

The Spiritual Forum
The Spiritual Forum
Welcome to The Spiritual Forum, a space curated by Rev Carol Saunders for extraordinary conversations that explore the realms of spiritual living. Join us weekly for heart-to-heart dialogues with captivating individuals, delving into themes like love, faith, awakening, forgiveness, healing, spiritual practices, and divine encounters. These transformative narratives aim to inspire, fostering a deep connection to the profound experiences that shape our lives. Rev Carol’s guests include authors, filmmakers, experts, and everyday individuals who authentically share their journeys toward wholeness. These discussions transcend the ordinary, offering insights into navigating the complexities of our current world with authenticity and grace.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 10, 2026 • 1h 16min
Breaking Free from False Power with Anneke Lucas - EP 356
Anneke Lucas returns to share her incredible journey of overcoming unimaginable darkness and her path to healing. Her personal story of surviving child sex slavery and trauma-induced mind control in Belgium (circa 1970s) sheds light on the hidden power dynamics that shape our world. We discuss the potential that the Epstein files hold for a collective awakening, the distinction between real and false power, and how our upward projections toward politicians, stars and experts uphold the power structure that enslaves us. Ultimately hope rests in our own awakening and our decision to reclaim the true divine power within.
✍ Amazon Link to buy Anneke Lucas book : https://www.amazon.in/Quest-Love-Memoir-Child-Slave-ebook/dp/B0BFSLCSML
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & rate us to spread the light! – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spiritual-forum
❤️ Support this mission: https://thespiritualforum.org/
Bio-
Anneke Lucas is an author, speaker, advocate for child sex trafficking victims and creator of the Unconditional Model.
Her work is based on personal experience of a 30-year healing journey after surviving being sold by her family as a child sex slave to a pedophile network.
Her healing through psycho-therapy, writing, yoga and meditation were synthesized during a decade of service with incarcerated populations and with survivors of sex trafficking inside and outside of prisons. Sharing her own healing shaped her message for personal and global evolution through the Unconditional Model, the mindfulness modality she developed.
#SpiritualAwakening #TruthRevealed #ConsciousnessShift #AwakenTheTruth #InnerHealing
#SpiritualPodcast #HealingJourney #TraumaHealing #MindControlAwareness #PowerDynamics
#SpiritualGrowth #SelfAwareness #HumanConsciousness #AwakeningJourney #DeepTruth
#HiddenTruths #EnergyAwareness #InnerWork #SpiritualWisdom #RiseInConsciousness
#AwakenedMind #TruthSeekers #SpiritualTalks #ExpandYourMind #higherawareness #Epsteinfiles #SRAsurvivor #elitepredators #innerpower #survivors #reclaimyourpower

Apr 3, 2026 • 56min
Animals in the Bible: Creatures of the Same God with Michael Gilmour - EP 355
Michael Gilmour, professor of English and Biblical Literature, brings a fascinating perspective on animals and animal ethics in the Bible. Sharing some little-known scriptures, he sheds light on the bond between God and animals and introduces the idea of living aspirationally - striving for God’s original plan for creation. We also discuss the wisdom in animal tales and the opportunity we have to express worship by our actions and choices.
✍ Amazon Link to buy Michael Gilmour 's book :
https://www.amazon.in/Creative-Compassion-Literature-Palgrave-Macmillan/dp/3030554325 ,
https://www.amazon.in/Reading-Margins-Encounters-Bible-Literature/dp/1506469353
✍ Michael Gilmour 's Essay :
https://sarx.org.uk/articles/christianity-and-animals/christian-veganism-michael-gilmour/,
https://directionjournal.org/44/2/c-s-lewis-proposes-toast-health-to-all.html
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & rate us to spread the light! – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spiritual-forum
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Bio: Michael Gilmour is a professor of English and Biblical Literature at Providence University College in Manitoba, Canada. His current research and writing interests include religion and the Bible in popular music, C. S. Lewis, and animal ethics in theological perspective.
#spirituality #awakening #spiritualawakening #consciousness #innerpeace #mindfulness #spiritualjourney #animalethics #veganawakening #compassion #animalrights #plantbasedliving #crueltyfree #earthconsciousness #biblestudy #faithjourney #godislove #spiritualgrowth #christianpodcast #podcastclips #youtubechannel #viralvideos #deepconversations #spiritualpodcast #innerawakening #animalstories #CSLewis #VeganChristian #ChristianVegan #FaithInAction #GodsCreation #CompassionateLiving

Mar 27, 2026 • 1h 3min
Easter: Myth, Metaphor & Meaning with John Bucher - EP 354
John Bucher, renowned mythologist and executive director of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, joins Rev. Carol to walk through the events of Holy Week and the Easter story. In this lively conversation, they explore some of the story’s themes which when applied to your own life (and the world at large), will help you navigate complexities, defeats, and triumphs. You will hear fresh insights into the story’s power to connect us with something much greater than ourselves, ultimately offering hope and inspiration for all. Everything in this conversation is independent of your faith tradition - its message is universal!
✍ Amazon Link to buy John Bucher 's book : https://www.amazon.in/stores/author/B07KBZ66ZC/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=6ac2a3f1-dd53-4c14-908f-e41f45062825&ref_=ap_rdr
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & rate us to spread the light! – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spiritual-forum
❤️ Support this mission: https://thespiritualforum.org/
#EasterMessage #SpiritualAwakening #JesusStory #FaithJourney #ChristianPodcast #SpiritualGrowth #EasterReflection #FaithOverFear #HigherConsciousness #HeroJourney #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualPodcast #JesusTeachings #InnerTransformation #DivinePurpose #FaithTalk #SoulJourney #GodsPlan #SpiritualConversation #Easter2026 #mythology #josephcampbell #Easterstory

Mar 22, 2026 • 54min
Walking into Oneness: Dami Roelse's Spiritual Trek - EP 353
Dami Roelse shares her incredible journey on the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail, starting at age 65. Through hiking she navigated loss, discovered spiritual truths, and found her zest for life again. Discover how walking became her ultimate spiritual practice and a metaphor for aging gracefully and with purpose.
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & rate us to spread the light! – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spiritual-forum
❤️ Support this mission: https://thespiritualforum.org/
Bio-
Dami Roelse was born in Holland and moved to the USA in 1973 after traveling around the world. She had a career as a Mental Health therapist and raised 3 children in a loving marriage. Dami lost her husband as she entered her 3rd phase of life.
Dami wasn’t ready to live with loss and unhappiness. She took a walk in the Himalayas to find herself again; she discovered new ways to be happy and find meaning in life. At age 65 on the brink of retirement, she started section hiking the 2650 mile long Pacific Crest trail that runs from Mexico to Canada on America’s west coast; she finished the PCT in 2022 at age 75.
Dami has written 3 hiking related books. Walking Gone Wild, how to lose your age on the trail; Fly Free, a memoir of love, loss and walking the path; and now Body and Grace, a woman's hike to wholeness on the Pacific Crest Trail. Dami coaches and encourages women 50+ to open their horizons by walking, hiking and backpacking.
#SpiritualLiving #SpiritualJourney #InnerTransformation #ConsciousAging #AgingWithGrace #LifeAfter60 #PurposefulLiving #ElderWisdom
#GriefAndHealing #HealingJourney #EmotionalHealing #TrustTheJourney #SurrenderAndTrust #GraceInLife #HikingJourney #WalkingMeditation #NatureAsHealer #SacredNature #SolitudeAndSilence #SpiritualPodcast #DeepConversations #MeaningfulLiving #awakeningconsciousness

Mar 13, 2026 • 1h 9min
"What Are Animals Telling Us?" with Jo-Anne McArthur - EP 352
Discover the groundbreaking world of animal photojournalism with Jo-Anne McArthur. Her work reveals the profound connections and divides between humans and animals, pushing us to reflect on our cultural practices, awaken from our indifference, and ignite our innate compassion. Jo-Anne tells some remarkable stories captured through her lens and offers practices to help us live with the harsh realities of the world without succumbing to despair. We were created not as dominators but to be in relationship with all sentient beings, and this conversation inspires us to spiritual restoration.
✍ Book Link to buy Jo-Anne McArthur : https://weanimals.org/shop/purchase-our-books/
❤️Jo-Anne McArthur NGO is We Animals. www.weanimals.org
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & rate us to spread the light! – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spiritual-forum
❤️ Support this mission: https://thespiritualforum.org/
Bio-
Jo-Anne is an award-winning photojournalist, sought-after speaker, photo editor, and the founder of We Animals. She has visited over sixty countries to document our fraught relationship with animals and is the author of three books: We Animals (2014), Captive (2017), and HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene (2020). Jo-Anne is the subject of the acclaimed Canadian documentary, The Ghosts in Our Machine, and her photographs have received accolades from Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nature Photographer of the Year, Big Picture, Picture of the Year International, the Global Peace Award, and others. Jo-Anne enjoys jurying photo competitions and has done so for World Press Photo, Big Picture, and others. She hails from Toronto, Canada.
#WildlifePhotography #AnimalStories #AnimalPhotojournalism #WildlifeConservation #AnimalsOfTheWorld

Mar 6, 2026 • 60min
Conscious Movement and Liberation with Banafsheh Sayyad EP 351
For as long as Master Sacred Dancer Banafsheh Sayyad can remember, she’s had two passions - one for dance and one for uncovering the mystery of being alive. Born in Iran, her family fled the oppressive regime that took power in 1979.. Against intense cultural pressure, Banafsheh fused her two passions and taught herself to dance, eventually founding Dance of Oneness. In this episode, she shares her fascinating life story, the hope she has for Iran and the world, the fascinating lineage of Sufism, and the important role of dance and embodiment in the spiritual restoration of humanity’s wholeness and reconnection to the Earth. Her new book, Dance of Oneness, comes out on February 10, 2026.
✍ Book Link to buy Banafsheh Sayyad : https://danceofoneness.org/dance-of-oneness-book/
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & rate us to spread the light! – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spiritual-forum
❤️ Support this mission: https://thespiritualforum.org/
Bio: Banafsheh Sayyad, MFA, Choreography and MA, Chinese Medicine, is a master sacred dancer, choreographer, and visionary teacher of spiritual embodiment whose life’s work is devoted to helping people activate greater health, awareness, and resilience through conscious movement. Internationally acclaimed for her pioneering fusion of spirituality and sensuality, she is the founder of Dance of Oneness®, a Divine Feminine lineage of healing and transformation uniting Sufi whirling, Persian dance, flamenco, mysticism, and Taoist wisdom. Her forthcoming book, Dance of Oneness (St. Martin's Essentials, March 2026), invites readers to rediscover the body as a portal to presence, vitality, and joy. Drawing from her own awakening through dance that transmuted the pain of exile from Iran, Banafsheh weaves Rumi’s poetry, feminine mysticism, and embodied healing into a radiant call to live as a channel of love and light. Born in Iran to legendary filmmaker Parviz Sayyad, she defied cultural taboos to create a feminine expression of Sufi whirling, transforming dance into a pathway of liberation, divine communion, and activism. Through her non-profit NAMAH and her transformative teachings at centers such as Esalen, Kripalu, Omega, and Hollyhock, Banafsheh has inspired thousands across the world to awaken, embody love, and dance the divine into being.
#SpiritualAwakening #SacredDance #DanceOfOneness #SufiWhirling #SpiritualHealing #DivineFeminine #ConsciousMovement #EmbodiedSpirituality #MysticalWisdom #RumiWisdom #SpiritualTransformation #FeminineEnergy #DanceMeditation #HealingThroughDance #SpiritualPodcast #freeiran #embodiment #sufiwisdom #liberation #iranliberation

Feb 27, 2026 • 59min
Navigating Life's Unexpected Paths: A Journey of Faith with Lois Bouchard EP 350
Lois Bouchard lives with acceptance, surrender, and peace in the face of serious health challenges. Rev. Carol spoke with her three years ago (episode 206) and she is now in palliative care, as calm and fearless as ever, and in service to bereaved people. In this episode Lois shares the power of her deep faith and how she connects with God to embrace the path she has been given. She also shares some of her meditation “downloads” including one on the topic of extraterrestrials and their hopefull impact on humanity. If you face adversity of any kind. Lois’s life will surely inspire you.
✍ Amazon Link to buy Lois Bouchard : https://www.amazon.in/Dear-Lord-Am-Listening-Messages-ebook/dp/B0BLQP2T9X
Lois's Substack: lightmessenger.substack.com
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & rate us to spread the light! – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spiritual-forum
❤️ Support this mission: https://thespiritualforum.org/
Bio - Through years of suffering with serious heart and lung symptoms and the confusion and frustration of awaiting a diagnosis, Lois Bouchard sat with Spirit and listened. She was eventually diagnosed with an extremely rare and fatal autoimmune disease that few doctors are able to treat. In 2020, she suffered a stroke, and in 2022 she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Lois documented her three-year journey of meditation and prayer in her book, Dear Lord, I Am Listening. Her hope is that the message in her book will provide people of all walks of life, convictions and generations with inspiration, faith, hope, and love.
#FaithOverFear #SpiritualHealing #PowerOfPrayer #SurrenderToGod #hopeinhardtimes #overcoming #faithhope #healing

Feb 20, 2026 • 1h 11min
Israel & Humanity's Evolution with Dr. Moshe EP 349
Dr. Moshe Daniel Block shares his model of reality which begins with the Allness of God seeking to know Itself through material duality. He joins Rev. Carol for a second hour in an intriguing dialogue about Israel's spiritual influence and humanity's journey from darkness to unity. Explore how the ancestral narratives of Ishmael and Isaac shape current events and discover paths to reconciliation and collective evolution to Christ consciousness.
✍ Amazon Link to buy Moshe Daniel Block's book : https://www.amazon.in/Holistic-Counseling-Introducing-Breakthrough-Psychology/dp/1785352091
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & rate us to spread the light! – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spiritual-forum
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#IsraelUnfinishedCovenant #IsraelPalestine #SpiritualAwakening #ChristConsciousness #MiddleEastConflict #InterfaithDialogue #SpiritualPodcast #HealingHumanity #ConsciousnessShift #FaithAndPolitics #AbrahamicTraditions #PeaceInTheMiddleEast #TorahAndChrist #SpiritualTruth #UnityConsciousness

Feb 13, 2026 • 1h 10min
Mind - Body Alchemy: Holistic Insights with Dr. Moshe EP 348
Born into orthodox Judaism, Dr. Moshe Daniel Block became a spiritual explorer and seeker of truth at an early age. Currently a naturopathic doctor, he joins Rev. Carol to explore the profound connections between mind and body healing. Merging insights from ancient wisdom and the teachings of Rudolph Steiner, they discuss the challenges facing our current world, the crucial need for inquiry, the consciousness where miracles happen, and a process that eliminates those false beliefs that keep resurfacing. This is the first part in a two-part interview with Dr Moshe.
✍ Amazon Link to buy Moshe Daniel Block's book : https://www.amazon.in/Holistic-Counseling-Introducing-Breakthrough-Psychology/dp/1785352091
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & rate us to spread the light! – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spiritual-forum
❤️ Support this mission: https://thespiritualforum.org/
Bio -
Dr. Moshe Daniel Block is a naturopathic doctor, homeopath, and spiritual researcher whose work bridges ancient wisdom, modern healing, and the deep story of human consciousness. He is the creator of the Vis Dialogue, a mind–body therapeutic method developed over 25 years of practice, and the author and producer of Israel’s Unfinished Covenant, a four-part cinematic exploration of Israel’s purpose, pain, and evolving destiny.
Moshe’s work brings together Torah, Kabbalah, Anthroposophy, alchemical traditions, and contemporary spiritual teachings to illuminate how humanity can heal old patterns of fear, separation, and inherited trauma. His perspective is both rooted in Jewish lineage and open to universal truth, offering rare insight into how ancient stories reveal pathways to reconciliation between peoples, faiths, and cultures.
He speaks with a gentle, grounded clarity that helps listeners feel safe exploring complex themes—identity, conflict, prophecy, and the evolution of the human “I”—through the lens of peace and shared purpose.
Moshe’s mission is simple: to help heal the fractures between brothers, nations, and within the human heart, and to remind us that the story of Israel is ultimately the story of all of us.
#MindBodyHealing #SpiritualAwakening #HolisticHealth #Consciousness #HealingJourney

Feb 6, 2026 • 53min
Awakening Female Power and Cosmic Balance with Maya Tiwari EP 347
What happens when we reconnect with the sacred feminine power within?
In this deeply grounding conversation, we explore Inner Power — the divine feminine force that restores balance, awakens compassion, and brings harmony between the feminine and masculine energies within us. This episode dives into healing, self-awareness, ancient wisdom, and the simple yet profound practices that help us return to our true nature.
If you’re feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or seeking deeper meaning, this conversation invites you to pause, soften, and awaken the power that already lives inside you.
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & rate us to spread the light! – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spiritual-forum
❤️ Support this mission: https://thespiritualforum.org/
Bio - Maya Tiwari discusses her journey from fashion design mogul in New York City to spiritual teacher and humanitarian, emphasizing the need to understand and harness the innate feminine power within. This dialogue delves into the personal and global importance of balancing feminine (Shakti) and masculine (Shiva) energies, the healing power of compassion, and creating space for inner peace in a complex world.
#AwakeningInnerShakti #DivineFeminine #SpiritualHealing #InnerBalance #SacredWisdom #FemininePower #ConsciousLiving #SpiritualAwakening


