The Light Watkins Show
Have you been dreaming of helping people in a meaningful way, but can’t get past your deepest insecurities or self doubt? The truth is: every change maker has to confront those same fears. The Light Watkins Show is a weekly interview podcast that unpacks the experiences of regular folks who have navigated dark and uncertain times in order to help improve the lives others. Light candidly shares these stories in the hopes of igniting your inspiration so you can start living your purpose!
Light Watkins is a best-selling author and keynote speaker. In 2014, Light started a non-profit variety show called The Shine Movement in Los Angeles, which grew into a global inspirational variety show! In 2020 he started an online personal development community called The Happiness Insiders. His most recent book, Travel Light, documents his one-bagger nomadic journey that he started in 2018.
The Light Watkins Show
293: How to Escape Survival Mode and Rewire Your Mind and Body with Nate Ortiz
In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, Light Watkins sits down with holistic health coach, author, and one-percenter Nate Ortiz. Nate’s life began in crisis—born with heroin in his system and abandoned in the ICU. What followed was years of instability: foster homes, abuse, addiction in the family, and the trauma of watching loved ones go to prison. But instead of letting that define him, Nate transformed pain into purpose.
In this episode, Nate shares how he found his way out of survival mode by pursuing an unlikely dream—earning a full scholarship to the #1 basketball high school in the country—and how he turned that momentum into a life of service, coaching elite clients like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Cordae. He breaks down what’s really happening in your body when you’re stuck in fight-or-flight and why survival mode makes it almost impossible to think clearly or pursue your goals.
Through grounded, relatable language, Nate reveals his original frameworks—the Stopwatch Method, Dream Team Jersey, and the One Percenter mindset—that helped him heal trauma, build discipline, and show up consistently for his purpose. Whether you’re burned out, stuck, or just trying to level up, this episode is packed with raw truth and practical tools to help you reclaim your power and rewrite your story.