In this episode of Healing The Divide, we turn the tables for a roundtable discussion led by friend of the show, Pasha Niroo, as he interviews me along with Caio Rocha, Associate Fellow and Charter Member of the British Psychological Society. 

Our conversation traverses the internal terrains of the healing journey, emotional awareness practices, and various approaches informing trauma integration. This was a deep and nuanced conversation touching thoughtfully upon the often invisible parts of our human experience. I highly recommend this episode for anyone who is surfing the shadow domains of their inner life and is looking to gather insights, tools, and practices to serve as companions along the way. 

Another unique aspect of this conversation was that it was held between three men. There is a particular value in men not only doing their inner work but doing it openly and in community. This was definitely present in this episode and I’m so grateful to my collaborators, Pasha and Rishi (Caio) for bringing not just their intellectual wisdom but their respective heart wisdom to the talk as well. 

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In this episode of Healing The Divide, I am joined by Jessica Baum, a licensed mental health counselor and author of the book Anxiously Attached. 

This deeply insightful conversation explores attachment theory through a variety of lenses from attachment formation during our nervous system's development within the womb and evolving into our relationships with our primary caregivers and ultimately into the domain of intimate relationship and into socio-political paradigms. 

I particularly connected to Jessica’s perspective on the conventional notion of triggers and reframing them as awakenings, inviting both curiosity and compassion. Our conversation explores the concept of co-regulation and its importance in healing and personal growth, in specificity how co-regulation supports self-regulation.

The discussion also delves into the impact of culture and politics on secure attachment and collective well-being. It highlights the polarization and division in society and examines the application of healing frameworks in service of such ideas as a trauma informed politics.

This episode traversed a breadth and depth of attachment theory driven into many unique and powerful contexts not typically spoken about. I found it utterly fascinating. And I hope you will as well!!

Christine Sylvain, founder and CEO of Path to College Fellowship, is on an incredibly inspiring mission to address educational inequities and secure the acceptance of high-achieving, low-income students into top-tier universities. 

Christine discusses her personal story as the daughter of an immigrant and highlights the systemic challenges in the education system and the need for optimism, strategy, and support to close the wealth gap and empower social mobility from within communities of concentrated disadvantage. 

Our conversation explores the challenges and complexities of the education system in the United States, focusing on the need for equal access to quality education. She emphasizes the importance of addressing the achievement gaps among different subgroups, particularly those based on race and class.

Christine discusses the importance of building strong relationships with students by providing them with a community-based mentorship system. She also shares her thoughts on the education system from a federal to state to community level, including the need for teacher recruitment and training programs, the importance of measuring school performance based on support for students, and the need for individualized learning.

These are the conversations we need to be having as a society and I hope this episode is a contribution to that purpose. 

In this conversation, I sit down with Jake Mills, an engineer and astronaut trainer with Blue Origin. Jake's background as an engineer has been a fascinating journey involving working on fission powered spacecrafts to investigate water on the moons of Jupiter, to developing enabling technology for propulsion systems for NASA, Air Force, D.O.E., and D.O.D. across defense, commercial, aero, and space industries.

Jake helped developed the BE-4 Engine, the large booster engine powering the New Glenn and Vulcan Lauch vehicles. He set up and lead the turbo machinery group at Blue Origin and currently works directly with astronauts in training applications of Blue Origin's New Shepard Sub-Orbital Vehicle.

This was such an inspiring and deeply thought provoking episode about the future of humankind. We traverse many important topics such as how to responsibly balance the reality of space exploitation with space exploration. We discuss this from the vantage point of ethics, technological hurdles, space democratization, and geo-politics.

We also discuss the role of curiosity and exploration as intrinsic to human nature, as well as the influence of yoga and meditation on the perspectives that shape how we approach these big questions about the future of our species.

I was left feeling incredibly inspired and hopeful not just about what the promise of becoming an interplanetary species means for our human family beyond this planet but how that perspective alters the way we live on and with this planet. And...with each other. 

It was a privilege to speak with someone working on the front lines of these most pivotal issues of our time and it is an honor to give you a front row seat to the behind the scenes of the perspectives that are influencing space travel and healing the divide between where our current home is and what the future holds for us all. 

In this episode, I am joined by Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Mary Holroyd to discuss the topic of conscious uncoupling and how to navigate the end of a relationship with grace and skill.

We explore the myriad dimensions of this deeply charged topic from navigating the initial feelings and patterns that lead to the deterioration of connection, to the decision to exit, the how's of leaving in a way that is wise in both heart and mind, and moving through what arises in the after. 

This was an incredibly powerful episode that I have no doubt will be of deep service to anyone navigating the challenges that are so often inherent in the ending of a relationship. May it serve you well, friends. 

In this episode, we explore the powerful topic of cancer with my guests, Dr. Carol Haddad and Firoze Mehta. This conversation is a wide ranging yet deep diving investigation into the many facets of this disease, one of the leading causes of death in the world. 

We discuss all sides of this issue from the fundamental premise from which it is addressed within doctorate medical programs to the role of big pharma, the food & beverage industry, the role of government, and the associated non-profit organizations. 

From the human side, we explore the cancer journey from diagnosis to treatment to navigating the emotional terrains of this challenging time with grace and an openness to healing not just from cancer but with and through cancer. 

We also examine the most influential healthy lifestyle choices that support prevention with great specificity and breadth encapsulating the roles of the psyche, the environment, the foods we ingest, and the promise of epigenetics in empowering our individual pathways to greater health. 

Drew Thompson, a former professional baseball player, shares his journey of growing up in a family with a MLB Allstar as a father influencing his own dream of playing professional baseball. Early into his career, Drew experienced major physical setbacks that in turn re-directed the course of his life journey.

In this episode, we get to unpack the internal dimensions of that experience and the healing tools Drew embraced not only to find his way back to his true Self but to catalyze his adversity into the creation of Soul Rebel: a truly inspiring brand that nourishes his community with greater health and greater consciousness.

In this episode, I am joined by Meri Consor to discuss ancient Indian healing systems, specifically Jyotish (Vedic astrology) and Ayurveda as well as a look beneath the surface of the ancient language of Sanskrit.

We explore the connection between the celestial macrocosm and the psychological microcosm, and how the positions of planets and constellations at the time of birth can influence a person's life. We also touch on the concept of soul and its migration through multiple incarnations. Meri suggests that experiencing a Jyotish reading can provide a deeper understanding of one's birth chart and potentialities by gleaning a peek into the window of the sky at the time we were born.

Our conversation discusses the energetic properties of doshas in Ayurveda and how they relate to our mental and physical well being. Meri shares the importance of aligning our daily routines with the natural rhythms of the day and the season according to Ayurveda and provides a powerful representation of a day in the life of each dosha.

This episode is an invitation into healing the divide that can sometimes exist in the realms between what has become our normal state and what is more deeply our natural state. By tuning into the properties of nature and of Self, we come to a life of greater balance and joy. May the conversation serve you well, friends. 

In this episode of Healing the Divide, I explore the divide in our relationship with the food we eat with registered dietitian Megan Fahey. We examine the implications of our dietary choices as related to our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health as well as the impact of our food choices on both culture and environment.

This conversation explores the impact of early childhood and cultural influences on our beliefs and patterns around food. Megan shares her personal journey with disordered eating and how she integrates disordered eating and functional nutrition in her work through the use of vagal toning exercises to support neuroplasticity in the moment of our meals. She provides practical tools for reframing our beliefs around food by inquiring into the matrilineal connection and the impact of our mother's relationship with food. 

This was an eye opening conversation through which I personally learned so much and left feeling empowered. I hope you do as well!

In this episode, I am joined by Travis Suit and Ronnie Kroell to discuss the candidacy of RFK Jr. and the broader political landscape in the United States.

We explore the possibility of moving beyond the two-party system and the need for healing the divide in ideological thinking. The guests emphasize the importance of critical thinking, questioning media narratives, and finding the truth for oneself. They highlight RFK Jr.'s courage, resilience, and ability to inspire a movement.

The conversation also touches on the need for emotional intelligence, open dialogue, and unity in politics. The dialogue explores the importance of authenticity and genuine leadership in politics. It highlights the need for leaders who are willing to address real issues and stand up for what they believe in, even if it goes against the mainstream narrative. The discussion also emphasizes the value of embracing our shadows and understanding our own biases in order to have productive conversations and bridge political divides.

The principal themes of the conversation include the need for campaign finance reform, the importance of term limits for politicians, the influence of corporate interests on politics, the power of the individual voter, and the potential for conscious leadership to create positive change.

The speakers emphasize the need to rise above fear, ego, and tribalism, and to focus on the greater good. They envision a future where diversity is celebrated and common humanity is embraced. They believe that by healing the divide within ourselves and coming together to address the challenges we face, we can create a better world.