Voices of Courage with Ken D. Foster and guests James Sweigert and Leonard Perlmutter

Topic: The Courage to Awaken Wealth

Today we discuss transcending how we think about and define wealth in order to create an abundance of it in all aspects of our lives.

We live in a society that defines wealth as how much money you have in the bank. But, I want to tell you that that’s an antiquated and very narrow vision of wealth. Wealth really is a sense of feeling expanded in ourselves. We have a wealth of great relationships, a wealth of health, and a wealth of happiness and joy in our lives.

My first guest, James Sweigert, is a new author, dynamic motivational speaker, and award-winning executive producer and director for film and television who helps others change their stories to transform their lives. He joins me today to discuss the power of the spoken word, the impact of the stories that we tell ourselves about ourselves, and practical ways we can change the stories inside of us that keep us stuck and unhappy.

My second guest, Leonard Perlmutter, is the founder and director of The American Meditation Institute, originator of the National Conscience Month observance, and is a noted educator, philosopher, and author. He joins me today to share the importance of letting our conscience be our guide and how we can use it to control, conserve, and transform our greatest natural resource—the power of our thoughts.

We Discuss:

• Taking a deep dive into wealth, what we think about it, and how we define it
• The stories that we tell ourselves that come from events in our own lives
• Practical ways that we can change the stories we have that hold us back
• How the power of the spoken word can completely shape our lives
• Why remaining a victim to the circumstances in our lives is a choice
• Powerful words we can use to shift into higher states of consciousness
• What National Conscience Month is and what inspired this observance
• The Four Functions of the mind and why they’re so valuable to us
• How to use the conscience to control the power of our thoughts

“The universe will give you whatever story you tell it, so you might as well make it a good, positive one with a happy ending.”  —  James Sweigert

About James

James Sweigert is not only an author and motivational speaker, he’s a successful executive producer and director for film and television.

Over the past 25 years he has built, run, and sold several multimillion-dollar, award-winning production companies. During the same time, he mentored and coached celebrities, rockstars, and movie executives.

The successes in his life were hard-fought; nothing came easy until he changed his story. The youngest of seven, James struggled to be seen and stay safe. He began to be molested at the age of 7. To cope with the chaos and abuse he turned to drugs and alcohol, which led to severe depression and a suicide attempt at the age of 25.

This self-destructive pattern continued until he changed his story – and his life. James has not only survived addiction, depression, homelessness, suicide, and molestation, he has triumphed.

He is a storyteller who was able to understand that how he was telling his own story and the power behind his words could shape his life. He is teaching others the same through his work as a mentor, motivational speaker and “Life Cheerleader.”

James currently lives in Beverly Hills, California with a loving partner, a close community, and an incredible dog, with the ultimate purpose to help others change their stories to transform their lives. 

About Leonard

Leonard Perlmutter is the founder and director of The American Meditation Institute, and originator of the National Conscience Month observance.

He is a noted educator, philosopher, and author of both the award-winning book, The Heart and Science of Yoga®, and the mind/body medicine journal, “Transformation.”

Leonard has served on the faculties of the New England Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine, the Himalayan Yoga Teachers Association, and the College of Saint Rose.

He is a direct disciple of Swami Rama––who, in laboratory conditions at the Menninger Institute, demonstrated that blood pressure, heart rate, and the autonomic nervous system can be voluntarily controlled.

Leonard has presented courses on Yoga Science as Holistic Mind/Body medicine at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Kaiser Permanente, Albany Medical College, the Commonwealth Club of California, the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, and “The New York Times” Yoga Forum with Dean Ornish MD.

His unique curriculum to reduce and eliminate burnout in physicians and health-care providers has been certified by the American Medical Association and the American Nurses associations since 2007.

“The more that you let your conscience be your guide, you will always be led to your highest and greatest good.”  —  Leonard Perlmutter