Episode 62

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Published on:

30th Jul 2025

The Power of Wholeness: Why Leaders Must Embrace Shadow Work -62

Curious about the magic behind authentic leadership and personal growth? In this episode of the Marli Williams Podcast, Marli welcomes Dr. Michael Simmons—known as Shadow Mike—who unpacks the true meaning of “shadow work” and the hero’s journey. Explore how embracing your hidden gifts, facing what’s unsaid, and stepping into your wholeness can unlock purpose and fulfillment in both leadership and life. Alongside stories from popular culture, like Star Wars and Moana, Shadow Mike explains how the “enchanted forest” of self-discovery leads to real transformation.

Whether you’re a coach, leader, or simply feel called to more, tune in for fresh takes on vulnerability, energetic resilience, and the journey from role to soul. Are you ready to meet what’s waiting for you beyond the threshold?

Dr. Michael Simmons (aka Shadow Mike) is an expert shadow work coach and soul initiator. He specializes in finding the psycho-spiritual root ailing you, then guiding you to your own abundant medicine, power, and agency to embody your unlived soulful life.

Michael offers Shadow Work Journeys to guide individuals through their dense, dark, inner landscape. Schedule a free 60-minute Consultation Session

Link

Email: mike@shadowmike.com

Website: ShadowMike.com

1:1 Shadow Work: Schedule a free 60-minute Consultation Session

YouTube: @ShadowMikeCommunity

Substack: substack.com/@shadowmike

Patheos Column: Transgressive Spirituality 

Marli Williams is an international keynote speaker, master facilitator, and joy instigator who has worked with organizations such as Nike, United Way, Doordash, along with many colleges and schools across the United States. She first fell in love with transformational leadership as a camp counselor when she was 19 years old. After getting two degrees and 15 years of leadership training, Marli decided to give herself permission to be the “Professional Camp Counselor” she knew she was born to be. Now she helps incredible people and organizations stop waiting for permission and start taking bold action to be the leaders and changemakers they’ve always wanted to be through the power of play and cultivating joy everyday. She loves helping people go from stuck to STOKED and actually created her own deck of inspirational messages called StokeQuotes™ which was then followed by The Connect Deck™ to inspire more meaningful conversations. Her ultimate mission in the world is to help others say YES to themselves and their big crazy dreams (while having fun doing it!) To learn more about Marli’s work go to www.marliwilliams.com and follow her on Instagram @marliwilliams

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About the Podcast

Marli Williams
Let's Lead Together
Welcome to The Marli Williams Podcast, where we invite you to join us on a transformative journey of epic leadership, facilitation, and speaking. I'm your host, Marli Williams, and together, we're on a mission to help you become the best leader, coach, or speaker you can be.
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