020: What Happens When We Die? The Evidence Is Hard to Ignore | Johnny Burke

020: What Happens When We Die? The Evidence Is Hard to Ignore | Johnny Burke

What really happens when we die? And is there actual evidence for life after death, or is it just wishful thinking? In this episode of Live Your Jam, Ellen McGinnis sits down with Johnny Burke, host of the Closer to Venus podcast, who has spent six years and close to 250 episodes interviewing the people who would know. Near-death experiencers. Evidential mediums. Hospice workers who sit with the dying. Past life researchers. What he keeps finding points to one quiet, consistent answer. We are eternal souls, and consciousness does not end when the body does. This isn't a conversation about belief. It's about patterns. The same accounts, told by strangers across cultures, who describe the same light, the same love, the same overwhelming sense of coming home. Johnny and Ellen explore the evidence behind near-death experiences, what hospice mediums witness in a person's final days, the idea that we choose our lives before we arrive, and why so many accounts suggest consciousness lives outside the brain. They also go to the stranger edges. Soul contracts. Life between lives. Galactic past lives. And what it might mean to raise your vibration in a world that only trusts what it can measure. If you have ever sensed there is more, but wanted something to stand on besides faith, this conversation will give you a place to start. You will learn: * Why nearly every guest, across every tradition, agrees we are eternal souls * What the evidence for near-death experiences actually shows * What hospice mediums witness in a person's final days, and what the "welcoming party" means * Why so many accounts suggest consciousness is not produced by the brain * The idea of soul contracts, and whether we choose our lives before we are born * What "life between lives" is, and why it keeps surfacing under hypnosis * How to tell an evidential medium from the rest * What past life and galactic memories hint about who we used to be * Simple daily ways to raise your vibration * How to hold all of this with a curious, open, slightly skeptical mind 👉 Watch the full conversation and subscribe for more stories about intuition, purpose, and living your jam. We talk about: * 00:00 Why this conversation matters * 02:00 Meet Johnny Burke and the Closer to Venus podcast * 03:00 What "Closer to Venus" really means * 05:00 The three questions that started it all * 07:00 Near-death experiences as the gateway * 09:00 The one thing nearly every guest agrees on * 13:00 The hardest truth: soul contracts and exit points * 16:00 Evidential mediums and the research behind them * 19:00 Hospice mediums and the welcoming party * 23:00 Life between lives and the in-between space * 26:00 Soul groups and the people we keep meeting * 28:00 Life as a theater group * 30:00 What near-death experiences teach us about love and fear * 33:00 Intuition and raising your vibration * 35:00 ETs, disclosure, and consciousness * 41:00 Why death might be easier than birth * 43:00 Why consciousness may not live in the brain * 48:00 Friendly and not-so-friendly ETs * 51:00 Spirit guides with a sense of humor * 53:00 A brother, a dream, and a beer * 54:00 The big question Johnny wants to solve next Connect with Johnny: * Website: https://closertovenus.com/ [https://closertovenus.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theclosertovenuspodcast [https://www.instagram.com/theclosertovenuspodcast] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/closertovenuspodcast [https://www.facebook.com/closertovenuspodcast] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@closertovenuspodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@closertovenuspodcast] Connect with Ellen * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam [https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam] * LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam [https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveyourjam [https://www.facebook.com/liveyourjam] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj7_LS2kaxfyPsAd1Hne8g [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj7_LS2kaxfyPsAd1Hne8g] * Website: https://liveyourjam.com/ [https://liveyourjam.com/]

019: What Happens When Women Move Together (46 Years of Proof) | Pam Stafford

What happens when women don’t just show up for a workout… but for each other? In this episode of Live Your Jam, Ellen McGinnis sits down with Pam Stafford, community leader, former mayor, and the creator of a dance-based fitness class that has been running for over 46 years. What started as a simple aerobic class became something much deeper. A space where women of all ages, from their 40s to their 90s, come together to move, connect, and build something that goes far beyond fitness. Because this isn’t really about choreography, calorie burn, or getting it “right.” It’s about consistency, belonging, and what happens when people feel seen in a space they return to week after week, year after year. From leading a city through economic hardship to leading a room full of women through movement, Pam shares what it actually takes to build trust, community, and something that lasts. And why, after 46 years, women are still walking through those doors. If you’ve ever struggled to stay consistent, find your people, or create something meaningful… this conversation will change how you think about all of it. You will learn: * Why women are more consistent when community is present * What 46 years of teaching reveals about human connection * The difference between a class and a true community * How movement strengthens both mental and emotional health * Why learning choreography challenges and protects your brain * The leadership traits that build long-term trust and loyalty * How to create spaces where people feel welcomed and seen * Why perfection doesn’t matter, but showing up does * The role of movement in healing, especially during hard seasons * Why meaning, not motivation, is what keeps people coming back 👉 Watch the full conversation and subscribe for more stories about intuition, purpose, and living your jam. We talk about: * 00:00 What keeps women coming back for decades * 02:00 From local leadership to 46 years of teaching movement * 05:00 Lessons from serving on city council and as mayor * 08:00 Why this class feels different from traditional fitness * 11:00 The power of multi-generational movement (ages 40 to 90+) * 14:00 How consistency is built through connection, not discipline * 17:00 Why choreography strengthens the brain and builds resilience * 20:00 The mental challenge of learning something new * 23:00 Movement as a tool for long-term cognitive health * 26:00 How the class adapted and stayed alive during the pandemic * 29:00 Why people needed movement and connection more than ever * 31:00 Creating a space where everyone feels welcome * 33:00 Why you don’t need to be “good” to start * 35:00 The difference between showing up and belonging * 38:00 What 46 years of this work has given Pam Connect with Pam: * Website: https://cityofrohnertpark.hosted.civiclive.com/city_hall/departments/community_services/classes/teens___adults/dancercise [https://cityofrohnertpark.hosted.civiclive.com/city_hall/departments/community_services/classes/teens___adults/dancercise] Connect with Ellen * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam [https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam] * LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam [https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveyourjam [https://www.facebook.com/liveyourjam] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj7_LS2kaxfyPsAd1Hne8g [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj7_LS2kaxfyPsAd1Hne8g] * Website: https://liveyourjam.com/ [https://liveyourjam.com/]

018: Healing the Stories That Keep Men Stuck with Dr. Don Zaksek

What if the thing keeping you stuck… isn’t weakness, lack of discipline, or even trauma itself, but the story you’ve built to survive it? In this episode of Live Your Jam, Ellen McGinnis sits down with psychologist, former Air Force captain, and trauma specialist Dr. Don Zaksek to unpack the silent reality many men are living through, high-functioning on the outside, quietly unraveling on the inside. From combat veterans to elite performers, Dr. Don has spent decades working with individuals trained to endure, push through, and never break. But beneath that strength often lives isolation, shame, and a relentless inner narrative that keeps them stuck. This conversation goes beyond surface-level mental health advice. It explores identity, purpose, emotional suppression, and what it really takes to heal when your default has always been survival. If you’ve ever felt like you should be fine… but you’re not, this episode will challenge how you see yourself and what healing actually looks like. You will learn: * Why high-performing men often feel the most alone * The difference between primary pain and the suffering we create on top of it * How emotional numbness becomes a survival strategy (and why it’s so hard to break) * What Dr. Don calls “the cracked lens” and how it shapes your reality * Why over-responsibility leads to self-blame and burnout * How trauma rewires your identity, not just your emotions * The role of vulnerability in real, lasting healing * What “healthy masculinity” actually looks like today * How to reconnect with your inner voice when you’ve lost it * Why meaning, not happiness, is what most men are actually searching for 👉 Watch the full conversation and subscribe for more stories about intuition, purpose, and living your jam. We talk about: * 00:00 Why men who “have it together” are struggling the most * 03:00 Strength vs. suppression, what’s really underneath * 06:00 The hidden cost of discipline, performance, and control * 09:00 Primary vs. secondary suffering explained * 12:00 Why numbness feels safer than healing * 15:00 The loneliness epidemic in men and loss of meaning * 18:00 The “cracked lens” and how trauma distorts reality * 21:00 Learning to observe your thoughts instead of believing them * 24:00 The role of vulnerability in healing * 27:00 Reconnecting to your deeper self (self one vs. self two) * 30:00 Why you don’t need to fix yourself, you need to understand yourself * 33:00 Letting go of fear-based identity and control * 36:00 What transformation actually looks like in real life * 39:00 Choosing self-love when self-hatred feels justified Connect with Dr. Don: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dzaksek [https://www.instagram.com/dzaksek] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576433303574 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576433303574] * Medium: https://medium.com/@dzaksek [https://medium.com/@dzaksek] Connect with Ellen * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam [https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam] * LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam [https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveyourjam [https://www.facebook.com/liveyourjam] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj7_LS2kaxfyPsAd1Hne8g [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj7_LS2kaxfyPsAd1Hne8g] * Website: https://liveyourjam.com/ [https://liveyourjam.com/]

017: What Your Higher Self Already Knows About Your Life Purpose (And Why You Can’t Hear It Yet) | Dr. Holly Duckworth

What if the answers you’ve been searching for… are already within you, waiting for you to get quiet enough to hear them? In this episode of Live Your Jam, Ellen McGinnis sits down with QHHT expert, psychologist, and author Dr. Holly Duckworth to explore the profound world of Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique (QHHT) and the concept of the higher self. From a deeply personal origin story rooted in crisis, to conducting hundreds of hypnosis sessions, Dr. Holly shares what she’s learned about life purpose, soul lessons, and the unseen intelligence guiding each of us. This conversation bridges science and spirituality, logic and intuition, offering a grounded yet expansive look at who we are beyond the “monkey suit” of the human experience. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re here, what your purpose is, or how to access your inner knowing… this episode will shift how you see your life entirely. You will learn: * What QHHT (Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique) is and how it works * The difference between your subconscious mind and your higher self * Why your higher self operates beyond time, fear, and limitation * The 4 core life purposes revealed across 400+ hypnosis sessions * The 3 types of life lessons your soul is here to learn * Why even painful experiences may be chosen by your soul * How fear is connected to the ego, not your true self * The role of meditation in accessing higher self guidance * Why your purpose may be simpler (and more profound) than you think * The one message your higher self wants you to remember 👉 Watch the full conversation and subscribe for more stories about intuition, purpose, and living your jam. We talk about: * 00:00 Introduction to QHHT and the higher self * 02:30 Dr. Holly’s life-changing entry into hypnosis work * 06:00 What makes QHHT different (and how sessions work) * 10:00 Why your session recording changes everything * 13:00 True knowing vs “answers” and spiritual wisdom * 15:00 The patterns across 400+ sessions (science meets spirituality) * 17:00 What the higher self actually is * 20:00 Timelessness, collective consciousness, and accessing knowledge * 24:00 The 4 types of life purpose explained * 29:00 Why you chose your life (even the hard parts) * 34:00 Ego vs higher self, fear vs love * 42:00 How to access your inner knowing + the power of meditation Connect with Holly: * Instagram: www.instagram.com/awarecaredurango [http://www.instagram.com/awarecaredurango] * Facebook: www.facebook.com/awarecaredurango [http://facebook.com/awarecaredurango] * YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@HollyDuckworthPhD [https://www.youtube.com/@HollyDuckworthPhD] * Website: www.awarecaredurango.com [http://www.awarecaredurango.com] * Sedona Retreat in Sept: https://www.awarecaredurango.com/events [https://www.awarecaredurango.com/events] * Dolores Cannon: https://dolorescannon.com/ [https://dolorescannon.com/] Connect with Ellen * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam [https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam] * LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam [https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveyourjam [https://www.facebook.com/liveyourjam] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj7_LS2kaxfyPsAd1Hne8g [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj7_LS2kaxfyPsAd1Hne8g] * Website: https://liveyourjam.com/ [https://liveyourjam.com/]

016: The Quiet Revolution. How Women Reclaim Their Energy, Power, and Inner Authority | Ellen McGinnis

What if the exhaustion you feel isn’t burnout… but misdirected energy? In this solo episode of Live Your Jam, Ellen McGinnis introduces what she calls The Quiet Revolution, a powerful shift where women begin reclaiming their energy from the systems, roles, and expectations that have quietly shaped their lives. Through a deeply personal lens and grounded in systems thinking, Ellen unpacks why so many women feel depleted despite “having it all”, and how invisible labor, cultural conditioning, and societal structures have normalized self-sacrifice as identity. This episode is not about blowing up your life. It’s about something far more radical, choosing yourself in small, consistent, courageous ways. If you’ve ever felt like your energy is everywhere except where it truly matters… this conversation will help you see it, name it, and begin to take it back. You will learn: * Why women’s exhaustion is often rooted in systemic conditioning, not personal failure * What “energy leakage” is and how it shows up in daily life * How invisible labor impacts your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing * The difference between living from expectation, survival, and inner knowing * A powerful exercise to audit your life decisions and reclaim clarity * Why small, consistent choices create lasting personal transformation * How to shift from “what’s needed of me” to “what is true for me” * The role of attention and awareness in reclaiming your energy * Why boundaries feel difficult, and how to begin setting them anyway * How reclaiming your energy impacts your family, relationships, and future generations 👉 Watch the full conversation and subscribe for more stories about intuition, purpose, and living your jam. We talk about: * 00:00 Introduction to The Quiet Revolution and women’s energy * 01:30 The question that can change your life * 03:00 The hidden exhaustion many women feel * 04:30 Systems theory and how it applies to women’s lives * 05:30 Workplace structures and inherited expectations * 06:30 Family systems and the invisible mental load * 07:30 Cultural conditioning, religion, and self-sacrifice * 09:00 Why selflessness became identity for women * 10:00 Ellen’s personal story of work, motherhood, and burnout * 13:30 Health breakdown and early signs of depletion * 14:30 Moving to Switzerland and gaining perspective * 16:00 Auditing your energy and life decisions * 17:00 The reflection exercise (expectation vs survival vs inner knowing) * 19:00 Patterns of self-abandonment and awareness * 20:00 Why you don’t need to blow up your life to change it * 21:00 The power of attention and where your energy goes * 22:00 Asking “what is true for me” * 23:00 The Quiet Revolution explained * 24:00 Feminine energy vs hustle culture * 25:00 Living in alignment instead of performance * 26:00 Invitation to Inner Courage workshop Resources: * Inner Courage Workshop Connect with Ellen * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam [https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam] * LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam [https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveyourjam [https://www.facebook.com/liveyourjam] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj7_LS2kaxfyPsAd1Hne8g [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj7_LS2kaxfyPsAd1Hne8g] * Website: https://liveyourjam.com/ [https://liveyourjam.com/]