Today we’d like to introduce you to Zipporah Banyay.
Hi Zipporah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
First off, I’d like to say thank you for the opportunity to share my story.
My story is layered it’s not a straight line, but I’ve come to realize I was always headed in this direction. I just took the scenic, winding route to get here. I often share pieces of this path on my podcast, Holistic & Spiritual AF, where the early episodes dive deep into my personal healing and empowerment story the journey of breaking through generational trauma and reclaiming the fullness of who I truly am.
My healing journey began over twenty years ago. Meditation, yoga, energy healing these weren’t just practices, they were lifelines. Through them, I learned how to care for my mind, body, and spirit in ways that my ancestors dreamed for me. And trust me, they’ve been with me the whole time. I know that might sound “woo woo” to some, but for those who’ve experienced it, we know. The presence of our ancestors and spirit guides is woven into the fabric of our lives.
In those early years, life felt like a loop: healing, living, healing, living wash, rinse, repeat. But through it all, something deeper was happening. Every lesson, every heartbreak, every spiritual awakening was shaping me into the woman I am today. There were moments when I thought it was all in vain, but now I see it was divine preparation.
Eventually, I made it to the other side — not by avoiding the pain, but by applying the tools I had gathered along the way. A pivotal moment came when a friend asked me to speak about my healing journey. I had no idea how powerful my story would sound out loud — or how naturally it flowed. Not long after that, I received clear guidance from my ancestors: Start the podcast.
At first, Holistic & Spiritual AF was just me, sharing my story how I transformed generational pain into empowerment, and the practical, spiritual tools that helped me do it. I was humbled by the response. What shocked me most was how naturally speaking came to me — it was like uncovering a gift that had been hidden all along. And even more importantly, it helped people.
From there, the podcast evolved. I began inviting guests spiritualists, healers, and teachers from all walks of life each sharing their stories and the tools that helped them navigate their own healing. Over time, this work expanded beyond conversation and into creation. I wrote my first book, The Five Stages of Shadow Work, along with its companion journal, and later, The Ancestral Altar Guide: How to Create and Use an Altar. Both were born from my lived experience and have since become anchors for others on their path.
Now, I’ve been called back to teaching — holding classes and creating spaces for collective healing and growth. What started as me simply sharing my truth has grown into a multidimensional platform one that uplifts, educates, and raises the frequency of the divine feminine.
The podcast keeps growing, the community keeps expanding, and as I look ahead, I’m preparing for the next evolution. In 2026, I’ll begin hosting live events, summits, and retreats, spaces where healing becomes communal, embodied, and transformative.
Because ultimately, my journey with all its twists, turns, and awakenings has always been about one thing: helping others remember their divinity within.
My work is deeply rooted in helping Afro-Indigenous women heal the layers of generational and ancestral trauma carried in our bodies, relationships, and sense of identity. For me, this isn’t just a profession; it’s the call of my purpose.
Through my podcast, Holistic & Spiritual AF, my classes, and my books, I hold space for women to reconnect with their spirit, honor their ancestors, and reclaim their voice. The practices I teach mindfulness, shadow work, energy healing, and ancestral reverence and reconnecting with the divine feminine. Anyone on the path of healing can benefit from them.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh yes, this path has definitely had its challenges but honestly, that’s part of the journey. Healing isn’t linear and sometimes it’s downright messy but it’s about learning how to navigate all the unexpected turns life brings while staying rooted in your truth, your ancestors’ guidance, and the voice of Spirit.
I’ve experienced grief, loss, and sudden shifts that completely changed the course of my life. Changes in jobs, relationships, even moving to different states and cities, and each of those transitions came straight from the whisper of Spirit saying, “It’s time.”
At the moment, it didn’t always make sense. But every leap, every ending, every relocation was really a sacred initiation a shedding of the old so a bigger, fuller version of me could emerge. Each transformation has expanded me, deepened me, and brought me closer to the woman I was always becoming.
As you know, we’re big fans of Holistic and Spiritual AF. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Holistic & Spiritual AF is more than a podcast, it’s a movement, a community, and a sacred space for transformation. It started as me simply sharing my healing story, but it’s evolved into a multidimensional platform where I help Afro-Indigenous women heal, reconnect with their ancestral wisdom, and reclaim their power.
What I do is deeply personal and profoundly spiritual. I specialize in helping women move through generational and emotional trauma — the kind that gets stored in the body, the spirit, and the subconscious using tools like meditation, energy work, shadow integration, and ancestral communication. My approach blends holistic wellness with spiritual alchemy, so it’s not just about feeling better; it’s about becoming more aligned, more whole, and more powerful in your truth.
What sets Holistic & Spiritual AF apart is that it’s rooted in lived experience and guided by Spirit. I’m not teaching from theory I’m teaching from transformation. Everything I share has been walked, felt, and tested through my own journey. And because of that, the women I work with don’t just receive information; they receive activation. They start to remember who they are.
I’m known for bringing healing and spiritual living down to earth for making it real, relatable, and accessible. Whether through the podcast, my books (The Five Stages of Shadow Work and The Ancestral Altar Guide), my classes, or upcoming retreats, my mission is to create spaces where healing feels sacred, but also human.
What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is the community that’s grown from this work. The messages I get from women saying, “You helped me find myself again,” or “I didn’t realize how much I was carrying until I listened to your podcast” that’s what fills me up. It means the purpose is working.
If there’s one thing I want readers to know about Holistic & Spiritual AF, it’s that this isn’t just a brand it’s a calling. It’s a space for anyone ready to reconnect with their spirit, rewrite their story, and rise in their divine frequency. Healing doesn’t have to be lonely or complicated. You just need a place where you feel seen, supported, and spiritually understood and that’s exactly what we’re building here.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Absolutely. I’m always feeding my spirit with resources that remind me who I am and keep me grounded in my purpose. I love anything that supports emotional honesty, spiritual discipline, and ancestral connection.
Books like Iyanla Vanzant’s Peace from Broken Pieces and Queen Afua’s Sacred Woman have been foundational for me they teach you how to turn pain into purpose and ritual into restoration. Those two women embody what it means to heal out loud, and their work reminds me that healing is a daily devotion, not a destination.
Podcast-wise, I’m drawn to conversations that bridge spirituality and real life spaces that talk about healing, divine feminine power, entrepreneurship, and energy work in an authentic way. I often listen to Super Soul Sunday, Therapy for Black Girls, or even re-listen to episodes of my own podcast, Holistic & Spiritual AF, as a way to reflect on how far I’ve come and how the message continues to evolve.
And honestly, some of my best inspiration doesn’t come from traditional media at all, it comes from stillness. Meditation, journaling, a good cup of tea, and letting Spirit talk back. Those are my daily apps, if you will.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://holisticandspiritualaf.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/holisticandspiritualaf
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/holisticandspiritualaf
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@holisticandspiritualafpodcast
