The Essence of You Podcast

Who are you when you take away the job title, the roles, the labels, and just be? Through intimate, unscripted conversations with host, Steph Lokelani, The Essence of You Podcast dives deep into the core of the human experience with people from all walks of life. New episodes release every Friday, with guests whose stories are as unique as the outfits they choose to wear, because yes, this is both a video AND audio podcast. Do you have a story to share? I'd love to hear it. Tell me a little bit about you and let's get you in an episode! https://irlfilms.com/theessenceofyou

The Essence of You Podcast is a society podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Essence of You Podcast, a society show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #19

  ZERO Wan-Kenobi on Healing, Hip-Hop & Rap America | The Essence of You Podcast

  Aug 14, 20261h 9m

  In this episode of The Essence of You Podcast, host Steph Lokelani sits down with Boise hip-hop artist and community builder Cornell Johnson, known on stage as ZERO Wan-Kenobi. Cornell opens up about how he found his voice through music with the Earthlings crew, why he believes Boise's creative community needs to support each other instead of competing, and how writing a song for his mother after her passing in 2020 taught him to "cultivate light out of darkness." The conversation moves into Cornell's work with the Rap America Project, a youth rap camp he's helped grow for three years, teaching kids and adults everything from lyric writing to stage performance to the business side of music. He shares candid, unfiltered stories about a frightening health scare in August 2024 that led to a brain injury diagnosis, his ongoing recovery, and the daily disciplines, including the philosophies of Kaizen (getting 1% better each day) and Mushin (learning to sit with an impulse instead of reacting to it), that have carried him through sobriety and healing. Cornell also reflects on fatherhood, his path from San Bernardino, California to Boise, Idaho, the creation of his ZERO persona, and what it means to build something bigger than himself alongside his bandmates. This is a raw, honest conversation about resilience, community, and choosing hope even when it's hard. Connect with Cornell/ZERO Wan-Kenobi: Spotify, Apple Music, and all streaming platforms as ZERO Wan-Kenobi. Instagram and Facebook: @ZEROWanKenobi. Also find his collective, Earthlings Crew, on all streaming platforms and Instagram @EarthlingsCrew. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577901365873 https://www.instagram.com/zerowankenobi/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/4YaAeSvsANE45PtM3Lwj6H?si=hbKsYIk5Rv6Ny37kjT5Riw About Cornell Johnson, AKA ZERO Wan-Kenobi: Born in 1986 in San Bernardino, California, Cornell Johnson aka ZERO Wan-Kenobi, is a hip hop artist based out of Boise, Idaho. Influenced by artists such as Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Common and many other conscious artists, ZERO takes his artistry into a new dimension. Finding ways to heal with real life stories told in his music which resonate with a refreshingly real honesty. Learning to live and living to learn. Key Takeaways: - Community over competition: Cornell believes Boise's music and hip-hop scene thrived most when artists showed up for each other, and that "repping a city" means investing in that city's community, not just chasing views and likes. - Creating light out of darkness: After losing his mother in 2020, Cornell couldn't write or create for a while. Writing a song for a friend, and, in turn, for his mom, became the moment he realized he could turn his own grief into something that helps other people heal. - The Rap America Project: A youth (and now all-ages) rap camp founded by Brenda Francis that Cornell has helped lead for three years. Participants learn lyric writing, stage performance, beat-making, and the business side of music, and perform an original song by the end of camp. Local sponsors like Idaho Pizza Company and Jersey Mike's fed the kids so no one went without lunch, something Cornell connects directly to his own experience of food insecurity growing up. - A frightening health scare: In August 2024, after quitting alcohol and multiple medications cold turkey, Cornell went into shock and experienced what he describes as "feeling life leaving my body." It marked the start of an ongoing journey toward a brain injury diagnosis and recovery, including a severe concussion in January 2025 and a lapse in insurance/medication access in mid-2025. - Kaizen and Mushin: Two philosophies that have anchored Cornell's recovery. Kaizen means getting just 1% better each day through small, sustainable choices. Mushin (a concept he ties to "no mind") is about noticing the pause before an impulsive action and choosing to sit with discomfort rather than react to it. - The origin of "ZERO": Cornell created his stage persona, ZERO Wan-Kenobi, as an outlet distinct from who he was during his heaviest drinking years. Sharing his vulnerability, fears, and mistakes through music became a way to connect with others who felt broken. - Hope as a discipline, not a feeling: Cornell describes himself as "the hopeless hopeful," someone who chooses hope and shows up for good even when the world feels heavy. His closing message: "You have every reason to be okay." Chapters: 00:00 - Cold open & pre-show banter 01:16 - Welcome & meet Cornell Johnson, aka ZERO Wan-Kenobi 02:45 - How ZERO got into music and joined the Earthlings crew 04:28 - The state of Boise's hip-hop and music community 08:53 - Cultivating light out of darkness: losing his mom in 2020 12:16 - The origin of the Rap America Project rap camp 16:20 - Year two: bringing in the Earthlings crew as teachers 18:43 - Year three: the most prepared and successful camp yet 21:59 - Shoutout to sponsors: Idaho Pizza Company & Jersey Mike's 23:42 - Staying present and finding joy in small moments 28:56 - Confession: hip-hop isn't even his favorite music genre 29:52 - A quick history of hip-hop and why he does it for the culture 31:28 - Opening up about his 2024 brain injury and health scare 39:06 - A second setback: a severe concussion in January 2025 41:58 - Losing insurance, losing medication, and the slow decline 44:19 - Getting back on track and preparing for a doctor's appointment 46:53 - Money, gas prices, and the cost of everyday necessities 53:18 - The Kaizen philosophy: getting 1% better every day 54:49 - Mushin: sitting with the pause before an impulsive action 56:30 - Where his personal story intersects with his work 59:52 - Getting sober in 2019 and how music changed 1:00:54 - Creating the ZERO persona 1:03:01 - How the 2024 breakup and health scare connect 1:03:22 - Making music bigger than himself, with his brothers 1:05:22 - Choosing hope and carrying yourself with love 1:06:18 - Who is ZERO at his core? 1:08:12 - Where to find ZERO Wan-Kenobi and Earthlings Crew 1:09:00 - Closing thoughts

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  Episode #18

  The Girl Who Was Always Smiling: Nichole Stull on Story & Self-Worth | The Essence of You Podcast

  Aug 7, 20261h 20m

  "You can't be triggered if you're not cocked." That's the kind of line Nichole Stull drops mid-conversation - half punchline, half life philosophy. In this episode, Steph sits down with improv artist and filmmaker Nichole Stull, who's spent decades shaping the visual world of indie film and TV (including the demon-driven color palette of "259") while also teaching storytelling and applied improv alongside her husband Jared for the last 25 years. The conversation moves fast and goes deep. Nichole breaks down the "Story Spine," the improv-born storytelling framework Pixar built its scripts on, and why an alien can absolutely show up in a Western - as long as you've earned it. She talks about running her kids' school book fair for 13 years and how she went from devouring every Sweet Valley High book in existence to being a member of an early-2000s online Twilight book club. Get this: with Stephenie Meyer posting in it! From there, Steph and Nichole don't shy away from harder territory: library censorship, what kids actually have access to online, and a remarkably candid conversation about pornography, intimacy, and the industry behind it. Nichole shares how she talks to her five kids, ages 7 to 22, about sex, alcohol, and modesty without ever making any of it feel forbidden. The back half turns personal. Nichole tells the story of a devastating junior high year, a friend's sudden death, and the summer she decided who she wanted to be walking into high school. It's a story about identity and reinvention that still shapes how she raises her own kids today. It's a masterclass in reframing trauma, taking responsibility for your own triggers, and understanding that every one of us, just by moving through life, is going to make ripples. The episode closes with one final question: when you strip away every label and title, who are you at your core? Nichole's answer, rooted in her LDS faith and years of internal work, redefines the difference between pride and humility. It might even change how you think about your own worth. About Nichole Stull: Nichole believes that every human on the planet would benefit from improv, because life is improvised and improv teaches us all how to react with love, laughter, forward motion, and purpose. Nichole has been teaching and using improv for performance, leadership, team development, and group connection for 25 years. As a speaker, trainer, and facilitator, Nichole loves helping business owners, community leaders, youth, and families find common ground, fun, and deliberate action to strengthen bonds and purpose. Nichole is also an actor, writer, director, and filmmaker who specializes in storytelling as a way to connect humans. She is fortunate to partner in business and life with her husband, Jared, and their five kids who are almost always amazing. In the last few years Nichole has taken big action to be pro-active in cancer prevention and feels passionately about patients getting all the info they need clearly, concisely, and completely to make choices confidently. Key Takeaways: - The "Story Spine" framework (used by Pixar) can turn any idea into a compelling story: establish the normal, introduce a change, and show how each response builds until a new normal is reached. - A story can absolutely break its own rules, you just have to earn it. Set the stage before you introduce the unexpected. - What a story "means" is shaped as much by the audience's life experience as by the storyteller's intent. - Trigger warnings have a place, but no one else is responsible for your internal reaction; that's inner work only you can do. - You can't move through the world without creating ripples. Being afraid of your own impact isn't humility, it's fear. - Pride and humility aren't opposites. The real opposite of pride is self-hate, while humility is holding your own value and everyone else's at the same time. - Every one of us carries trauma, even the moments that feel "normal" in hindsight. What matters is how we choose to tell the story afterward. Chapters: 00:00 - Behind the Scenes: Costume, Color & the Craft of Indie Filmmaking 07:21 - The Story Spine: Storytelling Tools from Improv to Pixar 19:02 - The Book Fair, Reluctant Readers & "Beware the Anti-Reader" 23:34 - Harry Potter, Twilight & a Surprise Book Club with Stephenie Meyer 32:24 - Library Censorship and Kids' Access to Information 35:56 - A Frank Conversation on Pornography and Intimacy 42:02 - Raising Teens: Honest Talks About Sex, Alcohol & Choices 45:40 - Trigger Warnings and Owning Your Own Reactions 51:58 - The Swimming Pool Analogy: Permission to Make Ripples 58:52 - Everyone Has Trauma. It's How We Tell the Story 1:01:12 - Nichole's Turning Point: Loneliness, Loss & Choosing Who to Become 1:10:04 - What We Choose to Put Out Into the World 1:12:21 - Final Question

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  Episode #17

  Alicia's Angels: How Mindfulness Is Changing Cancer Care | The Essence of You Podcast

  Jul 31, 20261h 13m

  Art Burns spent years in New York's high-pressure advertising world before addiction and burnout brought him to his knees, and to mindfulness. Today he's a certified mindfulness meditation teacher and founder of Alicia's Angels, a nonprofit bringing guided meditation, self-compassion coaching, and community support directly into chemotherapy infusion centers. In this conversation, Art shares the story of Alicia, the client whose journey inspired the organization's name, and unpacks how mindfulness helps cancer patients and their families soften anger into acceptance, release the "cancer as identity" trap, and find beauty even in life's hardest moments. Steph and Art talk honestly about supporting loved ones through illness, the neuroscience behind rewiring the brain through practice, and why real presence matters more than having the "right" words. Whether you're navigating a diagnosis, supporting someone who is, or just want practical tools for showing up more fully in your own life, this episode offers both heart and hard science. Learn more about Alicia's Angels: https://aliciasangels.com/ ABOUT ART BURNS: As a certified mindfulness meditation teacher, Art draws upon his traditional Catholic upbringing, combined with his extensive studies in the Eastern philosophies of Taoism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, to spiritually connect with people from every background. Through the language of their religious and cultural experience, Art helps people understand the universal laws of spirituality to help bring them to a place of physical and emotional wellbeing. Art resides in Colorado with three cats. KEY TAKEAWAYS - Alicia's Angels brings free mindfulness meditation, self-compassion coaching, and community into chemotherapy centers and virtual sessions for patients, families, and caregivers. - A cancer diagnosis doesn't just affect the patient, it ripples through family members, friends, and coworkers in ways that are easy to miss. - The most helpful thing you can offer someone facing illness isn't advice or errands, it's honest, judgment-free presence and active listening. - Mindfulness isn't about controlling your thoughts; it's about noticing when your attention wanders and gently returning, it's a "muscle" you build with practice. - Neuroplasticity research shows consistent meditation practice measurably changes brain activity, even outside of meditation itself. - Self-compassion follows a simple three-step practice: acknowledge the struggle, remember you're not alone in it, then offer yourself comfort. - A diagnosis (or any role we play) doesn't have to become our whole identity, it is one thread in a larger tapestry. ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Cold Open: Meet Art Burns & Alicia's Angels 00:29 - The Story Behind Alicia's Angels 05:53 - Inside the Program: Meditation, Coaching & Community 08:52- How a Cancer Diagnosis Ripples Through the Family 16:48 - What to Say (and Not Say) to Someone with Cancer 20:23 - From Advertising Burnout to a Mindfulness Practice 31:07 - When Illness Becomes Your Identity 37:05 - The Power of Presence Without Judgment 44:52 - Alicia's Words: From Anger to Compassion 48:02 - The Self-Compassion Practice 53:29 - The Neuroscience of a Rewired Brain 57:03 - Small Daily Practices That Change Everything 1:03:01 - Judgment, Traffic Jams & Seeing the Beauty in What Is 1:08:28 - Closing Question: Who Are You at Your Core?

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  Episode #16

  The Actor Behind the Mask: Chance Fuerstinger on Craft & Identity | The Essence of You Podcast

  Jul 24, 20261h 35m

  This episode kicks off with a cold open - Steph and Chance Fuerstinger re-discovering their unlikely shared connection to Grand Junction, Colorado, before the mics officially turn on. Actor, writer, filmmaker, and acting teacher Chance Fuerstinger joins Steph Lokelani for a conversation that moves from the craft of storytelling to the harder work of understanding yourself. Chance breaks down the Meisner technique, why "the dialog is bullshit" (the truth underneath it is what matters), and the running joke of being crowned Boise's sixth-funniest person. From there the conversation turns to real life: walking away from a soul-crushing job in medical billing, rewriting a fantasy novel first drafted at 16, and directing documentaries about stories that deserve to be told without an agenda attached. The episode closes on the question this podcast always asks: who are you when the titles fall away? Chance talks candidly about the ongoing work of self-discovery, including a recent diagnosis that helped some long-standing pieces click into place, and learning to set boundaries with the people closest to him. About Chance Fuerstinger: Chance Fuerstinger is an international award winning actor, writer, and filmmaker. He lives in Kuna, Idaho with his husband and their three demon cats. He is an instructor at Boise Acting Studio. He spends his free time acting and directing for local community theatres in the Boise area and is currently serving on the board of directors at Boise Little Theater. Passionate about his craft, Chance lives by the mantra, "If you know everything there is to know about acting, you should stop acting." Outside of acting, Chance is hard at work on a fantasy novel. Key Takeaways - Acting method matters less than presence - Chance's Meisner-based approach centers on truly listening to your scene partner and building real imaginary circumstances, not performing emotion. - "The dialog is bullshit" - the words characters say matter less than the truth underneath them; playing the subtext is the actual job. - Walking away from a stable but miserable career opened space for teaching, writing, and acting full time. - Writing a novel is a different muscle than writing for stage or screen - you're the one painting the whole picture, inner monologue and all. - Feedback is only useful if you actually want it - Chance talks through learning to ask for, and sit with, honest critique. - Self-discovery isn't a finish line, it's an ongoing practice, done creatively and in public, and it includes learning to set boundaries with the people closest to you. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Cold Open: The Grand Junction Connection 03:56 – Welcome & Meeting Chance Fuerstinger 19:39 – Boise's Funniest Person & Returning to Comedy 31:59 – Chance's Acting Method (Meisner Technique) 39:27 – Theater Etiquette & Staying Present On Stage 47:10 – Teaching Acting for Stage vs. Film 53:22 – Documentary Filmmaking & Stories Worth Telling 57:58 – Rewriting a Novel Started at 16 1:04:45 – Leaving a Soul-Sucking Job for Creative Freedom 1:12:46 – Feedback, Killing Your Darlings & the Writing Process 1:19:57 – Dream Roles 1:26:37 – Who Are You At Your Core?

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  Episode #15

  Puzzles, Purpose, & The Best Job Ever with Joey Maxey | The Essence of You Podcast

  Jul 17, 20261h 21m

  Joey Maxey wears a lot of hats - actor, filmmaker, dancer, cosplayer, and host of the vintage jigsaw puzzle YouTube channel Janky Puzzles. But ask him what he's proudest of, and he'll tell you it's his job as an elementary school janitor. In this episode, Steph Lokelani sits down with her longtime friend and collaborator to trace a career that's gone from indie feature films (including their own "Retreat" film) to retail, a hospital front desk, and a dream job delivering mail for the USPS, cut short by an epilepsy diagnosis. Joey opens up about being homeless and sleeping in his car, losing both parents, and the piece of advice from his grandmother that changed how he thinks about happiness altogether: stop chasing it, and chase contentment instead. Steph and Joey also get into the craft side of filmmaking - lighting, method acting, and why a well-run set matters - before landing on the deeply human question Steph asks every guest... listen to find out what it is. About Joey Maxey Joey Maxey is the goofy but lovable TV Dad in this situation comedy of life, one in which he relishes being the supporting character of a show that’s not his. He loves listening to people’s stories, learning about their hobbies, and sharing in those mutual experiences. From community theater, independent films, burlesque reviews, stand up comedy, movie podcaster, he has carried many “dashes” in life. Currently he is the host of the YouTube show “Janky Puzzles”, exploring the world of vintage jigsaw puzzles of all things, who knows what buffoonery will come his way next. He is a family man, a creative, a janitor, but most of all…alive. Which is pretty cool. 📌 Key Takeaways Career reinvention is rarely a straight line — Joey's path wound through retail, a hospital, a school, and the post office before he found his favorite job yet. A life-altering diagnosis can force a pivot you didn't choose, and that's okay. Chase contentment, not happiness — happiness is a moving target, contentment is something you can actually hold onto. The most "unglamorous" jobs can be the most meaningful ones. Hard seasons (grief, homelessness, hardship) don't have to define you, and acknowledging them doesn't mean minimizing them. Small, weird, specific memories — a chili contest, a truck-stop rib dinner — often mean more than the big bucket-list wins. Curiosity and not taking yourself too seriously might be the whole secret. Check out Joey's YouTube Channel, Janky Puzzles! https://www.youtube.com/@JankyPuzzles ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 – Cold open & pre-show banter 1:42 – Welcome to the show & how Joey and Steph met 3:23 – Making "Retreat" - their first film together 7:11 – The craft of low-budget filmmaking & staying present as an actor 12:58 – Lighting, gaffers, and why practical light matters 16:21 – Joey's official bio (and unofficial titles) 17:19 – 24 years in retail, then a hospital and a school 24:15 – The dream job that got cut short and an epilepsy diagnosis 28:33 – Why being a school janitor is the best job Joey's ever had 38:49 – Grandma's wisdom: chase contentment, not happiness 50:53 – Janky Puzzles: Joey's vintage jigsaw puzzle YouTube channel 51:49 – The wild true story behind Thomas Kinkade 1:03:03 – Mental health, hard seasons, and finding gratitude anyway 1:13:56 – Who is Joey Maxey at his core? 1:17:04 – Check out Janky Puzzles + final thoughts

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