Down the Rabbit Hole

After returning home from the Tour du Mont Blanc and settling back into life together in Boston, Sam and Bri unpack the strange emotional whiplash of transitioning from an intense, immersive adventure back into ordinary life. What begins as a series of hilarious stories about jet lag, Chili's, getting lost, peeing their pants, and sleeping for 14 hours eventually opens into a much deeper conversation about fear, identity, creativity, aging, capitalism, surveillance, social media, and the desperate need for real human experience.

Bri reflects on the fear that comes with being in a transitional period of her artistic life: without her own studio, with her art practice temporarily taking a backseat to building The Body is the Blueprint. They question the capitalist pressure to constantly prove your identity through productivity and remind themselves that creativity can take many forms and move through different seasons.

From there, the conversation expands into a broader fear around surveillance and the loss of unobserved life. They talk about social media, AI, cameras, the performance of self online, and what it means for younger generations to grow up constantly aware that they could be filmed, documented, and judged.

Then the convo takes a turn, confronting one of the most complicated pressures facing women: aging and the desire to remain desirable. Sam talks candidly about watching her face and body change, questioning cosmetic procedures, and wrestling with the tension between wanting to make choices for herself while also knowing that her visibility can influence how other women — especially younger women — see themselves. Rather than offering an easy answer, they sit inside the contradiction: women deserve agency over their bodies, while also living inside a culture that profits enormously from their insecurity.

Ultimately, the episode becomes an exploration of how to remain human in a world increasingly designed around performance, productivity, algorithms, aesthetics, and perception.

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Follow their retreat community: https://www.thebodyistheblueprint.com

Follow Bri's Art: https://www.instagram.com/artbybri

Follow Sam's Art: https://www.instagram.com/sruetercreates

Follow Sam's Substack: https://samrueter.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips

00:00 Welcome Back and Exciting Changes 02:26 Life After the TMB Adventure 05:02 Cinematic Reflections: The Odyssey Experience 07:36 The Quirks of Everyday Life 10:36 Navigating New Roles and Relationships 13:46 The Struggles of Transitioning Back Home 16:40 Artistic Identity and Creative Flow 22:28 Facing Fears and Embracing Change 32:41 The Fear of Surveillance and Its Impact 36:34 The Loss of Authenticity in Human Experience 44:18 Aging and the Pressure of Beauty Standards 52:58 Finding Joy in Nature and Real Experiences

We actually survived the Tour du Mont Blanc, all 115 miles of it. In this episode, we strip away the more polished, aesthetic ideals of completing a trek of this magnitude, and we talk about the real, the gritty, and the type of silly goosery born out of a physical exhaustion that is hard to articulate. We were out there for 10 days and we're still processing it. The Swiss, French, and Italian Alps delivered the jaw-dropping immersion we came for, and with those highs can come some pretty grueling lows as well. We discuss how we handled some of the hardest moments, as well as describing in detail the old-school mountain refugios we stayed in, the questionable bathrooms and sleeping arrangements, and the relentless and bizarre food cravings. Sam gets radically honest about conquering this brutal physical feat while managing stage 4 endometriosis, and how having her dad step in as the ultimate support system proved that deep vulnerability can heal and transform relationships you thought were set in stone. We explore the tremendous pain and emotional thresholds of women both on and off the trail, plus Bri's tactical, sleep-deprived battle for window ventilation against a very stubborn, very stinky Frenchman in one of the dormitories. Tune in for a vulnerable conversation about grit, grace, and learning a profound respect for your own body and her incredible capacity in a world that makes it easy for us to forget.

00:00 Introduction to the Mont Blanc Trek and Our Purpose 03:45 Challenges of High-Altitude Backpacking 05:39 Community and Camaraderie on the Trail 07:26 The Psychological Impact of Disconnection 09:05 Overcoming Physical and Mental Fatigue 11:11 Survival Moments and Life-or-Death Situations 12:44 Lessons in Packing and Preparation 14:28 Reflections on the Journey and Personal Growth 16:33 The Role of Care and Family in Extreme Conditions 18:15 Humor, Lore, and Memorable Moments 19:57 The Power of Simplicity and Presence 21:49 Returning to Modern Life and Lessons Learned 44:08 The importance of being present and capturing moments 45:04 Witnessing family evolution and emotional growth 46:01 Softening roles and vulnerability in family dynamics 46:48 The power of vulnerability and emotional honesty 48:06 Healing through vulnerability and emotional expression 48:57 Managing anxiety and medical trauma in challenging situations 50:11 The mindset shift around chronic illness and fear 52:14 Visualization and mindset techniques for overcoming pain 53:59 Controlling fear to enhance physical resilience 55:42 Women's endurance and biological advantages 01:00:53 The importance of hope and honesty in chronic illness 01:03:52 Inspiring women through real stories of resilience 01:05:18 Grieving and celebrating the body's resilience 01:06:12 Daily gratitude and facing pain with strength 01:07:15 Overcoming fear to pursue challenging goals 01:08:10 Preparation, safety, and respecting nature 01:19:51 The reality of wilderness medical care and safety precautions 01:25:15 Humor, perseverance, and the spirit of adventure 01:26:55 Closing thoughts and next steps for listeners

In this little re-connection episode, Bri and Sam discuss the ebbs and flows of the creative process: what it looks like to navigate transition, creative cycles, and how to embody the artist identity, even when you are stepped away from the work. Bri shares more about how her solo travel time is impacting her creative process, while Sam shares this year's big integration of a move and how that has prevented more work from being made. At the end of it all, they lean into the deep trust for the creative process, why connecting to your own divinity is essential to creative power, and so much more! A great episode for any artist who finds themselves asking, "Am I still an artist if I'm not making work?"

To find our retreats and communal offerings: @thebodyistheblueprint and thebodyistheblueprint.com

For more of Sam's Figurative Work: Instagram, Substack, Website

For more of Bri's Figurative Work: Instagram, Website

00:00 Exploring the Beauty of Scotland 09:46 The Duality of Travel and Creativity 20:15 Navigating Change and Creative Process 29:30 The Essence of Creativity and Human Connection 32:30 The Rhythm of Creativity 34:08 Nature and Flow States 38:21 Self-Worth and Connection 40:02 Art as a Reflection of Life 43:41 The Power of Storytelling 47:24 Women Supporting Women 50:08 Travel and New Experiences 52:27 Navigating Chronic Endo Health and Adventure

This week, we're joined by friend, creative collaborator, and wildly talented musician Hannah Wicklund, for a conversation recorded from Edinburgh, Scotland.

We celebrate the launch of her latest creative endeavor, the Strawberry Moon Tribune, a new print publication featuring contributions from Sam, Bri, and dozens of other creatives, and discuss the importance of creating spaces where artists can amplify one another's voices.

We also dive into Hannah's remarkable self-made journey, from touring throughout her teens and twenties, to recently performing in Jimi Hendrix's London flat, to redefining her career on her own terms. Together, we explore creative reinvention, what real power looks like, and the importance of building what doesn't yet exist so we can create the lives, careers, and communities we truly want.

A conversation about self-trust, collaboration, and the future possibilities once women begin relying on themselves and each other.

Learn more about Hannah and follow along with her exciting new album release and magazine: www.hannahwicklund.com and on instagram @HannahWicklund

Join our community or come on one of our upcoming global retreats at www.TheBodyistheBlueprint.com and on instagram @thebodyistheblueprint

Sam's work: www.Srueterart.com | www.substack.com/@sruetercreates | @sruetercreates

Bri's work: www.ArtbyBri.com | @artbybri

00:00 Hannah's Musical Journey and Accolades 06:25 Connections and Bonding Experiences 09:14 Finding Balance in Touring and Health 12:50 The Creative Process: Cocoon Phase and Authenticity 17:36 Uncovering Industry Challenges and Female Empowerment 20:52 The Dark Side of Fame 25:50 Breaking Free from the Industry's Chains 27:36 Reclaiming Power and Control 31:42 Trusting Yourself in a Corrupt System 36:16 Redefining Power and Wealth 38:14 Perseverance and Optimism in Adversity 39:15 Creative Collaboration and Community Building 40:20 The Power of Uplifting Others 43:47 The Importance of Connection and Shared Experiences 48:00 Navigating Personal Growth and Female Empowerment 48:51 The Intentionality Behind Art and Music 52:20 Rolling Out New Music with Purpose

In this episode, Sam and Bri go down the rabbit hole of hypervigilence as a woman, and the many facets and identities that can form because of it. They unpack the experience of hosting their Paris retreat, the contrast between American culture and European ways of living, and the tension many women feel between presence and productivity while traveling. Bri shares more about her current solo travel adventures in Europe, and the noticing of hypervigilence, protection, and what it looks like to balance all of that... how women are conditioned to anticipate everyone else's needs, overperform emotionally, and struggle to feel truly safe enough to rest. They share more about how women's retreats are the antedote for this constant scanning that women do, and the amount of exhaustion it can place on our lives. Sam dives into more personal details on her emotional hypervigilence as a recovering co-dependant, and how the passing of her Dog while in Paris brought more of this to the surface.

The second half of the episode shifts into creativity, artistic evolution, and spirituality. Sam shares reflections on artistic growth, navigating critique, and the emotional resilience required to keep creating publicly. Together, they discuss the ways spiritual rituals, grounding practices, and intentional living can reconnect us to ourselves amidst uncertainty. Ultimately, the episode becomes a conversation about reclaiming aliveness....through travel, art, community, rest, and learning how to exist without constantly bracing for impact.

00:00 Lost in Paris: A Podcast Mishap 02:29 Reflections on the Paris Retreat 05:03 Cultural Observations: Americans Abroad 07:28 Traveling with Purpose: The Retreat Experience 09:26 The Launch of New Retreats 10:54 Finding Balance in Travel and Life 13:35 The Scarcity Mindset in Travel 15:42 The Importance of Community and Support 18:03 Self-Discovery Through Solo Travel 21:28 Navigating Social Anxiety and Openness 23:36 The Impact of Hypervigilance on Women 25:51 Creating Safe Spaces for Women 28:58 The Burden of Emotional Labor 31:36 Learning to Rest and Let Go 33:09 Understanding Hypervigilance and Relationships 36:25 The Connection Between Hypervigilance and High Performance 38:41 Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Coddling 41:49 The Importance of Self-Safety 45:06 Navigating Relationships and Expectations 48:21 Navigating Life's Uncertainties 52:19 The Weight of Hypervigilance 55:59 Artistic Growth and Learning 01:02:25 The Impact of Critique on Creativity 01:09:10 Embracing Spiritual Practices 01:13:27 Finding Grounding in Rituals

We're recording live from Ledger Studio in Paris while we prepare to lead a creative retreat, reflecting on the strange and beautiful paths that creativity can pull us down when we actually listen to it, and follow the threads.

In this episode, we share a few ridiculous moments from life on the road, the unexpected places creativity has taken us, and how learning to trust your intuition can completely reshape both your art and your life.

We explore what it means to follow the thread as artists, even when the next step doesn't fully make sense yet, and how that willingness can lead to the most unexpected places.

00:00 Welcome to Paris: Setting the Scene 01:51 The Reality of Travel: Glamour vs. Exhaustion 05:56 Creativity and Intuition: Following the Threads 09:06 Micro Decisions: The Power of Small Choices 11:53 Trusting Your Intuition: The Creative Journey 15:04 Origin Stories: The Importance of Your Journey 17:43 Rediscovering the Artistic Thread 20:44 The Impact of Travel on Artistic Growth 25:42 The Power of Following Intuition 31:02 Embracing the Unconventional Journey 38:27 Healing Through Ritual and Community

We're introducing Body Is the Blueprint, our new embodiment institute born from years of navigating the art world, questioning stability, and redefining what it means to build a sustainable creative life. In this episode, we unpack the myth of the "fragile artist," share the moments where conscious embodiment shifted our lives, and explore how learning to trust the body became the foundation for everything we've created. This is the origin story, not just of a business, but of a new way of living, creating, and leading.

This episode is the beginning of something new. We're sharing the story behind Body Is the Blueprint, how our experiences as artists, the challenges of being taken seriously, and the deeper pull toward embodiment led us here. It's about the moments that shaped us, the risks we took, and the inner knowing we learned to trust. If you've ever felt the tension between creativity and visibility, this is for you.

00:00 Introduction and Exciting Announcement 03:34 The Launch of 'The Body is the Blueprint' 07:26 The Misunderstanding of Multi-Dimensional Creativity 11:09 The Fear of Being Taken Seriously as an Artist 14:23 Outsourcing Life Decisions and Its Consequences 18:27 The Journey of Embodiment and Disconnection 23:06 The Power of Community and Women Gathering 27:02 The Creative Piece in Embodiment 31:14 Confidence Through Movement and Art 34:59 The Political Nature of Disembodiment 38:05 Reconnecting with the Body 43:13 The Power of Community and Shared Experiences 47:17 Moments of Awakening and Transformation 54:04 Embodiment and Personal Truth 59:12 Cultural Disconnection and the Quest for Identity 01:03:07 Exploring Whimsy and Animal Archetypes

This episode explores how fear is embedded into the systems that shape our lives....and who benefits from it.

Sam and Bri talk about how fear influences major life transitions, creativity, relationships, influencer culture, capitalism, and even the stories we inherit from past generations. From compliance culture to codependency, we unpack how insecurity is often reinforced because it keeps us consuming, comparing, and doubting ourselves. They talk very personally about their own visbility wounds, relationship patterns, and fears.

They also explore how platonic relationships, individual healing, astrology, and creativity help us step outside of fear-based thinking and reclaim agency. Because when we become aware of how fear operates, we stop participating in it — and start building lives rooted in trust, self-expression, and empowerment.

Bonus conversations include: What the hell are men spending their money on? How can women be gold diggers if there's no gold? Cathartic scream-singing sessions in cars, very invasive dermotoligst appointments... And more!

This conversation is about recognizing the systems that profit from our insecurity… and choosing something different.

00:00 Moving and Life Transitions

05:51 Art, Community, and Emotional Release

10:49 Fear and Compliance Culture

14:53 Creativity, Self-Expression, and Societal Expectations

24:25 Navigating Capitalism and Insecurity Culture

32:18 The Role of Women in Influencer Culture

39:44 Inheritance Culture and Generational Narratives

50:54 Fear in Relational Culture and Self-Worth

55:57 The Impact of Codependency on Relationships

01:01:05 The Importance of Platonic Relationships

01:06:25 The Role of Individual Healing in Collective Change

01:14:14 Astrology as a Tool for Understanding Life

01:19:40 Harnessing Whimsy and Creativity for Empowerment

In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, we unpack the cultural moment we're living in—and how beauty standards are never just about beauty. From the rise of the clean girl aesthetic to the rebranding of trad wife culture, we explore how discipline, control, and obedience are being repackaged as aspirational lifestyles. What looks like "wellness," "simplicity," or "femininity" on the surface often carries deeper messaging about who women should be….and how they should behave.

We also dive into the return of skinny culture and the eerie parallels between today and the early 2000s—from heroine chic to the resurgence of hyper-thin ideals dominating social media and fashion. Why are these trends coming back now? And what do they reveal about the political and economic climate we're in?

00:00 Navigating Change and Technology Challenges

04:42 The Impact of Beauty Standards and Trends

09:56 Cultural Trends and the Fight for Female Empowerment

15:28 Embracing the Wild Woman Within

20:33 The Journey of Self-Acceptance and Value

25:03 The Impact of Social Media on Self-Perception

33:39 The Cycle of Control and Agency in Women's Lives

45:48 The Resurgence of Early 2000s Beauty Norms

51:00 Political Sedation and Beauty Standards

58:15 Authenticity and the Pressure of Appearance

01:03:54 Trad Wife Culture and Its Implications

01:09:56 The Value of Women's Labor

In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, Sam and Bri spiral (naturally) from creative retreats to Parisian art history to jujitsu mats and, somehow, swords.

At the heart of the conversation is their shared belief that creative retreats are not indulgent escapes — they're a return. A way to refill the creative well. A way to remember who you are outside of productivity, partnership, motherhood, performance. They reflect on the power of gathering women in wild landscapes — the wildlife encounters, the preparedness, the reverence for nature — and how being outside strips away hierarchy.

They talk about what actually happens when women gather intentionally and the collective healing that occurs when roles are set down and masks come off. Eventually they can't help themselves and widen the lens to talk about male-on-male validation — how many men are conditioned to perform strength for one another rather than offer emotional safety. They unpack how patriarchy harms men too, boxing them into rigid expressions of masculinity where validation comes from dominance, status, or suppression of feeling.

This is where the conversation takes a delightfully unexpected turn into stories about swords and jujitsu. Bri recounts her infamous "ringworm modeling gig" (yes, really), you need to hear it.

00:00

Welcome to the Retreat Planning Adventure

01:33

Exploring the Magic of the Tetons

03:55

The Power of Community and Connection

09:21

Wildlife Encounters and Nature's Beauty

13:55

Preparing for Outdoor Adventures

18:17

The Importance of Collective Healing

23:12

Breaking Down Barriers Among Women

26:29

The Power of Communal Care

28:25

Transformative Moments in Retreats

31:54

Recalibrating Relationships After Retreats

34:48

The Importance of Women-Only Spaces

37:53

Men's Need for Introspective Spaces

41:10

Exploring Intimacy and Vulnerability in Men

43:02

Finding Safety in Community

46:23

The Contrast of Experiences

50:07

The Journey of Self-Discovery Through New Activities