Episode 00: Get to Know Charla

October 10, 2025•4 min read

Welcome to Collective Guidance with your host, Charla Goodnight.

This is the very first episode of a vision that’s lived in my heart and mind for years — and it’s finally here. In this opening conversation, I share the story behind Collective Guidance: who I am, what brought me here, and why this podcast exists.

A Lifelong Passion for Health, Movement, and Spirit

When I was 13 years old, two things captured my soul — fitness and spirituality.

I wasn’t an athlete, but I loved the feeling of movement. I remember my mom’s ThighMaster, Cher’s workout VHS tapes, and of course, Richard Simmons — my first true inspiration. He radiated joy, inclusivity, and kindness. He taught me that movement is medicine and that fitness should be fun for everyone.

Around that same time, I also became deeply curious about spirituality. My family wasn’t religious, but something inside me longed to understand the Divine — to know God, to feel connected to something greater.

By 16, I’d made my first vision board — without anyone teaching me how. I instinctively knew that if I could see it and feel it, I could create it. And I did. Everything on that board came to life.

From Wall Street Dreams to Soul-Centered Living

I followed the practical path at first — earning a degree in business, working for American Express, and planning to move to New York. But after 9/11, everything shifted. I realized how fragile life was — and how precious.

So I pivoted. I became a certified personal trainer, began teaching aerobics, and followed my heart into the world of movement and healing.

Life brought love, marriage, and three beautiful boys. Though my marriage ended, my family did not. Co-parenting with grace became one of my greatest spiritual teachers. Through it all, I trusted that the Universe was working for our highest good — that when I jumped, the net would appear.

Building a Community of Sweat & Soul

In 2014, I opened the first indoor cycling studio in Naples, Florida — a dream realized. It became a sacred space where people of all ages gathered to move, sweat, release, and heal together.

That studio taught me what it means to be a collective — a reminder that we are all connected and that we all carry guidance for one another.

When Spirit guided me to close the studio in 2020, I walked away debt-free but directionless. I entered what I call “the waiting place.” It was uncomfortable — but necessary. In that quiet space, I began to listen again.

The Birth of Collective Guidance

During meditation in 2021, the name Collective Guidance arrived like a whisper. I didn’t yet know the how — I just knew the why.

So I trusted. I bought the domain, locked down the socials, and waited for divine timing.

While waiting, I filled my days with growth — becoming certified as a life coach, nutrition coach, astrologer, and tarot reader. I studied sound healing and quantum hypnosis, taught fitness at a country club, and attended meditation retreats. I stayed open.

Then, in February 2025, during a Dr. Joe Dispenza meditation retreat, I heard it clearly:

“It’s time. Start the podcast. Share the message.”

And just like that — Collective Guidance was born.

You Are Not Alone

This podcast is a space to remember who we are — souls having a human experience — and to explore how we can navigate this life with more ease, joy, and presence.

Through conversations, spiritual insights, and shared stories, my intention is to remind you that you are never alone.

“We are all part of the collective — guiding each other back to our inner knowing and to our soul self.”

What to Expect from the Show

✨ Interviews with inspiring guests whose wisdom has shaped my own journey
💫 Soul talks — personal reflections on what I’m learning, feeling, or moving through
🌿 Spiritual practices and insights to help you deepen your connection to Source

Each episode is created with gratitude, authenticity, and the hope that it lights something within you.

Thank you for being here.
There are no coincidences — only divine appointments.

If this message resonates with you, follow Collective Guidance on Instagram, TikTok, or visit collectiveguidance.com.

Together, we’ll explore, evolve, and grow — remembering who we truly are.