Finding Harmony Podcast

What happens when a scholar who studies death for a living discovers she must learn to truly live in her body? This haunting conversation explores literature, yoga, and the long road to embodiment.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Introduction to Finding Harmony Podcast

Meet Jessica Murphy: Gothic Literature Scholar & Ashtanga Practitioner

Teaching English Literature at the University of Iceland

Jessica's Literary Works: Wishbone, Ossa Vivi, Moss & Rose

Poetry, Novellas, and the Gothic Genre

Victorian Literature vs. Romantic Period: Claiming Jane Austen and the Brontës

Existentialism, Death, and Childhood Philosophy with Her Father

Father's Influence: TM, Hippie Culture, and Zen Catholicism

Coming to Ashtanga Yoga at Age 39

The Challenge of Backbends vs. Hip Openers & Arm Balances

Using the Body to Be Embodied: Balancing Cerebral and Physical Work

Kapotasana and the Death Drive: Flirting with Mortality

Eating Disorder History and Ongoing Body Image Work

Why Backbends Bring Up Old Wounds and Feelings of Not Enoughness

The Beginner's Mind in Yoga Practice

Creating False Equivalencies: Yoga Series as Academic Degrees

LSD, Academic Structures, and Her Father's Generation

Jack Kerouac's Journey and the Beats

Memorization in Education: What We've Lost

Reciting Shakespeare: "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow"

William Blake's "The Tiger": Fearful Symmetry

Reading from "The Face in the Window" (Gothic Short Story from Ossa Vivi)

Visual Imagination and Playing with Language

Meeting Her Husband: Two 19th Century Literature Scholars in Iceland

Looking for Someone Like Herself vs. Someone Opposite

Balancing Creative Writing with Academic Pressures

The Difference Between Tenure Track and Department Member Positions

Her Husband's Prolific Academic Output: Philosophy and Literature

Writing as a Labor of Love vs. Academic Requirement

Being "High on Life": Creativity and Sensitivity

Why Creative People Struggle with Depression and Anxiety

The World Feeling Like "Too Much": Colors, Sounds, People

Artistic Pursuits as Protection from Overwhelming Sensations

The Quiet Life with Cats and Writing and Yoga

Russell's Invitation (That Got Declined)

Victorian Tea Ceremonies and Paying for Art

The Japanese Tea Ceremony as Art Form: Greg Kinsey's Story

Bad Art, Bad Writing, and Bad Asanas

Harmony's Inner Circle Mentorship Program Invitation

This episode is a deep, insightful exploration of navigating life as a highly sensitive creative person, balancing intellectual pursuits with embodied practice, and finding home in your body after years of disconnection.

 

GUEST BIO:

Having taught at Vanier College, Dawson College, and Université de Montréal in Montréal, Qc, Canada in the past, Jessica Murphy, Ph.D. currently lives in Reykjavík, Iceland and teaches English literature at the University of Iceland (Háskóli Íslands). Her areas of interest and expertise are Victorian and Romantic literature as well as detective novels, gothic fiction, and children's literature. In addition to publishing a novella entitled Wishbone (available on Amazon) and having her poetry published in an anthology featuring the works of poets from around the world entitled Words Apart: A Globe of Poetry, she has co-authored an epistolary novella, Moss and Rose and a collection of gothic short stories, Ossa Vivi, with Mae Kellert. Her scholarly publications include "'[T]he world's a beast, and I hate it!': Naturalism in Amy Levy's The Romance of a Shop" and an article on Arnold Bennett's The Old Wives' Tale. At present, she is working on a chapter on the double in Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted that will be included in a book, published by Routledge, featuring various essays on the doppelgänger. A cat lover and an avid Ashtangi, she has been practicing Ashtanga yoga for the last seven years.

CONNECT WITH JESSICA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjcats/

Books available on Amazon and major retailers

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Gothic literature and yoga philosophy both explore transformation, duality, and the shadow self

Backbends can bring up body dysmorphia and old wounds—this is part of the healing work

The poses that challenge us most teach us the most about ourselves

Writing autobiographical fiction can be a powerful healing practice

Highly sensitive creative people often need embodied practices to balance intellectual work

Surrender doesn't mean giving up—it means releasing control of outcomes

You can care for people without carrying their burdens

Success in yoga isn't about mastery—it's about growth and self-discovery

Memorization and recitation connect us to literary tradition and embodied knowledge

FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/
Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/
Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/

FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation

Are you feeling like you're standing on the edge of something new as we enter 2026? Maybe you're uncertain about what's ahead or how to step forward with confidence. This episode is your cosmic guide to the year ahead.

 

Join host Harmony Slater and spiritual astrologer Monica Lorraine for a deep dive into the major astrological shifts happening in 2026 and what they mean for your emotional healing, relationships, and personal growth. Unlike predictive astrology that focuses on fear and fate, Monica uses astrology as a tool for emotional insight, self-trust, and aligned decision-making.

 

In this episode, you'll discover:

 

The three major planetary shifts happening in 2026 and how they'll impact your life

Why the first half of the year is all about emotional healing and inner safety (Jupiter in Cancer)

How the summer brings a powerful shift toward confidence and self-expression (Jupiter moving into Leo)

What it means to release perfectionism and control (North Node in Pisces) and move toward trust

The transition from external validation to authentic self-acceptance (South Node moving into Leo)

How Saturn in Pisces has been teaching you emotional boundaries since 2023

Why Saturn moving into Aries in February 2026 is calling you to take brave action

The difference between spiritual astrology and traditional astrology

How to work with your personal birth chart to understand where these shifts are happening in YOUR life

Practical ways to prepare for the fiery, action-oriented energy coming in summer 2026

 

Whether you're new to astrology or a seasoned student of the stars, Monica breaks down complex concepts into grounded, practical wisdom you can use immediately. This conversation will help you move through 2026 with more clarity, confidence, and alignment.

 

Resources mentioned: Monica is offering exclusive free online astrology gatherings for Finding Harmony listeners in January, February, and March 2026. 

Visit: https://www.soulaligned.net/harmony-2026.html

FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/
Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/
Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/

FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation

Welcome to 2026! In this solo episode, Harmony Slater guides you through the powerful liminal space between the yin energy of the Wood Snake year and the dynamic yang energy of the Fire Horse year beginning February 17th.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

Why January through mid-February is a crucial threshold period for spiritual and energetic preparation

How to avoid burnout by working with your nervous system instead of against it

The difference between false urgency and true intuitive guidance

Why hustle culture won't serve you in the Fire Horse year and what to do instead

Practical yin practices to balance the intense yang energy coming in 2026

How to identify your top values and create alignment in every area of your life

The importance of capacity over desire when setting goals and making commitments

Key Themes:

Chinese astrology and energetic cycles, nervous system regulation, embodiment practices, spiritual alignment, sustainable growth, burnout prevention, yin and yang balance

Join the Finding Harmony Community:

Access complimentary Moon Day meditations, group spinal energetics sessions, and energy embodiment practices. Visit the Finding Harmony community to connect with like-minded spiritual practitioners on the path.

FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/
Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/
Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/

FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation

As we step into 2026, many of us feel the pull to create meaningful change—to eat better, move more, and build habits that truly support our wellbeing. Yet so often, these intentions don't stick. Why do most New Year's resolutions fail by mid-January?

In this timely replay episode, host Harmony Slater reconnects with health and nutrition coach Layne Stowell for an honest, practical conversation about sustainable habit change. Together, they explore why the all-or-nothing approach sets us up for failure, what actually creates lasting transformation, and how to build realistic habits that you can maintain throughout the entire year.

This episode is packed with actionable insights on mindful eating, movement, stress management, and creating small changes that lead to big, lasting results—without extremes and without burnout.

What You'll Learn
Understanding Why Resolutions Fail

The psychology behind "Quitter's Day" in January

Why doing too much too fast guarantees failure

How our childhood food habits shape adult eating patterns

The biochemistry of food cravings and comfort eating

The Science of Sustainable Change

"Act the way you want to feel": Why waiting for motivation keeps you stuck

The power of "consistently good" over "inconsistently perfect"

How pride and dopamine create lasting habit loops

Why starting small actually gets you further than grand gestures

Practical Habit-Building Tools

The Ripple Effect Habit: Identifying the one habit that makes everything else easier

The Pause Technique: Creating mindful awareness before reaching for food

How to use your calendar to prioritize yourself (not give yourself the "scraps" of your day)

Celebrating without food: Finding new ways to reward yourself

Nutrition & Movement Wisdom

The importance of protein-rich breakfasts (20-30g by 10am)

Why movement after meals stabilizes blood sugar and boosts metabolism

The truth about intermittent fasting for different bodies

How to fight afternoon fatigue without caffeine or sugar

Key Quotes
"We change best by feeling good. We're going to change by feeling good, not by feeling bad." — Layne Stowell

"Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Doing something will always be better than doing nothing." — Layne Stowell

"We're very good at giving ourselves the scraps of our day. There's no such thing as having leftover time in this day and age." — Layne Stowell

"Act the way you want to feel instead of waiting for the feelings to show up and then take the action." — Layne Stowell

"Every choice we make is a vote for the person we want to become." — Layne Stowell

"You are the type of person who follows through, not the type of person that you can't trust your own word to." — Layne Stowell

Guest Bio
Layne Stowell is a health and nutrition coach specializing in weight loss through sustainable habit and behavior change. Based in Denver, Colorado, Layne is a mother of three and passionate advocate for simplifying healthy living in our busy modern world. She helps her clients break free from all-or-nothing thinking and yo-yo dieting patterns to create lasting transformation through small, consistent changes.

Connect with Layne:

Website:https://www.laynestowell.com/workshop

Instagram: @layne_stowell

FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/
Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/
Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/

FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation

This Christmas, we did something completely different. Instead of planning our usual year-end reflection, we handed control to AI—specifically ChatGPT—and asked it to curate 15 topics based on who we are, what we've experienced this year, and what needs to be said. The result? Well, you’re just gonna have to give it a listen!

Join Harmony Slater and Russell Case as they explore the intersection of ancient wisdom and cutting-edge technology through discussions that span quantum consciousness, psychedelic healing, the Ashtanga yoga world's reckoning, and the art of finding beauty in life's broken moments. This isn't your typical year-in-review episode—it's a deep dive into what happens when you let "Gaia Earth Consciousness" (as Russell calls AI) guide a conversation about transformation.

What We Explore:
🌌 Consciousness as Fundamental Reality We dive into physicist Maria Rom's theory that consciousness isn't emergent—it's the foundational fabric of the universe itself. From the double-slit experiment to quantum entanglement, we explore why this changes everything about healing, relationships, and daily practice.

🍄 The Gen X Psychedelic Renaissance Russell shares his unexpected return to plant medicine in midlife as a tool for healing childhood trauma. We discuss the "fungal outbreak" of psychedelic healing spreading through society and what it means for the spiral of growth.

🧘 31 Years of Practice Revealed For the first time, Russell vulnerably shares what three decades of Ashtanga yoga practice actually felt like—and why he finally feels good after releasing the need to strive.

⚖️ Ashtanga Yoga's Year of Reckoning We address the women rising up to call out abuse in the Ashtanga community and why this moment matters for the future of teacher-student relationships.

💕 Relationship as Constant Friction The real gifts we give each other? Transparency, emotional holding, and healthy bickering that prevents resentment from festering. Plus: why we both like spicy food.

🌊 Tao Tourism & Missing Flights The philosophy of surrendering to flow, illustrated by our European food adventure, a missed flight in Amsterdam, and how mistakes become part of the beauty.

✨ Kintsugi: Painting Broken Things with Gold The Japanese art of repair as metaphor for life—weaving imperfection into the narrative instead of hiding it.

🎯 Identity as Fiction Existentialist perspective on personality as story, and the radical freedom to tell yourself different stories to become different people.

🙏 Love as the Only Reality Harmony's gift to listeners: experiencing at a cellular level that there is no separate "you"—only love, experiencing itself through infinite forms.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps:

[00:04:00] Introduction: The AI-curated episode concept

[00:06:00] The problem of consciousness in philosophy

[00:09:00] Gaia consciousness and AI as unified field

[00:12:00] What Gen Xers are remembering this year

[00:15:00] End-of-year ritual recommendations

[00:19:00] Russell's 31-year practice journey

[00:24:00] The gift of constant friction in relationships

[00:27:00] Letting go while still gripping (the anabolic steroid story)

[00:31:00] Harmony's mystical transformation

[00:35:00] Tao Tourism philosophy

[00:37:00] Finding awe in mundane objects (Chardin practice)

[00:40:00] Identity as existential fiction

[00:42:00] The Kintsugi moment: missed flights and beauty

[00:45:00] Balance, yin-yang, and buying Canadian

Resources Mentioned:

Maria Ström's article on consciousness and quantum physics (Apple News)

"Evaluate and Evolve" workbook - FREE download for year-end reflection: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/evaluate-evolve

Finding Harmony Community - Join for December 28th complimentary event

Live Group Energy Reset featuring breathwork and spinal energetic

About Finding Harmony:
Finding Harmony is a podcast exploring the intersection between ancient wisdom and modern everyday life, using mind-body practices to heal, awaken, and manifest dreams from the inside out. Hosted by yoga teacher and consciousness guide Harmony Slater, with co-host Russell Case.

FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/
Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/
Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/

FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation