Above Ground Podcast

The art of active listening is open, direct attention to what a speaker is saying. Guiding the conversation, opening it up for connection. Stop, pause, listen. Then breathe and respond. The needs will be revealed, in the words and mannerisms of speaker.

Active listening is a skill that can help facilitate trust. In self and in others. You can learn about others by picking up cues, thoughts or  paying attention.

 Check out our friends, Close Knit Co. Here you can you order yourself a piece of the show. Wear AGP on your next tee or hoodie. 

Enjoy this week's episode and if you like what you hear, leave a review. Rate us.  We will mention you on a future episode. You can donate to the show directly through our PayPalMe. 

“Feel it, to heal it. You can’t just talk about it!” Says             Russell Kennedy, MD. The Anxiety MD, has lots of credentials, street cred, incite and a sense of humor. He shares it in his new book,  The Anxiety Rx. He shares with AGP this week. 

We talk about the ‘alarm’ that childhood trauma produces in the body. We talk about LSD, psychedelic medicines and the usefulness of micro-dosing. He shares the ah-ha moment he experienced hearing renowned developmental psychologist, Gordon Neufeld. Russ shares an exercise to help us get in touch with our wounded child. The source of our pain,                        self-abandonment.

Find Dr. Russ here online. Download his free.                       Hypno-Meditation for Optimizing Immune Function 

This week's episode is supported by donations at                 Above Ground Podcast's PayPal

Special thanks goes to our friends at Close Knit Co. 

Be well, be safe, be ABOVE

Resilience is the tool to overcome life’s undertow. Building the muscle to tread and stay above takes repetition and patience. If you’re reading this, then you’ve survived 100% of your worst days. I want to share a secret with you. 

... Come closer.    YOU ARE RESILIENT!

Resilience as defined by the Bounce Back Project is our ability to bounce back from the stresses of life and not avoiding, but learning how to thrive within them. Here at AGP we’re all about the thriving.  Purpose comes from within and that is developed from resilience. 

This week’s episode was inspired by the songs from the album., A Sense of Purpose from Swedish metal band, In Flames. This album is loved by Will & TPP. It has been a source of inspiration to keep swimming in the ocean of life since its release in 2008.  Resilience and a sense of purpose keeps us from drowning and staying Above.  

Strength and struggle form the plasma, while pain and perseverance hold the platelets. For Toronto, Ontario based, Valéry Brosseau it won’t wash out in the water, it will always be  In the Blood. 

Mental Health advocate, speaker and trainer; Valéry Brosseau is a bad ass on so many levels. She understands the importance of speaking up to kick stigma’s ass. Her speaking has taken her from crisis hotline trainer to TEDxMcGill stage. Valéry’s workshops and support groups create an atmosphere conducive for relation, involvement and education. 

Ms. Brosseau’s writings have been published on online platforms such as Holistic Beauty, Submit the Stigma, Girls Who Fight, NAMI.org and International Bipolar Foundation. 

Did I mention she is also a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? I guess if there is someone you’d want out there fighting for you, Valéry Brosseau would be a great choice. Girls kick ass and Valéry submits stigma every time. 

Follow Valéry on social @

https://www.instagram.com/valerybrosseau/

https://linktr.ee/Valerybrosseau

https://www.facebook.com/valerybrosseau

 Old records are often warped and will not play properly on the turntable of the limbic jukebox. Do we set ourselves up for failure by letting old feedback loops repeat? We often get jammed in the grooves of our Self Destruction Blues. The hellhounds howl at the back door, but we have a choice to let them in. 

This week Will & Tim talk about getting locked in old patterns, which often doom us to be stuck on repeat. We see through shit colored glasses and cannot find the wipes. 

We wouldn't be here if we didn't take on the fight. So throw on 'Gonna Fly Now' and rise like Rocky. Fernando wouldn't have it any other way. 

Sean Wellington has learned that the best thing we can do for others is to...SHUT UP and LISTEN! As a crisis counselor, podcaster, storyteller and trainer, Sean has heard many stories of survival, strength and loss. 

Sean produces two podcasts, Suicide Noted and Grit,True Stories That Matter. His journey has taught him not to take life for granted. His genuine curiosity and empathic heart make him a great set of ears. He is well travelled and the greatest lesson learned is that pain is universal and no one is exempt. 

Find Sean on social @suicidenoted. 

Validation is getting in touch with someones emotions. Acknowledgement is hearing the words without putting any emotional value in the macaroni. What's in the sauce? We discover that making sauce takes a lot of ingredients, time and care. 

Will & Tim talk this week about validation, acknowledgement, judgement, ideas of what we need to move forward on the crusty bread of life. 

Happy New Year! Time to re-evaluate where we are, where we're going and whether or not we have cookies. Stay tuned. 

A pad of butter will not cover an entire loaf of bread. Spreading yourself too thin leads to a ride on the overwhelming color wheel. Getting off the merry-go round can be a battle. Epic. It is. We may have faith no more. If we ever had it. 

You want it all, but you can't have it. You can't grab it, either. We discuss boundaries, self worth and the feelings of overwhelm that come with not being enough. These waters run deep. They can drown us in self doubt. How do we say no, not knowing when we will hear yes, again. If ever.  

A Happy New Year to all! 

Be well, be safe, be Above.

People don't see the fight when someone dies by suicide, they only see the ending. Depression is the voice that says you're not good enough. Anxiety is the voice that says everyone else can see it too. Suicide is sometimes the question mark on that conversation.

Dan Egan is the Board Chair for AFSP Capital Region NY. He lost his dad to suicide when he was 19 years old. Surreal milestones mark the road of healing. His commitment to sharing his story with others lead him to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. AFSP helped him to make sense of his loss and he helps others heal from theirs.

Men especially have a hard time talking about emotional pain. So many lack the language to convey what they are feeling. Men like Dan, Tim and Will want to normalize the conversation surrounding suicide and mental health.

If you are a suicide loss survivor and would like the opportunity to speak with a volunteer, Healing Conversations, is here for you. Just take the first step and contact AFSP to schedule a conversation.

From the Above Ground Podcast family to yours, a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy the holidays! Be well, be safe, be Above.

Into the eyes of a stranger, the mirror never lies. Masks only hold our true authenticity hostage and we cannot always afford the ransom. In the game of hide and seek, we are only hiding from our true nature. 

Can people place masks on you? Are you wearing a mask to hide shame, doubt, fear? When the grease paint sweats off, what scars are you willing to show? Join us this week to talk about see ourselves for who we really are. 

Inner Balance Massage Therapy of Ballston Spa, NY wants to give you $15 bucks off a message. Mention Above Ground Podcast. Nancy provides various modalities to her clients and is also a retailer of Young Living oils and Wellville Spa CBD. Just name drop and she will hook you up.