Host Tracee Stanley has had a devoted practice of yoga nidra for the past 25 years as well as a curiosity about darkness and the power it holds for our transformation—especially in this era of distraction, AI, and misinformation.

In this episode, Tracee is joined by one of her favorite teachers, scholar-practitioner, author, and guide Andrew Holecek, for a fascinating conversation about the topic of his new book, Total Eclipse of the Mind: Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing and Transformation.

Andrew details his long-standing practice of dark retreats in the Buddhist tradition. He tells us what to expect at a dark retreat and how this relates to ego, artificial light, and the Kali Yuga.

About our guest:

Andrew Holecek is an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner in Tibetan Buddhism and other nondual wisdom traditions who has spent over thirty years helping people transform life's greatest challenges into opportunities for awakening. A dedicated meditation practitioner who completed the traditional Tibetan Buddhist three-year retreat, Andrew is known for making profound contemplative practices accessible and practical.

His flagship Preparing to Die program, drawing on the bardo teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, has guided over 1,000 participants through comprehensive spiritual and practical preparation for life's final transition. Graduates consistently report a profound reduction in death anxiety and a new clarity about what truly matters.

As one of the West's foremost teachers of dream yoga — the spiritual dimension of lucid dreaming — he guides students in using the night to transform their waking lives, turning sleep into a powerful vehicle for psychological and spiritual development.

Connect with Andrew Holecek:
https://www.andrewholecek.com/

Order Andrew's book, Total Eclipse of the Mind:
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781649634856/totaleclipseofthemind/

Connect with host Tracee Stanley:

Order Tracee's new book, Living Ritual, and join the FREE 16-day ritual:
https://www.traceestanley.com/livingritual

Website
https://www.traceestanley.com

Newsletter
https://www.traceestanley.com/#newsletter

Radiance Subscription Online Community—try it for a month FREE!
https://www.empoweredlifecircle.com/join-today/

Instagram
http://instagram.com/tracee_stanley

Radiant Rest book
https://www.traceestanley.com/radiant-rest

The Luminous Self book
https://www.traceestanley.com/luminous-self

Podcast
https://www.traceestanley.com/podcast

Please note that this is a conversation about death; tend to yourself.

As a death Doula, the New York Times bestselling author of Being Perfectly Human, and the founder of Going with Grace, Alua's work is the medicine and the healing that we need for these times.

"Few things cut through to the heart of the matter more than death," Alua says. "When we talk about death and dying, it cuts straight to our humanity, what we're up to here, love and compassion, and everything."

In this episode, Alua and host Tracee Stanley discuss the lessons about death that the pandemic brought to light, what it means to be a death doula, and how planning for death is a key component to living a meaningful life. They also get vulnerable, and share about the experiences that shifted their perspectives about death. This episode will invite you to learn the tools to consider what death can look like with more presence, agency, and authenticity.

About our guest

Alua Arthur is the most visible death doula in the world today. A New York Times bestselling author, TIME100 Health honoree, and the founder of Going with Grace, Alua and her team have trained almost 3000 death doulas in 58 countries, helped thousands of healthy folks learn from their mortality, and supported families as they plan the exit of a beloved member. A self proclaimed recovering attorney, she's become the go-to death educator, having been featured on Disney's docu-series Limitless featuring Chris Hemsworth, CBS Mornings, ABC News, and in The New York Times, the LA Times and Vogue among countless other publications. Her TED Talk entitled "Why Thinking About Death Helps You Live a Better Life," has been viewed millions of times sparking global conversations about dying well, and her NYT bestselling debut book,

BRIEFLY PERFECTLY HUMAN: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End, earned spots on multiple "best of lists" and the ultimate blessing in her mom's eyes: a "Gayle Recommends" seal from Oprah's Book Club.

With heart, humor, and a likely innocent question in casual conversation or from the stage which will make you live with more intention, Alua is on a mission to make death less feared, more talked about—and maybe even a little inspiring.

Connect with Alua:

Order her book, Being Perfectly Human
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/briefly-perfectly-human-alua-arthur?variant=41083803697186

Website
https://goingwithgrace.com

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

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/goingwgrace

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVjHD7_XAXc2RWVND0RUTnw

Twitter/X
https://x.com/goinggracefully

Connect with host Tracee Stanley:

Preorder Tracee's new book, Living Ritual, and join the FREE 16-day ritual with your preorder
https://www.traceestanley.com/livingritual

Website
https://www.traceestanley.com

Newsletter
https://www.traceestanley.com/#newsletter

Radiance Subscription Online Community—try it for a month FREE!
https://www.empoweredlifecircle.com/join-today/

Instagram
http://instagram.com/tracee_stanley

Radiant Rest book
https://www.traceestanley.com/radiant-rest

The Luminous Self book
https://www.traceestanley.com/luminous-self

Podcast
https://www.traceestanley.com/podcast

The practice of turning toward the pain and joy that we carry, with care and reverence, might be one of the most meaningful gifts we can give ourselves—and the collective.

Lisa Olivera is a psychotherapist, mother, creator of the Human Stuff newsletter, and author of the upcoming new book, When the Ache Remains: Lessons on Tending to the Unfixable and Finding Beauty Anyway.

She joins Radiant Rest Podcast host Tracee for a deep conversation about: relationship building in the age of consumption, convenience, distraction, and urgency; the power of experiencing a felt sense, what it means to be courageous; reclaiming our attention; kindling our devotion; the healing connection with nature; and much more!

About our guest:

Lisa Olivera is an author, psychotherapist, mother, and creator of the Human Stuff newsletter. She has worked in schools, community-based mental health, and currently has a private practice, all of which inform her lens of the world. Lisa's work has been featured in publications including The New York Times, Good Morning America, and The Guardian. Her debut book, Already Enough, was published in 2022; her forthcoming book, When the Ache Remains, will be released in April of 2026. She lives in Northern California with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

Connect with Lisa: https://lisaolivera.com/

Her new book, When the Ache Remains: Lessons on Tending to the Unfixable and Finding Beauty Anyway: https://lisaolivera.com/when-the-ache-remains

Connect with host Tracee Stanley:

Website: https://www.traceestanley.com

Newsletter: https://www.traceestanley.com/#newsletter

Radiance Subscription Online Community—try it for a month FREE!: https://www.empoweredlifecircle.com/join-today/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/tracee_stanley

Radiant Rest book: https://www.traceestanley.com/radiant-rest

The Luminous Self book: https://www.traceestanley.com/luminous-self

Podcast: https://www.traceestanley.com/podcast