The Wisdom of Jacob's Ladder

What happens when we strip away the pristine, idealized image of meditation and bring it into the places where human suffering is most acute? In this episode of The Wisdom of Jacob's Ladder, Jacob sits down with mindfulness teacher and author Oneika Mays to discuss her transformative new book, "Sit With Me". Oneika shares her deeply moving personal story of navigating life-altering tragedy and how her path led her to teach lovingkindness (metta) inside Rikers Island Correctional Facility. Together, they explore the intersection of social justice and spiritual practice, disrupting the commercialized "wellness" industry to reveal a gritty, compassionate, and accessible path to healing. This conversation is a powerful reminder that mindfulness is not about escaping our lives, but about having the courage to show up exactly as we are. About Oneika Mays After a personal tragedy left her emotionally adrift, Oneika Mays quit her life in retail leadership to serve people at Rikers Island — and found herself. She is the author of Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation (HarperOne, March 2026) and has spent over a decade bringing wellness practices to people and communities who have felt left out, judged, and alone. Learn more at https://www.oneikamays.com. Where to find Jacob - Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jacoblcooper.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: Jacobcooperlcsw Tiktok: Jacobcooperlcsw Facebook:Jacobcooperlcsw Books- “Life After Breath” ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://amzn.to/3nLQ64R ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “The Wisdom of Jacob’s Ladder” ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://amzn.to/3VvckeZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is a part of the MindBodySpirit.fm Podcast Network
Visit us at www.mindbodyspirit.fm

Please join us as we welcome Emmy Vadnais! Emmy is a gifted author, healer, and intuitive who also co-hosts the renowned show "New Thinking Allowed." In this episode, Emmy shares insights, tools, and perspectives on spirit empowerment and intuitive development. Emmy Vadnais, OTR/L, is a licensed occupational therapist, intuitive healer and coach, spiritual guide, teacher, consultant, and writer. Emmy is CoHost and CoProducer of the New Thinking Allowed YouTube Channel with Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD at NewThinkingAllowed.com. Emmy helps people transform pain and anxiety into peace and joy, and align with the divine. She offers intuitive coaching to help individuals access their inner guidance for clarity, healing, and meaningful decision-making. She also provides education in integrative health, wellness, and prevention to individuals, healthcare practitioners, and organizations. Her work bridges integrative health with the development of intuitive abilities, supporting people in accessing their inner knowing for greater health and well-being. She is author of Intuitive Development: How to Trust Your Inner Knowing for Guidance with Relationships, Health, and Spirituality. She is the founder of the Intuitive Connections Community, a supportive space for developing and trusting your intuition. She is the founder and director of the Holistic OT Community at HolisticOT.org that supports OTs interested in or practicing integrative health, wellness, and prevention. She is in private practice in St. Paul, MN. Emmy's Website - http://emmyvadnais.com Learn more about Emmy's podcast New Thinking Allowed - http://newthinkingallowed.com Where to find Jacob - Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jacoblcooper.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: Jacobcooperlcsw Tiktok: Jacobcooperlcsw Facebook:Jacobcooperlcsw Books- “Life After Breath” ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://amzn.to/3nLQ64R ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “The Wisdom of Jacob’s Ladder” ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://amzn.to/3VvckeZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is a part of the MindBodySpirit.fm Podcast Network
Visit us at www.mindbodyspirit.fm

Please join us on The Wisdom of Jacob's Ladder as we welcome Deborah Santana for a discussion on her newly released book, her connection to spirituality, personal stories, and inspiring words. Deborah Santana is an author, activist, and business leader dedicated to peace, justice, and women’s empowerment. Founder of the nonprofit, Do A Little, she advocates for women and girls through global education and health initiatives. She is the author of Space Between the Stars (Ballantine), co-editor of All the Women in My Family Sing, and her new memoir, Loving the Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom, which charts her path from daughter of a pioneering interracial couple to wife of music legend Carlos Santana—and the spiritual awakening and rebirth that followed her decision to leave their 34- year marriage. In her new book Loving the Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom, she shares a deeply moving memoir about awakening, resilience, and reclaiming a life of purpose after decades of living in the shadows. Deborah holds an M.A. in Philosophy and Religion and lives in Los Angeles. She’s the proud mother of three creative adult children. Deborah's Website - https://deborahsantana.com Where to find Jacob - Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jacoblcooper.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: Jacobcooperlcsw Tiktok: Jacobcooperlcsw Facebook:Jacobcooperlcsw Books- “Life After Breath” ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://amzn.to/3nLQ64R ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ “The Wisdom of Jacob’s Ladder” ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://amzn.to/3VvckeZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is a part of the MindBodySpirit.fm Podcast Network
Visit us at www.mindbodyspirit.fm

Please join Jacob as he brings on fellow Reiki master, energy healer, poet, author and guest lecturer, Brett Bevell. Brett will be delving into his journey into reiki and energy healing, discuss his powerful spiritual experiences and transformation and provide a powerful healing for us.  Reiki master Brett Bevell is author of several books, including Psychic Reiki, The Wizard’s Guide to Energy Healing, The Reiki Magic Guide to Self-Attunement, and Reiki for Spiritual Healing. Brett is also a leader in the field of energy healing apps, first exploring this concept in 2013 through his book New Reiki Software for Divine Living, and also now offering his energy healing work through the Soulvana App by Mindvalley. His latest work is The Reiki Divine Healing card deck, published by US Games. Since receiving his Reiki master initiation in 1995, Bevell has dedicated himself to discovering new Reiki techniques that work collaboratively with the higher self. These simple techniques are not only highly effective, but also shift Reiki into a practice of daily living that can transform even the most mundane aspects of our lives into works of healing. Brett’s clients include a number of Hollywood stars and screenwriters, and he is publicly endorsed by Carrie Ann Inaba from ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Also a poet and performance artist, Brett is author of America Needs a Woman President, and America Needs a Buddhist President, a poem that initially aired nationwide on NPR’s All Things Considered. Bevell has electrified audiences around the world with his live oral recitations, and he has often been compared to the late poet Allen Ginsberg. Bevell’s poetry is featured in the anthology Chorus: A Literary Mixed Tape and he performed with Saul Williams and Aja Monet at Joe's Pub in New York City as part of the book’s release. Bevell’s work is also part NPR’s permanent website archives. Learn more at ⁠https://brettbevell.com⁠. Where to find Jacob - Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jacoblcooper.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: Jacobcooperlcsw Tiktok: Jacobcooperlcsw Facebook:Jacobcooperlcsw Books- “Life After Breath” ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://amzn.to/3nLQ64R ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is a part of the MindBodySpirit.fm Podcast Network
Visit us at www.mindbodyspirit.fm

Please join Jacob as he brings on fellow Reiki master, energy healer, poet, author and guest lecturer, Brett Bevell. Brett will be delving into his journey into reiki and energy healing, discuss his powerful spiritual experiences and transformation and provide a powerful healing for us. 

Reiki master Brett Bevell is author of several books, including Psychic Reiki, The Wizard’s Guide to Energy Healing, The Reiki Magic Guide to Self-Attunement, and Reiki for Spiritual Healing. Brett is also a leader in the field of energy healing apps, first exploring this concept in 2013 through his book New Reiki Software for Divine Living, and also now offering his energy healing work through the Soulvana App by Mindvalley. His latest work is The Reiki Divine Healing card deck, published by US Games.

Since receiving his Reiki master initiation in 1995, Bevell has dedicated himself to discovering new Reiki techniques that work collaboratively with the higher self. These simple techniques are not only highly effective, but also shift Reiki into a practice of daily living that can transform even the most mundane aspects of our lives into works of healing. Brett’s clients include a number of Hollywood stars and screenwriters, and he is publicly endorsed by Carrie Ann Inaba from ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

Also a poet and performance artist, Brett is author of America Needs a Woman President, and America Needs a Buddhist President, a poem that initially aired nationwide on NPR’s All Things Considered. Bevell has electrified audiences around the world with his live oral recitations, and he has often been compared to the late poet Allen Ginsberg. Bevell’s poetry is featured in the anthology Chorus: A Literary Mixed Tape and he performed with Saul Williams and Aja Monet at Joe's Pub in New York City as part of the book’s release. Bevell’s work is also part NPR’s permanent website archives.

Learn more at https://brettbevell.com.

Where to find Jacob -

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jacoblcooper.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: Jacobcooperlcsw

Tiktok: Jacobcooperlcsw

Facebook:Jacobcooperlcsw

Books-

“Life After Breath”

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://amzn.to/3nLQ64R ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

“The Wisdom of Jacob’s Ladder”

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://amzn.to/3VvckeZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music Credit -

Steven Halpern - 1st Chakra: C
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