#83 - Xeana Kamalani Dung: Discovering Your ‘Why’

Welcome to the season 3 finale of Rebuilding the Beast! On this episode I reflect on all the guests we’ve had this season and the things I learned from them. We also dive deep into where my life is headed and the future I imagine for the podcast.  Your guy’s support means the world to me and I’m so glad to have you all on this journey. But I need your help… if you’d like the podcast to keep going, I need you to rate us, follow us on all platforms, subscribe, and leave us reviews. It truly does help! We have an exciting season planned and just need y’all’s help to accomplish it. Thank you for your support. Stay blessed, and I’ll see you soon.  Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!Or check out our YouTube & website! Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram! 

Hello my fellow beasts! As our season starts winding down, I wanted to share this quick story called the Farmer With Two Buckets. It’s a great reminder that even though we may feel broken or have flaws, we can still inspire those around us in a positive way.  I created this podcast for you to get inspired and have tips as we all journey through our own rebuilds. Surround yourself with others that inspire you and uplift you. And remember that you are a BEAST! Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!Or check out our YouTube & website! Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram! 

Trigger Warning: Suicide  Our next guest is joining us all the way from Australia, today we have Alexa Towersey! Alexa, also known as “Action Alexa,” is a celebrity trainer, nutritionist, writer, sports model, and mental health advocate. This woman is a literal BEAST! After being bullied for being too skinny, the gym became her safe place as she developed strength both mentally and physically.  Alexa has had many turning points throughout her life. She is 14 years sober after losing her father to alcoholism. She almost lost her mother to attempted suicide, then suddenly later to a lung injury. Then after needing hip surgery, Alexa died on the operating table and needed to be resuscitated 4 times.   That’s not even all that we cover. We talk more about ·      Growing up in a military family where she didn’t have a “quitters” mentality. ·      Her mother being diagnosed with a mental illness then becoming the sole caretaker of her after her father turned to alcohol. ·      Her relationship to her father and how she turned to alcohol as well. ·      The decision to become sober after losing her father. ·      How becoming sober was the hardest thing she had done.·      Finding a purpose that gets you out of bed every day. ·      Witnessing her mother’s attempted suicide and the misconceptions around mental health. ·      Being fully present with someone. ·      The one regret she has in life.·      How she became a trainer the sense of fulfillment it gives her. ·      Injuring her hip and needing to get surgery. ·      The reason she had to be resuscitated 4 times while on the operating table. ·      The moment of clarity she had when she had awoken.·      Writing and why she has been single for the past 10 years.  I felt like I had a therapy session by the end of this interview. I’m so grateful for how open and vulnerable Alexa was and I hope you enjoyed this episode.  Want to keep up with Alexa? Follow her on Instagram!  You can also check out Alexa’s website here.  Want to read the article Alexa wrote? Click here!  Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!Or check out our YouTube & website! Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!

Let’s say Aloha to our next guest Xeana Kamalani - aka, Kama! Kama is a model, actress, Philanthropist, founder of Kama Training, and is the first pro league pitcher in softball that’s from Hawaii. And being only 25 years old, she has accomplished so much.  Today we cover, ·      What growing up in Hawaii is really like and how her hometown, Makaha, would be best described as the ghetto. ·      The hardest part growing up poor. ·      How her parents really pushed her to venture outside of Makaha and pursue her studies and softball. ·      Getting full scholarships to Fresno State then UC Berkely to be able to play softball. ·      The decision to continue with softball and what it means to her to be the first ever pro softball player from Hawaii. ·      The biggest frustrations of being a female pro athlete. ·      Almost losing her mom to a stroke and realizing the army she had supporting her. ·      Not letting other’s opinions affect her. ·      What Kama Training is.  I am amazed by Kama and how well she has her head on her shoulders. She is an inspiration and I can’t wait to see where else life will take her.  Want to keep up with Kama? Follow her on Instagram!  Learn more about Kama Training here.  Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!Or check out our YouTube & website! Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!

Trigger Warning: Suicide Our next guest has been a long time coming… today we have my good friend Tara Mackey on the podcast! Tara is the CEO of “The Organic Life,” founder of “Genetix,” Author of Cured By Nature and Wild Habits, a musician, a scientist, and then her most important job – a solo mother. She’s on the journey of always pursing her interests and using her knowledge to help others. But like so many of us, all of this came with trials and tribulations.  At a young age, Tara witnessed her mother overdose twice, was adopted by her grandparent, then soon started to be prescribed several different medications. Resulting her to be on 14 different drugs at one point. After a major life event in her 20s, Tara decided it was time to gain control back over her life, and quit cold turkey on all her medications. So today, we cover ·      How this is Tara’s first interview in over 2 years due to the birth of her son. ·      Growing up and witnessing her mom overdose two times by the age of 6, and the moment her grandparents swooped in and adopted her. ·      Remembering every single detail about her childhood, being grateful that it happened, but not wanting that life for her son or any child for that matter. ·      Finding forgiveness after starting therapy at the age of 13. ·      The reason she started being prescribed medicinal drugs and how it got to the point where she was on 14 all at once. ·      Why she decided to quick her medication cold turkey and how she almost died. ·      Working as a scientist in a 9-5 where she didn’t feel fulfilled. ·      Losing her best friend to suicide at the age of 24 causing her to shift the way things were going in her life. ·      Turning to her God given gifts to bring not only joy to herself, but also others.·      Her own suicide attempt and recognizing she wasn’t ready to die. ·      Her blog “The Organic Life” and how that turned into a book deal. ·      Creating a DIY breast oil and then launching her company “Genetix” from it. ·      Her proudest accomplishment. ·      If she still thinks medicine is important.  I feel so thankful for Tara’s vulnerability. She has a beautiful soul and I’m lucky to call her my friend.  Want to keep up with Tara? Follow her on Instagram!  Check out “The Organic Life” and “Genetix” while you’re at it.     Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!Or check out our YouTube & website! Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!

You guys, I am so excited about our next guest. Today on the podcast we the legendary Mahmoud Abdul Rauf! Mahmoud is a former NBA player who has played for the Denver Nuggets, the Sacrament Kings, and Vancouver Grizzles. He is one of the greatest players in the game, even while living with a form of Tourettes.  We have seen his name in headlines often and not just for his incredible free throw shooters. In 1996, he made headlines for not standing up during the national anthem as a form of protest that ultimately lead to a temporary suspension.  To perfectly encapsulate his life, on February 3rd, a documentary called Stand will be airing on Showtime directed by our co-guest today Joslyn Rose Lyons.  Together with Mahmoud and Joslyn we cover ·      How Mahmoud was comfortable enough to share his story in his new documentary. ·      Joslyn’s experience working with Mahmoud and what it was like to talk to the people that know him. ·      Growing up in Mississippi and how your environment shapes who you are. ·      Getting opportunities to go to Basketball camps as a teenager, then how Mississippi withheld those opportunities from him. ·      Getting diagnosed with Tourettes and how that helped and almost killed him on the court. ·      Witnessing racism and his first-hand experience with the KKK. ·      Why he chose LSU, excelling there, and then ultimately going to school with Shaq. ·      What it was like not growing up with a father and how he tried to track him down. ·      The pressure of being the 3rd draft pick for the Denver Nuggets. ·      The anxiety and depression he experienced after moving to a new city and almost moving back to Mississippi. ·      The decision to convert to Islam and how fasting improved his game. ·      The decision to not stand during the national anthem and what he thinks of Colin Kaepernick. ·      The affects 9/11 had on the Muslim community. ·      Life after basketball.  There is so much more we hit on this episode and so much more I wish we did, so you already know I’m going to have him on for a part 2!  Be sure to tune into Stand Friday, February 3rd at 9pm EST.  Want to keep up with Mahmoud? Follow him on Instagram!  Want to keep up with Joslyn? Follow her on Instagram!  Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!Or check out our YouTube & website! Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!

We have a beautiful, inspiring episode this week my fellow beasts! My friend Karly Ashworth is our next guest. She is also our first ever reality tv star that we’ve had on the podcast.  After her time on the UK’s Big Brother, Karly decided to leave the world of fame and climb the ladder of the corporate world. After finding success there, feeling burned out, and then the pandemic, Karly decided to follow a new career path when hypnotherapy accidently fell into her lap. So now, she excelling as a hypnotherapist and mindset coach while also being the host of Soul Family Podcast.  Today we cover ·      A post she had breaking down the timeline of her life and how she kept coming back to the word, refocus. ·      Being born in Scotland and how her grandfather taught her how to lean into love. ·      Losing her job and then seeing an audition for Big Brother in her hometown. ·      How from a young age, she always felt there was something bigger to go towards to in life and how she thought she’d be famous one day.·      What fame meant to her and what it could look like for her life. ·      Her time on Big Brother and how no one is being real. ·      The price of finding this new fame and it not being what she was expecting. ·      Her friend talking about this job position at a financial firm in Edinburgh and how she should go for it. ·      Having to start back at the bottom of this new job, working her way to the top, then the feeling of burnout and overextending herself. ·      Becoming a hypnotherapist by accident after taking a transformation coaching course.·      The stigma attached to hypnotherapy and what it means to be a hypnotherapist. ·      Success stories she’s had. ·      How to find purpose in the world.  Karly left me speechless at some many different points in this episode. The advice she gives, I’m taking with me to the grave. She radiates positivity and empathy and I hope you could feel that too.   Want to keep up with Karly? Follow her on Instagram!  You can also learn more about Karly here.  Don’t forget to search for the Soul Family Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.   Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!Or check out our YouTube & website! Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram! 

This week on Rebuilding the Beast we are breaking down the stigma of the sex industry and the use of psychedelics. I ask that you come in with an open mind and heart and be ready to learn something, because I for sure did! With that being said, our guest today is Lana Shay! Lana is a conscious sex worker, the co-founder of Psychedelic Times, and author of Erotic Hustle: Redefining Sin Through Sacred Sexuality.  Today, Lana shares her journey as an exotic dancer in the sex industry as well as the visions she has received using psychedelics as plant medicine.  You’ll also hear ·      How she entered the world of sex work. ·      Her upbringing by her progressive thinking family in the Midwest. ·      How she was introduced to psychedelics and the moment she turned to them for help instead of partying. ·      What tantra is and how she got into it. ·      Growing up with parents who both suffered through mental illness and the abuse she endured. ·      What she has learned about dancers working in the sex industry. ·      The type of men that come into these clubs and what they can do better. ·      Nerves when she first went onstage and then the moment that she felt in her element. ·      The need to legalize sex work and what others can do to change their perspective. ·      Finding a partner who does not judge her for her work. ·      What she hopes everyone gains from reading her book.  I hope you enjoy this episode and can learn something from it. Really grateful to have someone like Lana in my life who is so open, vulnerable, and willing to answer a variety of questions.  If you want to keep up with Lana, follow her on Instagram!  Want to buy her book Erotic Hustle: Redefining Sin Through Sacred Sexuality? Buy it here.  Also be sure to check out Psychedelic Times.  Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!Or check out our YouTube & website! Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!  

We’ve got a special episode this week, my good friend Caity Lotz is our next guest! Caity is an actress, dancer, director, and stunt woman. You may have even seen her on shows like Mad Men, Arrow, and Legends. Recently, Caity got engaged, so get ready to hear a loved-up episode!  Today we talk about  ·      How she met her fiancé Kyle and how she finally understands the phrase “when you know, you know.” ·      What work she did for herself to finally get to a place where she could accept love. ·      The difficulties of the pandemic and having to isolate. ·      Using meditation and weed to help her reflect and look introspectively. ·      Falling in love with dancing and who influenced her the most as a kid. ·      Getting dancing jobs on movies and TV shows and realizing her desire is to be where the actors were. ·      Learning how to deal with time management and balancing relationships. ·      New things she’s experienced that has brought her joy. ·      What’s she’s looking forward to. ·      Getting ready to get married.  I had too much fun being able to chat to Caity and reflect on shared memories.  Want to keep up with Caity? Follow her on Instagram!  Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!Or check out our YouTube & website! Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!   

Happy New Year!  To kick off the new year we have compiled all the answers this season to my favorite question, “If you could talk to your younger self, what advice would you give them?” I love looking back on the answers to these questions because they perfectly encapsulate that person’s journey of rebuilding.  Please enjoy as we reflect on these 10 guests that we’ve had this season so far.  Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!Or check out our YouTube & website! Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!