Letting Go to Grow: Jesse Israel on Endings, Identity Shifts & Embodied Leadership

In this heart-opening episode, Tonya is joined by Jesse Israel, founder of The Big Quiet and leadership coach, for a deep dive into emotional mastery, somatic healing, and redefining success from the inside out. Jesse shares his journey from music industry burnout to guiding mass meditations with Oprah—and the powerful lessons he’s learned about navigating endings, identity shifts, and trusting what’s unfolding. Together, they explore the new wave of wellness that goes beyond mindfulness, the somatic practices that release stuck emotions, and why vulnerability and authenticity are the new markers of true leadership. This is an invitation to soften, unlearn, and expand into the next version of you.

Topics Covered:

• Jesse’s journey from MGMT’s record label to mass meditations & Oprah tours
• How somatic healing and emotional release deepened his leadership
• The shift from "Wellness 1.0" (mindfulness) to "Wellness 2.0" (deep emotional work)
• The identity grief that comes with ending a successful chapter
• Practices for managing anger, anxiety, and triggers in real-time
• Tech boundaries and phone habits that protect creativity & presence
• Why vulnerability (from the scar, not the wound) builds authentic connection

Guest Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/jesseisrael
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesseisrael/
• Website: jesseisrael.com

Connect with Tonya:

• Follow Tonya on Instagram: @tonyapapanikolove
• Sign up for Tonya’s Newsletter
• Rainbo.com
• @rainbomushrooms

Resources:

• The Big Quiet
• Opal App

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