Welcome back to Relationships with Ericka Ush! In this episode, we explore past lives, karma, déjà vu, and emotional healing through storytelling, as Ericka Ush sits down with author R. E. Siliente (Kumudini Nicholas)

Originally from Sri Lanka and now based in Ottawa, Kumudini brings a unique blend of science, spirituality, and lived experience into her writing. Her books, Who Stole Mother’s Soul? and Living Outside the Box – Time and Time Again, dive into themes of identity, memory, reincarnation, and the unseen forces that shape our lives and relationships.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Ericka and Kumudini explore the deeper questions many of us quietly carry: Are past lives real? What does déjà vu actually mean? How does karma influence our present reality? And more importantly — how do these ideas connect to healing, self-awareness, and the way we live and love today?

In this episode, Kumudini shares powerful insights on:

• The inspiration behind her novels and how storytelling can be a tool for emotional healing
• Dreams, déjà vu, reincarnation, and what they may reveal about consciousness
• Understanding neurodivergence and how it shapes perception and identity
• The connection between empathy, boundaries, and self-awareness
• Karma explained—what it is, what it isn’t, and how it influences life patterns
• Breaking karmic cycles and choosing growth over repetition
• Writing as a pathway to vulnerability, reflection, and healing
• Why readers interpret stories differently based on their own life experiences
• The connection between places, memory, and past-life impressions
• Mental health, hope, and navigating uncertainty in a complex world
• What it truly means to “live outside the box” and challenge societal expectations
• Her unique writing process and how she brings deeply layered stories to life

This episode is for you if you:

• Are curious about past lives, karma, reincarnation, or déjà vu
• Have ever questioned the deeper meaning of your experiences
• Are on a journey of emotional healing and self-discovery
• Want to understand how past patterns may be shaping your present life
• Enjoy deep, thought-provoking conversations about consciousness and identity
• Feel called to live more authentically beyond societal norms
• Are interested in storytelling as a tool for reflection and growth

This conversation is reflective, expansive, and deeply eye-opening. It invites you to slow down, question what you’ve always believed, and explore the possibility that your life holds layers far beyond what you can see.

If this episode resonates with you, subscribe to Relationships with Ericka Ush for more honest, thought-provoking conversations on love, identity, and personal growth.

Episode Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:43 Why She Wrote the Novel 02:08 Dreams, Déjà Vu & Reincarnation 05:31 Defining Neurodivergence 07:49 Characters, Boundaries & Empathy 10:29 Rumi Quote and Past Lives 11:18 Buddhist Karma Explained 15:44 Breaking the Karmic Cycle 17:33 Memoir, Vulnerability & Feedback 19:46 Reader Interpretations & Stonehenge 22:09 Real Places, Real Inspiration 22:39 How Everyday Moments Spark Stories 23:42 Past Lives & Connection to Place 24:40 Hope & Mental Health 26:45 Living Outside the Box 31:51 Hope vs Reality 33:51 Next Book & New Ideas 35:18 Writing Process & Reverse Engineering 37:03 Reading a Love Encounter 40:36 Closing & Takeaways

Connect with Ericka Ush: Share your feedback, suggest new topics, or join the conversation on Instagram: relationships.with.ericka

Connect with R. E. Siliente (Kumudini Nicholas): Website: www.whostolemotherssoul.com LinkedIn: Kumudini Nicholas

Welcome back to Relationships with Ericka Ush!

In this episode, host Ericka Ush sits down with Aya Shalak, a mental health–focused coach and counsellor based in Canada who is currently pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Counselling and Psychotherapy. Aya’s work lives at the intersection of emotional awareness, attachment, identity, and relationship growth.

Certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and experienced in frontline mental health and youth support, Aya is also advancing her training in cognitive behavioural and trauma-informed coaching. Her approach blends directness, humor, and compassionate accountability—challenging individuals to become active participants in their own healing.

In this honest and insightful conversation, Ericka and Aya unpack how early attachment, trauma, culture, and life transitions shape the way we love, date, and build commitment in today’s world.

In this episode, Aya shares powerful insights on:

• The fundamentals of attachment styles and how they show up in dating
• The difference between chemistry and compatibility—and why confusing the two leads to heartbreak
• Confidence, boundaries, and self-worth as dating essentials
• Dating as a learning process to clarify dealbreakers and values
• Why commitment goes far beyond the “in love” feeling
• How dating apps can activate attachment wounds and emotional triggers
• Who should pay on the first date—and what the conversation really represents
• Creating safe emotional spaces for men in relationships
• Why money conversations must happen before marriage
• Nonviolent communication loops and how to break unhealthy patterns
• Love bombing in online dating and how to spot it early
• The importance of inner child healing and doing the deeper emotional work

This episode is for you if you:

• Feel confused about your attachment style in relationships
• Keep attracting emotionally unavailable partners
• Struggle with boundaries or over-giving in dating
• Feel triggered or anxious while using dating apps
• Want healthier communication tools
• Are preparing for marriage and need clarity around money conversations
• Desire emotionally safe, growth-oriented relationships
• Are ready to stop repeating patterns and start healing intentionally

This conversation is both grounding and confronting—in the best way. It challenges romantic myths while offering practical frameworks for building mature, emotionally safe love.

If this episode resonates with you, subscribe to Relationships with Ericka Ush for more honest, thought-provoking conversations on love, communication, and emotional growth.

Episode Chapters

00:49 Meet the Guest Aya 02:03 Aya’s Origin Story 03:17 Attachment Basics in Dating 04:59 Chemistry vs Compatibility 07:05 Confidence, Boundaries & Self-Worth 09:11 Dating to Learn Your Dealbreakers 10:51 Commitment Beyond Being “In Love” 12:09 Dating Apps & Attachment Triggers 19:32 Who Pays on the First Date? 27:22 Creating Safe Space for Men 28:11 Money Conversations Before Marriage 28:48 Nonviolent Communication Loops 32:24 Love Bombing in Online Dating 48:29 Healing Work & the Inner Child

Connect with Ericka Ush:

Share your feedback, suggest new topics, or join the conversation on Instagram: relationships.with.ericka

Connect with Aya Shalak on Instagram: itssayaaa

Welcome back to Relationships with Ericka Ush! In this episode, host Ericka Ushliyanage sits down with Tressa Yonekawa, a keynote speaker, consultant, and coach who helps organizations, leaders, and couples strengthen relationships, improve communication, and build healthy, thriving cultures.

With decades of experience and a unique background as a female half-Asian, former dominatrix entrepreneur, multimillion-dollar healthcare agency founder, and adoptive mom of three amazing daughters from the US foster care system, Tressa brings unique, eye-opening perspectives on what's truly possible in connection and inclusion for all of us.

In this episode, Ericka and Tressa discuss the powerful personal practices of highly successful leaders, partners, and parents, exploring how self-awareness, presence, and emotional safety create the foundation for extraordinary relationships—both romantic and professional.

Tressa shares insights on:

• The role of childhood patterns in shaping our adult relationships and how recognizing these patterns is the first step toward breaking free from cycles that keep us stuck
• Self-awareness and self-worth as the cornerstone of all healthy relationships, and practical exercises to cultivate both
• The Presence Pyramid framework: Why trust isn't the foundation of relationships (it's actually the pinnacle!) and the five essential layers that build lasting connection
• Redefining vulnerability as full presence with your truth, and why simply "being vulnerable" isn't enough without the right tools
• Nonviolent communication techniques, including the powerful "I have a story" framework that eliminates blame, shame, and explosive fights
• Online dating in the modern age: The benefits and pitfalls of dating apps, the importance of boundaries, and how to navigate the desire to "be chosen" while requiring someone who meets you at your highest level
• Bringing back in-person connection in the age of instant gratification, including the most powerful (and awkward) practice for building authentic relating
• How to stop repeating the same relationship patterns by getting present, creating emotional safety, and using curiosity to illuminate unmet needs

This episode is for you if you:

• Keep repeating unhealthy relationship patterns and want to understand the root cause
• Struggle with self-worth, people-pleasing, or being performative instead of authentic in relationships
• Want practical tools for healthy communication, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation
• Feel overwhelmed by online dating and the culture of instant gratification
• Desire deeper, more meaningful in-person connections beyond screens
• Are a leader, entrepreneur, or public figure navigating relationship challenges in silence
• Want to understand how childhood experiences shape adult relationship dynamics
• Are ready to build emotionally safe, present, and trust-centered relationships

Tune in for a deeply moving and practical conversation that will shift how you show up in every relationship in your life — romantic, professional, and most importantly, with yourself.

If you enjoyed this conversation, kindly subscribe to Relationships with Ericka Ush for more episodes filled with real, thought-provoking, and empowering insights to help you heal, grow, and thrive in love and life.

Episode Chapters:

01:10 Introduction to the Guest: Tressa Yonekawa

03:54 The Power of Self-Awareness and Meditation

15:22 Building Trust and Emotional Safety

19:36 Crafting Online Dating Profiles and Algorithms

20:08 Challenges and Opportunities in Online Dating

22:47 Building Authentic In-Person Connections

25:47 Tools for Nonviolent Communication

Connect with Ericka Ush:

Share your feedback, suggest new topics, or join the conversation on Instagram: relationships.with.ericka

Connect with Tressa Ana Kawa:

Learn more about The Soul of Connection events, upcoming YouTube series, and podcast with Duke Entertainment

Instagram: Tressa Yonekawa