.

In this episode, Laura begins with her story of going from being a heroin addict at 16 years old...to the awakening that led her to spiritual centering and radical accountability. Listen to this episode (and follow Laura lauramorrice_thechakracoach ) to cut the BS and align your body, mind, and soul.

👉Key points

(01:21) Meet Laura Morrice: A Force of Nature

(04:37) Laura's Early Life and Struggles

(11:02) The Turning Point: Discovering 'The Secret'

(13:27) Embracing Energy Healing and Chakras

(31:43) Living in Alignment: Mind, Body, and Spirit

(34:46) The Inner Voices: Navigating Daily Decisions

(35:29) Choosing Love Over Negativity

(38:01) Radical Responsibility and The Secret

(39:34) Aligning with Love and Higher Self

(44:17) Understanding Chakras and Emotional Healing

(47:10) Leadership and Divine Feminine Power

(57:17) Embracing Radical Responsibility and Personal Power

(59:41) Daily Practices for a Joyful Life

(01:03:09) Working with Laura Morris

(01:06:37) Conclusion and Future Plans

About Laura Morrice

Laura Morrice is not just an energy healer and mindset coach – she's a catalyst for transformation, a beacon of light guiding you towards alignment with your truest self and your highest potential. With over two decades of experience in her arsenal, Laura has honed her craft to perfection, specializing in removing the blockages that hinder your path to greatness.

Certified in an array of modalities including Reiki, Crystal Healing, EFT/TFT Tapping, Meditation, and Life Coaching, Laura seamlessly weaves together science-backed techniques with ancient wisdom to deliver profound results. Her approach is holistic, her methods are grounded, and her impact is undeniable.

Through her guidance, clients embark on a journey of self-discovery, shedding limiting beliefs, and stepping into their authentic power. Laura's mission is clear: to empower women leaders, visionaries and entrapreneurs to lead from their true essence, making a profound impact in every facet of their lives and the world at large.

Laura’s book: Signposts to Source

Get it in the US

Get it in the UK

What does living your most alive life mean to you? For me, it's about doing everything from a place of energetic alignment. Everything is energy and everything has it's optimal vibrational frequency. I am passionate about living a life that is aligned with my highest purpose and potential.

I envision a future where the children of tomorrow don't have to go through the same amount of trauma healing as we have, so that they can experience and begin to grow from a place of optimal alignment. I believe my work (and other healers’ work) to create aligned conscious leaders now will help to create the bright new future for all.

Alignment = authority and we must all become the authors of our own life!

🌐Follow Laura IG

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Website

Connect with your host, Kate Manser

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katemanser

Be immersed in living an alive life. Get Kate’s weekly text: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Thanks for being alive with me ⚡️

My Wife Died 6 Months Ago - What I Know So Far | Danny LesslieMy Wife Died 6 Months Ago - What I Know So Far | Danny Lesslie →

This episode is a message from the edge of everything from Danny Lesslie, a girl dad of 2 whose wife died just 6 months ago. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who will go through a profound challenge in life -- so, it's for all of us.

📌Preorder Danny & Rafaella's book, Thank you, Cancer

This episode will speak into your heart and help you:

🫶 Reawaken to the preciousness of the time with the people you love

🌊 Get a true look into what raw grief feels like and how to move through it

💔 Hear about what Danny is doing to take his broken heart and turn it into love and art

👉Key points

(00:41) Reading Danny's Profound Instagram Post

(04:36) Interview kicks off: Welcoming Danny Lesslie

(05:25) Coping with Loss and Sharing the Journey

(07:39) The Nature of Grief

(11:11) Finding Balance Amidst Grief

(26:53) The Role of Resilience

(36:41) Exploring Grief and Individual Journeys

(37:39) Practical Exercises for Coping: Weighted vest, memory wall & more

(38:08) Memories and Honoring Loved Ones

(41:05) Challenges of Moving and New Beginnings

(42:30) Navigating Relationships and Avoiding Complacency

(44:39) The Power of Writing a Death Letter

(54:48) Finding Purpose Amidst Pain

(01:00:03) Faith and Miracles in Difficult Times

(01:06:53) Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

More About Danny Danny Lesslie is a Widower, Girldad, and Coach. He and his girls live in Texas.

Follow Danny on Instagram: @momentumwithdanny

What does living your most alive life mean to you? I think about swimming in the moments. After my wife passed I can't imagine moving through life without purpose. I lived the majority of my life pretty numb, in my marriage I found a depth of joy and love I had never known. In that feeling, I find that I feel alive. God lights my path.

-Danny

👉Connect with your host Kate Manser: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850 Get free weekly heart messages when you need them most & 1:1 replies from Kate

Kate on Instagram

Kate’s website

Thank you for being alive with me ⚡️

The Art of Seeing: Marfa Models CEO Arianna Alexis

👉What does it mean to see the world like an artist? This episode will inspire you to think differently, see opportunity where you thought there was none, and take risks in your art and your life. Arianna Alexis is a fashion designer, CEO of Marfa Models, and has a working art gallery in her laundry room. The message of this episode featuring this interesting human? Creativity is in you. Do the thing...and be who you are.

In this episode, you'll hear:

🧺 How Arianna created an art gallery in her laundry room

🦵 Learn about pushing the edges of figure drawing to include all body types

👁️ How to see life with a creative, curious artist's eye

👉Key points

(00:00) Intro to the Show

(01:01) Meet Ariana Alexis: Artist and Founder

(01:25) The Birth of Galerie Ego

(02:06) The Unique Concept of Galerie Ego

(04:32) Experiencing Galerie Ego

(07:09) The Vision Behind Galerie Ego

(19:17) Ariana's Journey in Fashion and Art

(24:14) The Evolution of Mind Lines and Marfa Models

(28:51) The Importance of Presence and Creativity

(32:21) Generational Perspectives

(33:25) Challenging the Status Quo

(36:15) The Power of Art

(45:55) Flow State and Meditation

(53:20) Final Thoughts and Inspirations

More About Arianna Alexis

Arianna Alexis is a visual artist and filmmaker known for her multidisciplinary and performative work that exhibits and reflects the duality of the body as a model and mechanical being. Encouraging the alienation of self, her work hones to body image, idealization, self discipline and representation of labor within fashion. She received her MFA, at Parsons Paris where she resided for 5 years. Relocating to Marfa, TX she continues her artistic practice, where she has founded Marfa Models & galerie ego

What does it mean to Arianna to feel alive? Being in tune with your true self and being honest with yourself which effects the path and purpose of living in alignment of authenticity, which to me equals to being most alive!

🌐Check out Arianna on the web: marfamodels and galerieego

Arianna's Instagram: @ariannaalexis   / ariannaalexis  

Connect with Kate Manser On Instagram: thealivekate⁠

Visit Kate’s website⁠

Get Kate’s free textspirations: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Thank you for being alive with me ~

Former model Stephanie Douple: My journey out of addiction & into self-love

⚡️I hope you love this one! Stephanie Douple has a fascinating story of being plucked off the streets of Vegas to become a model, then falling into addiction, and is now many years into a journey as a gifted therapist. She's funny, she's real, she's a beautiful soul.

👉Key points

(00:34) Meet Stephanie Douple

(02:29) How a guy named Breakfast in Vegas launched my modeling career

(05:20) Struggles with Addiction and Self-Worth

(15:22) The Path to Sobriety and Self-Discovery

(25:20) Understanding Harm Reduction and Sobriety

(33:09) Embracing Energy Work and Therapy

(36:03) Detaching from Results in Therapy

(37:23) Understanding EMDR and Trauma Integration

(38:25) Grounding Techniques for Therapists

(41:06) Overcoming Negative Thoughts

(42:45) Embracing Unique Life Paths

(44:41) Generational and Personal Healing

(01:00:20) Navigating Social Media and Mental Health

(01:08:14) Exploring Addiction and Dissociation

(01:14:25) Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Topics: how a guy named Breakfast in Vegas launched my modeling career, going from addiction to sobriety, disabilities, body dysmorphia, becoming a therapist, how to step into your higher timeline every night, and what it's like being a therapist for Gen Alpha clients.

About Stephanie Douple

Stephanie is the founder of Embrace Mind Health, which supports individuals with substance misuse and mental health challenges. Stephanie believes that a path that leads to saving yourself is aligned with supportive people who have been where you are, have walked the path before you, and are willing to sit knee-to-knee with you and support you while you find the answers within you. Stephanie lives near Austin, TX and enjoys sunshine, good food, and being silly.

This week’s show features a candid conversation in which we explore Stephanie’s journey through addiction, self-worth, and sobriety. Stephanie shares her background as a performing arts instructor and model, describing how external validation through beauty and success masked deep struggles with body dysmorphia, addiction, and self-acceptance.

She reflects on her experience growing up with physical differences and a chaotic family environment, which shaped her self-image and challenges. Stephanie emphasizes the difficulty of recalibrating self-worth away from external achievements toward intrinsic value, a process she describes as ongoing and requiring constant self-observation and compassion.

The episode also touches on the normalization of drug use in certain social circles and how Stephanie’s spiritual awakening and sobriety began in her thirties, leading her to a path of healing and self-love.

In this episode, you'll hear:

🦋 Self-worth must be recalibrated from external validation to intrinsic value, which is a lifelong and evolving process.

🦵 Body dysmorphia and negative self-talk can be managed by observing and naming the critical inner voice, allowing space for self-compassion.

🍷 Addiction often masks deeper emotional and spiritual pain; sobriety can be a path to rediscovering light, love, and joy in life.

🚧 Healing from trauma and addiction requires patience and acceptance that setbacks and struggles are part of the journey.

🎂 Spiritual awakening and self-love can emerge later in life, showing it’s never too late to transform one’s relationship with oneself.

What does living your most alive life mean to you? "Living my most alive life means that I am able to operate within the frequency of flow, being willing to forget everything I think I know so that I can have a new experience." --Stephanie Douple

🌐Follow Stephanie Douple Website

IG   / reels  

LinkedIN   / stephaniedouple  

👉Connect with Kate Manser ⁠thealivekate⁠

Visit Kate’s website

Get Kate’s free textspirations: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Thank you for being alive with me ⚡️

Alexandra Keller: Bridging Earthly & Divine Experiences

What is it like to transition from skepticism to spiritual awakening? Alexandra shares her experience going from skeptic to "woo woo" energy healer, and how she is still working to balance the spiritual with earthly experience and even science.

In this episode, you'll hear:

🦋 The importance of self-love, integrating the ego, and living a meaningful life

🌱 Her transformative experiences doing a 400-hour mentorship with Shipibo Shamans

🌉 Her commitment to balancing the mystical with the practical, aiming to be a bridge between spirituality and everyday life

Alexandra is also a classmate of mine at Alef Trust as we work on attaining our Master of Science in Transpersonal Psychology, Consciousness, and Spirituality!

Alexandra's answer to "When you think about living your most alive life - what does that mean to you?" I've dealt with a lot of hardship, trauma, and abuse but I never lost my faith in a better life. When I was 18 I got a tattoo that said "inspire a beautiful life" because I was determined to make my life more beautiful and help others see that they could build a more beautiful life, too. Ten years later when I felt I had finally moved from victim to creator consciousness, I got a tattoo that says "I create my reality" to always remind me that my outer world is a reflection of my inner world. Now my journey is focused on truly embodying unconditional love. It's a constant work in progress!

Special offer for Be Alive with Kate Manser listeners:

$150 off reiki training $50 off reiki healing email hello@healeralexandra.co to claim, using code KATE

About Alexandra Keller

Alexandra is on a mission to raise the vibration of our collective consciousness. As an Energy Healer and Spiritual Advisor, she uses psychedelic medicine and integration, mindfulness practices, and Reiki to help heal the mind, body, and soul. Alexandra has worked with hundreds of clients in group and individual settings. She is double Reiki Master certified by the International Center for Reiki Training. Her other training includes a 400-hour mentorship with Shipibo Shamans, Fluence Introduction to Ketamine, Heart Coherence Healing, and Psychic and Medium Development. She is obtaining her Master of Science in Consciousness, Spirituality, and Transpersonal Psychology, and has a B.A. in journalism. In addition to her professional work, Alexandra is passionate about increasing access to holistic wellness and supporting BIPOC and marginalized communities. She believes that by healing ourselves and raising consciousness, we improve the well-being of the planet and all its inhabitants.

👉Key points

(00:00) Introduction and Personal Journey

(00:58) Grounding Exercise

(04:10) Daily Spiritual Practices and Intuition

(07:08) Values and Routine in Spiritual Practice

(12:48) Journey of Self-Love and Healing

(16:53) Energy Shift and Impact of Self-Love

(23:25) Living a Life of Joy and Play

(26:35) Discovering Meditation and Spirituality

(28:08) Embracing the Path of a Healer

(30:55) Ayahuasca Journey in Peru

(35:26) Balancing Woo and Science

(38:16) From Skeptic to Believer

(40:29) Creating Your Reality

(46:40) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🌐Follow Alexandra Website

IG   / healeralexandra  

👉To connect with Kate Manser on Instagram: thealivekate⁠

Visit Kate’s website

Get Kate’s free textspirations: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Thank you for being alive with me