22. A New Season is Risen!

In this episode I had the opportunity to speak with Jeff from the Cacao embassyHe is Co-owner and operations architect at the Cacao Embassy in Christchurch New Zealand. I had heard lots about the embassy and wanted to visit while on my NZ tour last year. It was amazing to be welcomed in with open arms and to chat with Jeff about his shift into the world of cacao and all about the Cacao Embassy and so much more. The Cacao Embassy was started by Oonagh of The Cacao Ambassador, and you can listen to her story in Episode6!We talked about:Their latest blend ‘Eiru’ & their process of making blends. How Jeff got started working with cacao after his background as a chef. His emotional reaction to his first cacao. How he and his wife Ngawai began working with the Cacao EmbassyBeing a man joining an all women business to learn about cacao.Visiting the Solomon IslandsThe disconnect between farming cacao and the use of cacaoThe Cacao Ambassador bringing that connection backKnowing where our food comes from Connecting with the Solomon IslandersRunning the Cacao Embassy as a family Getting Playful with CacaoMen connecting with and healing with CacaoThe impact of working with cacao farmers  The Cacao Ambassador & The Cacao EmbassyHow Jeff feels loved by CacaoContact the Cacao Embassy:https://thecacaoembassy.nz/Instagram: thecacaoembassynzConnect with Pania:On instagram: lovedbycacaoEmail: ⁠[email protected]

In this episode we get taken by Rachel into the plant realms, into the earth,into the fairy realms and into light and lumeria. This is the second conversation in my 6 part Aotearoa tour series. As soon as I touched down in the south island Te Wai Pounamu after being away for 2 years, my whole body and being relaxed, I breathed a sigh of relief and felt magnetised into the earth like my roots were pulled deeper and I could truly slow down. This conversation feels like that relaxation and deep connection to nature. Because it’s the essence Rachel brings with her deep love and knowledge of the earth, plant wisdom, Te Rongoa Maori and so much more. Rachel is a teacher, practitioner of angelic Reiki and Te Rongoa Māori, and she facilitates cacao circles. I met up with Rachel in Blenheim and we shared cacao from Kakao drinking chocolate together in my motorhome parked up in her driveway.Rachel shares a beautiful Karakia (prayer) at the beginning and Pania shares a cacao blessing. We went on to talk about:Connecting with treesCooking and eating cabbage tree Building a connection of reciprocity with plants Rachel’s early experiences with spirituality Plants as an ally for her healing from burnoutCommunication with plants Relationship with the Kawakawa plant Patupaiarehe the Fairy people of Aotearoa Meeting Cacao & Rachel’s potent first experience And all cacao showed herPlants helping us to remember we are light beings Why cacao is needed on Earth right nowInterdependence vs IndependenceWorking with the plant realmLove for the cacao trees Grief and Open hearts Cacao connecting us with threads of light Closing out with a meditation of connecting the threads of light between us.

We have a firecracker of an episode today.I can’t believe I’ve been sitting on this for so long because listening back through it I thought people need to hear this!Irma has a real knack for making me laugh & feel so much joy while also talking about profound subjects and sharing from her deep well of knowledge. I’m very happy you’ll get to hear her speak.I got to sit in person with Irma of Mamamuti Cacao in Raglan last October and it was so much fun. We had an amazing conversation and I think you’ll love this one. Some of the things we talked about:How Irma began her path with CacaoHow Mamamuti came into being and the meaning of the nameIrma’s upbringing in AfricaHer times dancing with the dark and how cacao has been her ally throughout. Welcoming a pleasure eraHow to move through shadow into pleasureFlipping the Script on PerimenopauseLiberation from numbness and shameWhy Cacao helps us experience pleasure How the very popular Mamamuti Vanilla Blend came into existence Messages & Love from Cacao

Today we get to hear from anthropologist Daillen Culver who wrote her masters thesis on ceremonial grade cacao and the ceremonial cacao movement. Her research is fascinating and today she shares with us how she went about it, what she found and so much she has learned along the way. We spoke about:Her Masters Thesis on the emerging market for ceremonial grade cacao.Her research and findings.Her time in GuatemalaIs cacao medicine? Being on the ground with the farmers. Understanding where our cacao comes from. The current global climate of cacao. What it means to truly have a relationship with cacao. Cacao as a doorway to working with the plant realms. Cultural appropriation. Ceremonial consumption behind cacao. The possible future of cacao. Daillen is an anthropologist, a somatic practitioner, and writer. Her work takes an interest in cultural research, embodied practice, and creative inquiry, with a central focus on how people cultivate resilience, meaning, and connection in times of social and ecological upheaval. Her academic research centers on Indigenous food systems and agroecological practices in Latin America.To contact Daillen:Email [email protected] @daillencIf you are interested in her 2027 Cacao Cultural Immersion Retreat sign up to the Interest Form HEREDalileo Cacao was mentioned several times, you can see their website here: https://dalileocacao.com/Also Fly Kakao sells Guatemalan Criollo Cacao which is sourced from Dalileo! You can purchase it here: https://www.flykakao.com/products/pure?variant=39526785482848(Not an affiliate link, Fly Kakao is simply one of my favourites)

Have your cacao ready, get cosy, light a candle and enjoy this drop in with CACAO and with LIGHT currently pouring through on Easter Weekend 2026 while I recorded this. A gift for you to celebrate this new season.A gift to rest into with breath and nourishment. May you feel Peace today,With Love,Pania The music I mentioned at the end is the Mary Magdelene Frequency by Elsa Field and J Rokka, you can listen here.

We are back!And very very happy to be so.And at Easter too, happy Easter to you. This episode is a season two introduction and update for you. I share what happened: why there was such a big break between seasons. Including a little about my big road trip and my summer. And also some insight  into what you can expect coming up next. First we get to revisit the initial intentions for Loved By Cacao and add new ones.Because intention is important when working with cacao. There is a seperate Cacao Blessing being uploaded very soon also, as a new season gift. I’m very grateful to have you here, Thank you for tuning in and may your heart be happy. Wishing you love.As always you can connect with me On instagram: lovedbycacaoEmail: [email protected] purchase the cacao I was drinking in this episode, Keith’s Cacao, my original favourite, with a 5% discount:http://www.keithscacao.com/discount/PANIAJOY20NZ20

It’s amazing to be able to sit down and chat about 1 year of Loved By Cacao,! What a special feeling to be here!I share some of my behind the scenes processes with the podcast. And as usual a few minutes meditation with cacao (this time 10 minutes in).I share how the creative process has been and my thoughts and encouragement around creativity in general. Some of my highlights and favourite moments from the past year of this creation.Acknowledgments for everyone who has been involved so far. Gratitude, Celebration.And finally I circle back to the intentions that I shared at the very start in Episode One!I wanted to see if they still apply and if it’s time to add new Intentions. I hope you enjoy tuning in and thank you so much for being here for this episode, and for any over the past year. It means so much to me to have you listen! With love and happy gratitude, PaniaIn This Episode I was drinking An amazing mix of Keith's Cacao, Arhuaco Cacao from Kakao Drinking Chocolate, Wahine Blend from Cacao Ambassador and Cacao crumble sprinkled on top from Cosmic Mama Cacao. For the Arhuaco Cacao:For a one time 10% discount on not for profit heirloom cacao by Kakao Drinking Chocolate, use codeLOVEDBYCACAO⁠⁠https://www.flykakao.com/?ref=pania⁠⁠Or for Keith's Cacao: Receive 5% discount on each purchase using this link⁠ ⁠⁠⁠http://www.keithscacao.com/discount/PANIAJOY20NZ20⁠⁠⁠⁠OR enter code at checkout on the Keiths Cacao Website. Code: PANIAJOY20NZ20Connect with PaniaEmail Pania: [email protected] Loved By Cacao Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠@lovedbycacao⁠⁠⁠Join my Email List: https://www.paniajoy.com/Thank you to Kamal for creating the mini soundscape for Loved by Cacao! Kamal is a DJ & medicine music weaver, find his music on Soundcloud⁠⁠⁠ https://on.soundcloud.com/xem5CT38SGxFQexa8⁠⁠⁠

Pania gets personal!In this episode I share:- My confusing upbringing being exposed to a very mixed bag of spirituality. - I spoke about losing my mum in my twenties, -  Going through a divorce in my 30’s. - I also delve into my  personal challenges with self worth and self expression. - I share my own healing journey and how at times I’ve truly found it hard to know my way and to even know what I believe. - I share some of how I came home to myself and of course, how cacao has supported me in what became a journey of self acceptance, of self love. This one feels vulnerable, and I’m tender towards sharing it, but I also really wish to, these are stories that my heart wants to share, and I am grateful to you and honoured if you listen in. Recently I sat down one afternoon at my cacao altar, with Tui birds singing outside my window and recorded this intimate episode for you. It starts off with a little update chat And after that I open up,  to share stories from some of my bigger life experiences.For this episode I was drinking Arhuaco Cacao with honey, cinnamon and a touch of chilli powder!This is a really special cacao, grown in the mountains of Colombia and brought to us by Kakao Drinking Chocolate. I loved the way the Arhuaco goodness supported me in feeling relaxed enough to get vulnerable and personal in this episode. And I’d like to invite you to make a cup of cacao for yourself also to tune in with my stories here, if you haven’t already. Imagine we are sitting together, cosy and relaxed, drinking sharing from our hearts....The Cacao I was drinking: Kakao Drinking Chocolate Arhuaco PureFor a one time 10% discount on this not for profit heirloom cacao use codeLOVEDBYCACAO⁠https://www.flykakao.com/?ref=pania⁠Connect with PaniaEmail Pania: [email protected] Loved By Cacao Instagram:⁠ ⁠@lovedbycacao⁠⁠Cacao Journey Relaxation as mentioned in episode, by Kamal Ortiz: https://soundcloud.com/k-k-mal-willis-ortiz/cacao-journeyThank you to Kamal for creating the mini soundscape for Loved by Cacao! Kamal is a DJ & medicine music weaver, find his music on Soundcloud⁠⁠ https://on.soundcloud.com/xem5CT38SGxFQexa8⁠⁠

I’m SO happy to bring you this very sweet and touching conversation today with my friend Andrew Burrows, who tuned in all the way from Guatemala, while at the very special & beloved Lake Atitlan. The time flew by as we shared heart felt stories about cacao,stories about Keith Wilson of Keith's cacao, which was very touching. We tried to convey what we think Keith was up to (!?!) & what we have both learned from him. We talked about Lake Atitlan, about Andrew’s journey of weaving cacao into his life and his many creative endeavours. Andrew is like the embodiment of being a human with many talents. He brings his magic into the world through music, the healing arts, food creation and of course cacao. He is a ceremony facilitator, also known as DJ Aguacate, he DJ’s cacao ecstatic dance, offers Thai massage, water massage, and also Kundalini Activation ceremonies. Among other creative offerings.His opening meditation is truly heart warming. We hope you will join us for it and for this beautiful conversation. In this episode I was drinking Keith’s Cacao, Receive 5% discount on each purchase using this link ⁠⁠⁠http://www.keithscacao.com/discount/PANIAJOY20NZ20⁠⁠⁠OR enter code at checkout on the Keiths Cacao Website. Code: PANIAJOY20NZ20Contact Andrew Burrows:Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/andrewavocados/Website: https://burrowsa.wixsite.com/andrewavocadosEmail:  [email protected] Music: https://soundcloud.com/andrewavocadosGo to Glow meditation with Keith Wilson remixed by Andrew:https://soundcloud.com/andrewavocados/go-to-glow-meditation-with-keith-wilsonRukuxulew: https://rukuxulew.com/Podcast with Keith that we mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4kMrDSPNZDagHbg1tNRiHf?si=b5ea28bbd43342d5

How might we relate to water if we extend the same deep listening and respect we offer to cacao? And how might our experience with cacao be enhanced if we give more awareness to the water we mix with it? These questions are my ongoing inquiry as I bring this beautiful conversation about WATER to Loved by Cacao. Shona and Ross of ‘Source Water’ share their incredible journey of becoming stewards of a very special water source and how this has changed their lives, their understanding of consciousness, and how it is bringing healing to many people. I got to sit together with them on a hot summer afternoon outside next to their pool at their beautiful home in rural Auckland with the cicadas at their height and occasional bird song.They shared the trials they have been through with this water journey, the incredible insights they have learned from water, the science of this water and why it is so good for us, the spirituality and consciousness of water, and so much more. I first learned about Source Water through water researcher Veda Austin, who is their water mentor. We mention her several times and I highly recommend checking out her work at https://www.vedaaustin.com/To Connect with Source Water:https://www.nzsourcewater.com/Instagram: @nzsourcewaterhttps://www.instagram.com/nzsourcewater/The Cacao we were drinking in this episode was Kakao Drinking Chocolate Chuncho Signature BlendFor a one time 10% discount on this not for profit heirloom cacao use codeLOVEDBYCACAOhttps://www.flykakao.com/?ref=paniaConnect with PaniaEmail Pania: [email protected] Loved By Cacao Instagram: ⁠@lovedbycacao⁠Thank you to Kamal Ortiz for creating the mini soundscape for Loved by Cacao! Kamal is a DJ & medicine music weaver, find his music on Soundcloud⁠ https://on.soundcloud.com/xem5CT38SGxFQexa8⁠