The Essence of You.

A podcast that explores who we are beyond our labels.

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!

Taking Flight After 40 with Pilot Sarah Cortez

Steph Lokelani

Published on: 09/11/2026

Sarah Cortez knew she wanted to be a pilot from the age of three, watching out the window of her dad's plane. It took her almost 40 years to act on it.

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Alicia's Angels: How Mindfulness Is Changing Cancer Care

Steph Lokelani

Published on: 07/31/2026

Art Burns shares the story of Alicia, the client whose journey inspired the nonprofit, Alicia's Angels, and unpacks how mindfulness helps cancer patients and their families soften anger into acceptance and release the "cancer as identity" trap.

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Celia Espinoza on Cultural Identity & Finding Her Way Home

Steph Lokelani

Published on: 07/10/2026

Steph & Celia explore what it means to feel disconnected from your heritage while living far from your roots, and how food, music, family rituals, and even a spontaneous trip to Mexico City or Hawaii can reconnect you to where you come from.

The Essence of You PodcastSteph LokelaniCelia EspinozaBoise Idaho podcastIdaho Housing and Finance Associationb|Wise mentorshipBoise Metro Chambercultural identityHawaiian cultureChicana identityStanding RockGiraffe Laugh BoiseBreaking Chains NampaLeadership Boisecommunity and mentorshipaffordable housing financemotherhoodcultural connectionpersonal growth podcastBoise nonprofits

We Are Not Each Other's Enemy: Adrienne Evans on Democracy

Steph Lokelani

Published on: 07/03/2026

From growing up in rural Idaho to a life-changing visit to Auschwitz, Adrienne shares hard-won wisdom from 17+ years leading UVI and over 107,000 conversations across 13 states.

Adrienne EvansUnited Vision for IdahoUVIThe Essence of You PodcastSteph Lokelanipolitical divisionauthoritarianismdemocracyrural Idahoorganizing vs mobilizingcommunity buildingbridging dividesUnited Vision ProjectDemocracy in Motion documentarynonprofit fundingcivic engagementgrassroots movementsBoise Idaho podcastpolitical conversationshealing division

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