THIS IS ALSO A PODCAST EPISODE!
What does it mean to truly remember who we are, and what becomes possible when we come together in community?
These are some of the questions at the heart of Remembrance Festival, a new gathering happening January 9–10, 2027, in Madison, Wisconsin.
This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Aubree Saia and Amy Pearce-Hayden, the creators of Remembrance Festival.
Aubree is an embodiment guide, breathwork facilitator, and spiritual yoga teacher whose work weaves together movement, breath, ritual, and ceremony into experiences that invite people into deeper connection with themselves, their bodies, and what makes them feel fully alive.
Amy is a teacher, author, and community builder devoted to helping people integrate timeless wisdom into everyday life. She creates experiences that transform insight into action, fostering greater presence, resilience, and authentic connection.
Together, they’re bringing their individual gifts and experiences into creating Remembrance Festival, a gathering centered around music, movement, healing, and community.
Creating Something That Didn’t Exist Before
Both Aubree and Amy have spent years building businesses rooted in wellness, yoga, education, and community.
Amy spent more than two decades operating yoga studios in New York and Wisconsin, and now focuses much of her work on retreats and experiences that bring people together for learning, introspection, and connection.
Aubree’s entrepreneurial journey began when she became a young single mother and started teaching yoga as a way to create more flexibility in her life. Over the years, her work expanded into breathwork, shamanic energy medicine, retreats, trainings, and her organic raw chocolate company, Inspired Alchemy.
Although they’ve each created meaningful work independently, both felt the pull toward collaboration.
They eventually joined forces to create Living Ritual, a partnership devoted in part to bringing people together consciously through events and shared experiences.
The idea for Remembrance Festival came when Aubree visited the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra building in Madison and immediately envisioned it as a space for something bigger.
What started as an idea for a gathering quickly became a shared vision for an annual festival.
I think this is such a beautiful example of entrepreneurship: recognizing something you want to experience in the world, and deciding to create it.
Remembering Who We Are Through Experience
One of the things that makes Remembrance Festival different is the emphasis on experience rather than simply gathering information.
Amy and Aubree described three foundational areas of the festival: education, health advocacy, and embodiment.
There will be opportunities to learn from speakers and thought leaders, experience different cultural traditions, and participate in practices involving movement, breath, music, and ritual.
But they’re also thinking about what happens after we learn or experience something. How do we integrate it? How does it become part of our lives?
Aubree described remembrance as remembering who we are beneath the noise, stories, and conditioning of everyday life, and remembering our deeper connection to one another.
And Amy spoke about the opportunity for strangers to come together, share an experience, and recognize that we’re not so different after all.
I think that’s something we’re all craving in different ways, especially in a world where we’re so digitally connected but often missing that deeper human connection.
A Festival Designed for Connection, Exploration & Integration
Rather than creating a traditional festival where everyone follows the same schedule, Aubree and Amy are designing different spaces that people can move through based on what they’re drawn to.
The weekend will include music and performances, yoga and movement, sound experiences, guided meditations, art immersions, healing offerings, and an artisan village featuring consciously curated vendors.
There will also be quieter spaces for rest and integration, including a technology-free, silent retreat space called Deep Space.
I love that they’re creating room for different kinds of experiences. Some people may feel called to participate in a large group gathering, while others may be drawn to a quiet meditation, an art experience, or simply a meaningful conversation with someone new.
And you don’t have to already be involved in yoga or spirituality to attend.
Aubree and Amy are intentionally creating something inclusive, where curiosity and a willingness to participate are enough.
Community and Collaboration as the New Paradigm
Another theme that kept coming up in our conversation was the power of collaboration.
After years of working independently, Aubree shared how meaningful it has been to partner with Amy and create something together.
And I can relate to that so much.
Community and collaboration have become some of the strongest themes in my own work over the past few years. Not only do we feel more supported when we work together, but we can also create experiences and reach people in ways we might not be able to on our own.
Aubree and Amy are bringing together artists, educators, healers, local businesses, and people from different communities and traditions, each contributing something unique.
It’s such a great example of what becomes possible when we bring our individual gifts into something larger.
And what I especially appreciate is that they’re not asking everyone to fit into the same mold. The different experiences, perspectives, and practices are what make the gathering what it is.
Join Us at Remembrance Festival
Remembrance Festival takes place January 9–10, 2027, at the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra building in Madison, Wisconsin.
Saturday evening will feature an opening ceremony, ritual, and celebration, followed by a full day of experiences on Sunday.
There are Saturday-only, Sunday-only, and full-weekend tickets available, as well as a limited number of Inner Circle passes for those wanting a deeper experience.
Early Bird pricing is available through November 1, and you can save an additional $11 with my code JESS11.
You can learn more and get your tickets at RemembranceFestival.org.
I’m so excited to be a community ambassador for this event and to experience what Aubree and Amy are creating. If you’re in Madison or within traveling distance, I would love to see you there.
And if you come, please find me and say hello!
I think this is going to be such a special opportunity to connect, explore, and support the many people bringing their gifts into this experience.
Mentioned in today’s episode
Join me at the Sacred Threshold Retreat in Guatemala — February 27–March 6, 2027