INNERCALLING

This is the second episode in our series on Reclaiming Power. In this one, Nancy and I dig into the Epstein files, elite networks, and what we can actually do when the systems meant to protect us fail. I hope it's helpful to you!

Content warning: This episode discusses sexual assault, the Epstein case, trafficking, and the psychological dynamics of destructive power. Listener discretion is advised

***

Dr. Nancy Wadsworth is a Professor Emerita of Political Science at the University of Denver whose work sits at the intersection of culture, politics, race, religion, and social movements. She's the author of *Ambivalent Miracles: Evangelicals and the Politics of Racial Healing* and has written for The Washington Post, Vox, and The Denver Post. With a PhD from the New School for Social Research, Nancy brings both deep scholarship and a commitment to combining academic rigor with public discourse — exploring power, identity, and how ordinary people create change. https://nancywadsworth.com/

***

LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innercalling/id1809177408

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4K2khwqNKgs90Hs8vrQenZ?si=ad3d2dbeceab49c4

00:00 — Introduction: powerlessness and what's happening in the world

00:04 — Destructive power vs. grounded power

00:05 — Epstein files: elite networks and unaccountable power

00:10 — Agency: power as capacity to influence outcomes

00:14 — Epstein: how power moves through elite circles

00:20 — Why did Epstein's abuse get so extreme before exposure?

00:25 — Epstein's rise: charisma, charm, lies, failing up

00:30 — Epstein's emails: arrogance, dehumanization, blasé cruelty

00:37 — Collusion of power: NDAs, secrecy, destructive power over bodies

00:41 — Sex as instrument of power: rape culture, patriarchy

00:48 — Wounded power: soul wounds beneath destructive leaders

00:55 — Narcissism and power: which comes first?

00:58 — Leadership: moral compass, true north, grounded power

01:00 — Wise Mind: inner wisdom, Dialectical Behavior Therapy

01:05 — Using your platform: therapists, activists, local agency

01:11 — Cracks in power: resistance, Jenga metaphor

01:14 — Paradigm shift: empire falling as opportunity for renewal

01:21 — Mass movements: protest, pressure on institutions

01:41 — History: slavery, Jim Crow, women's rights

01:46 — Advice for young people

01:54 — Preview of Part 3: grounded power

CONNECT WITH DR. VICTORIA

Podcast Website: www.innercalling.org

Dr .Victoria: www.victoriaranade.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvictoriaranade

Hope+Wellness, boutique mental health care that's kind, compassionate, and evidence-based. A place where you are genuinely seen & understood. Founded by Dr. Victoria: https://www.hope-wellness.com

* * * *

WHAT IS INNERCALLING?

innercalling is a podcast hosted by Dr. Victoria Ranade, PhD, MBA, ABPP that brings together leaders, scientists, clinicians, authors, artists, and everyday people to explore what it means to stay grounded in inner wisdom, creativity, purpose, and our shared humanity during rapidly changing times. Inspired by the tradition of clinical psychology, each episode is a conversation that honors the human spirit and the extraordinary capacity for growth and resilience that lives within each of us.

WHO IS DR. VICTORIA?

Hi there, I'm Dr. Victoria Ranade. I'm a board certified licensed clinical psychologist, writer, and podcaster deeply passionate about mental health, spirituality, integrative wellness, and honoring the light inside you — the one that no darkness can ever overcome. I'm also a neurodivergent woman, proud first generation Taiwanese-American, and lover of Welsh Terriers. Fun fact: I don't know you but I love you. I made this podcast so you would know you're not alone.✌🏼💛

I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU. SEND ME ANY MAIL OR QUESTIONS HERE:

[email protected]

1069 W Broad St

STE 804

Falls Church, VA 22046

#drvictoriaranade #innercallingpodcast

Disclaimer: https://innercalling.org/disclaimer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Victoria Ranade and creative producers Carlisle and Western wrap up the innercalling Book Club with the final chapters of Kristen Kish's memoir, Accidentally on Purpose. In this closing conversation,we reflect on Kristen's remarkable full-circle journey from a teenager who felt she didn't belong, to a celebrated chef, Top Chef host, and woman fully at home in herself and her life. We explore what it means to surrender control without losing agency, how trusting your inner truth opens doors you never planned for, and why authentic community becomes the foundation for everything. We also touch on representation, identity, and queer visibility.

[00:00] — Welcome & intro to the final Book Club episode

[00:45] — First reactions: the ending as a "happily ever after" wrap-up

[02:00] — Full circle: from needing control to trusting flow

[03:45] — The closing passage: "we intend for the unintended"

[05:00] — Wanting something vs. needing it — and the faith that comes from community

[06:00] — Taoism, flow states, and life beyond your original goals

[07:00] — The trip to Korea: letting go of the planned narrative

[08:30] — Meeting Bianca and the friends-to-lovers arc

[09:30] — Arlo Gray, synchronicity, and the plate called "Arlo"

[11:00] — How Kristen became the host of Top Chef (Western's favorite part)

[12:00] — Most relatable moments: middle school, hiding, finding yourself (Carlisle's pick)

[13:00] — COVID, the restaurant industry, and what was left on the page

[14:30] — Who should read this book?

[16:00] — Representation matters: seeing yourself makes the possible feel real

[17:00] — The audiobook moment: Kristen crying on her wedding morning

[18:00] — Hot takes on the ending — appetizer, main course, dessert

[20:00] — What we're carrying with us: focus, saying yes, and finding your place

[22:30] — Closing thoughts + call for next Book Club suggestions

CONNECT WITH DR. VICTORIA

Podcast Website: www.innercalling.org

Dr .Victoria: www.victoriaranade.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvictoriaranade

Hope+Wellness, boutique mental health care that's kind, compassionate, and evidence-based. A place where you are genuinely seen & understood. Founded by Dr. Victoria: https://www.hope-wellness.com

* * * *

WHO IS DR. VICTORIA?

Hi there, I'm Dr. Victoria Ranade. I'm a board certified licensed clinical psychologist, writer, and podcaster deeply passionate about mental health, spirituality, integrative wellness, and honoring the light inside you — the one that no darkness can ever overcome. I'm also a neurodivergent woman, proud first generation Taiwanese-American, and lover of Welsh Terriers. I don't know you but I love you. I made this podcast so you would know you're not alone.✌🏼💛

I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU. SEND ME ANY MAIL OR QUESTIONS HERE:

[email protected]

1069 W Broad St

STE 804

Falls Church, VA 22046

Disclaimer: https://innercalling.org/disclaimer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've been trying to process everything going on in the world these days by studying history, watching documentaries, talking with friends and family, patients and people in the community. Based on all of this, it seems that many of us are wondering: what's going on, and how the did we get here??! That's why I invited my good friend Dr. Nancy Wadsworth to the show. She is a Professor Emerita of Political Science at the University of Denver. She has been studying power for the last 30 years. I asked her to help us understand what is going on in the world from the perspective of power. Why is it that we feel so disempowered, and how can we get our power back? Why does power corrupt? This is our series on Reclaiming Power, and this is the first episode. I hope it's helpful to you!

***

Dr. Nancy Wadsworth is a Professor Emerita of Political Science at the University of Denver whose work sits at the intersection of culture, politics, race, religion, and social movements. She's the author of *Ambivalent Miracles: Evangelicals and the Politics of Racial Healing* and has written for The Washington Post, Vox, and The Denver Post. With a PhD from the New School for Social Research, Nancy brings both deep scholarship and a commitment to combining academic rigor with public discourse — exploring power, identity, and how ordinary people create change. https://nancywadsworth.com/

***

LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innercalling/id1809177408

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4K2khwqNKgs90Hs8vrQenZ?si=ad3d2dbeceab49c4

00:00 — why none of us feel okay right now

01:00 —Nancy left a 24-year career to follow her inner calling

03:00 — the week everything fell apart at once

04:00 — what's really broken about higher education

07:00 — does Nancy regret leaving? her honest answer

09:00 — what a political scientist learned by turning toward the heart

10:00 — why so many of us feel helpless and don't know where to start

14:00 — what actually is power? (it's not what you think)

15:00 — power vs. agency — the difference that changes everything

18:00 — power over, power with, power within — which one are you missing?

24:00 — what justifies power? (and who decides)

28:00 — what actually puts the brakes on power?

31:00 — how democracies are supposed to keep power in check

46:00 — Greenland, Venezuela, and what's really going on

47:00 — why does the hunger for power never stop?

51:00 — is the will to dominate just human nature?

54:00 — why authoritarianism is rising all over the world right now

59:00 — is democracy actually in crisis?

1:01:00 — what can one person actually do about any of this?

1:03:00 — what is a general strike and could it work?

1:04:00 — the most powerful thing you can do right now

1:15:00 — it only takes 3.5% of people to change everything

1:17:00 — what comes next in the power series

CONNECT WITH DR. VICTORIA

Podcast Website: www.innercalling.org

Dr .Victoria: www.victoriaranade.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvictoriaranade

Hope+Wellness, boutique mental health care that's kind, compassionate, and evidence-based. A place where you are genuinely seen & understood. Founded by Dr. Victoria: https://www.hope-wellness.com

* * * *

WHO IS DR. VICTORIA?

Hi there, I'm Dr. Victoria Ranade. I'm a board certified licensed clinical psychologist, writer, and podcaster deeply passionate about mental health, spirituality, integrative wellness, and honoring the light inside you — the one that no darkness can ever overcome. I'm also a neurodivergent woman, proud first generation Taiwanese-American, and lover of Welsh Terriers. I don't know you but I love you. I made this podcast so you would know you're not alone.✌🏼💛

I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU. SEND ME ANY MAIL OR QUESTIONS HERE:

[email protected]

1069 W Broad St

STE 804

Falls Church, VA 22046

Disclaimer: https://innercalling.org/disclaimer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm turning 40 this year and it's gotten me thinking about death and existence. I've always struggled with knowing that I'd die one day. That's why I've decided to lean into learning more about death to understand what it might have to teach us about life.

My guest today is Deborah Pascuzzi, who serves as an End of Life Companion and Complementary Alternative Medicine Certified Practitioner.

We talk about:

Death & dying:

• What it's actually like to be present at the moment of death
• Feeling a loved one's presence after they pass
• Signs and communication from those who have died
• How death has been medicalized and taken out of our hands

End of life wisdom:

• What people regret at the end of their lives
• How the dying teach us to live differently
• The difference between quantity and quality of life
• Reclaiming agency over your own death

Spirituality & presence:

• The soul and what happens after death
• Synchronicities and what they mean
• Energy, essence, and how we sense others
• Being fully present vs. living in your head

Personal journeys:

• How Deborah's mother's death called her into this work
• Leaving corporate life to follow an inner calling
• Her husband's death and turning an ICU into a sacred space

Practical & psychological:

• Why we avoid talking about death as a culture
• How facing mortality can reduce anxiety about living
• What end of life doulas actually do
• The fear underneath our relationship with death

**

Deborah Pascuzzi serves as an End of Life Companion and Complementary Alternative Medicine Certified Practitioner. She is skilled at building partnerships with clients to enable profound self healing and transformation. She helps clients establish balance and wholeness through the use of the energy based therapy of Healing Touch and Qigong. Deborah moved to Green Valley Arizona in 2021 and enjoys sharing her expertise and wisdom as an End of Life Companion.

***

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 – Introduction: turning 40 scream joy , mortality, and why we avoid talking about death

02:05 – Meeting Deborah: what an end-of-life companion really does

04:30 – Deborah’s first experience with death: her mother’s passing

07:20 – Presence after death: sensing essence beyond the body

10:15 – Signs, feathers, and ongoing connection with loved ones

13:40 – Why death makes us uncomfortable as a culture

16:10 – Death as a teacher: emotions, presence, and meaning

19:05 – Storytelling at the end of life: legacy and being heard

22:45 – Harvesting wisdom, confession, and emotional release

26:30 – Curiosity and awe: unconditional love without judgment

29:15 – Companioning the dying: surrender, planning, and letting go

33:40 – Graceful vs. difficult deaths: regret, resistance, and peace

38:10 – “Don’t wait”: what dying people teach us about living

41:55 – Legacy work and ethical wills: preserving soul stories

46:20 – Grief, widowhood, and walking the path together

50:05 – Rituals, celebration of life, and honoring the dead

53:40 – Miracles, synchronicity, and being in flow

56:40 – Listening to your inner calling and becoming a companion

59:30 – Closing reflections: awe, presence, and walking each other home

***

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life by Katie Butler

The Five Invitations by Frank Ostaseski

The Tibetian Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche

PODCAST LINKS:

✨ Podcast Website: https://www.innercalling.org/

✨ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innercalling-with-dr-victoria/id1809177408

✨ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4K2khwqNKgs90Hs8vrQenZ?si=41beac3235054354

✨ Podcast Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_zIrjdevY1Q91PX5woaNtjTDvell1ZJ8&si=lvYtBD2PHmF3bVAX

SOCIAL LINKS:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvictoriaranade

✨ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vchranade

WORK WITH DR. VICTORIA + HOPE+WELLNESS

✨ Therapy & Psychological Testing at Hope+Wellness: Kind, Compassionate, Evidence-Based Mental Health Care

👉 https://www.hope-wellness.com

Disclaimer: https://innercalling.org/disclaimer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I interview Nicole Casteel about the journey toward healing, mother daughter wounds, and becoming your full divine feminine self.

***

Nicole Casteel is a classically trained vocalist, transformational guide, and medicine musician. With a Master's in Opera Performance from Texas Tech University, Nicole spent years in classical voice before a profound awakening set her on a different path. Struggling with anxiety, depression, and disconnection, she began a decade-long journey into the healing arts—studying breathwork, sound healing, shamanic practice, and ceremonial traditions with teachers from around the world. She now helps women reconnect with their bodies, intuition, and inner knowing through sound ceremonies, breathwork, and one-on-one healing sessions. https://www.nicolecasteel.com/

***

Episode Highlights

03:00 – Classical opera training & losing the joy of music

04:00 – Singing to her father through his death transition

08:00 – Saturn return, depression & disconnection from self

12:00 – First ayahuasca ceremony & the call to sound healing

13:00 – Healing as a spiral path, not a straight line

15:00 – What ayahuasca teaches: ancestral healing & the mother wound

21:00 – Receiving songs from ancestors & the gift of sound medicine

25:00 – Song from the land: "Heartbeat of the Mother"

28:00 – Reconnecting with the earth & animism

32:00 – Self-trust, intuition & how we get disconnected

37:00 – The power of listening & healing the mother wound

40:00 – Finding your inner voice & knowing when it's truth

45:00 – Pregnancy, intuition & the divine feminine awakening

47:00 – Embodiment: learning to feel your feelings

50:00 – Breathing into the pelvic floor & Tami Lynn Kent's work

53:00 – Healing from trauma & reclaiming your power

55:00 – Integrating the victim archetype

57:00 – The role of ritual & ceremony in healing

1:02:00 – The power of prayer & calling things forth

1:07:00 – How to start connecting with your spirituality

1:10:00 – Following an inner calling: Nicole's story of moving home

1:14:00 – Closing: walking your medicine path

PODCAST LINKS:

✨ Podcast Website: https://www.innercalling.org/

✨ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innercalling-with-dr-victoria/id1809177408

✨ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4K2khwqNKgs90Hs8vrQenZ?si=41beac3235054354

✨ Podcast Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_zIrjdevY1Q91PX5woaNtjTDvell1ZJ8&si=lvYtBD2PHmF3bVAX

SOCIAL LINKS:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvictoriaranade

✨ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vchranade

WORK WITH DR. VICTORIA + HOPE+WELLNESS

✨ Therapy & Psychological Testing at Hope+Wellness: Kind, Compassionate, Evidence-Based Mental Health Care

👉 https://www.hope-wellness.com

Disclaimer: https://innercalling.org/disclaimer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can generative Artifical Intelligence actulally understand your problems, or is it just mimicking a connection? What are the ethical risks of using AI? Will AI one day replace your therapist? In this episode, Dr. Victoria Ranade and Dr. Colleen Byrne talk openly about AI to help explore this emerging technology and how people can use it thoughtfully and intentionally for mental health needs—without giving away your agency, or connection to your own self trust and inner voice.

About our Guest

Dr. Colleen Byrne is a Clinical Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she serves as the Director of the Psychology Clinic. Since 2005, Dr. Byrne has served continuously on the Executive Committee for the Association of Psychology Training Clinics (APTC) including a term as President.  Dr. Byrne has been active member of the Maryland Psychological Association, serving 3 terms on the Continuing Education Committee and 3 terms on the Ethics Committee with one term as Chair. Currently she holds professional services roles as Chair of the Council of Chairs of Training Councils (CCTC, 2025-2027) and Chair-Elect of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP, 2023-2027). She holds active licenses in Virginia and Maryland as well as an inter-jurisdictional license through PSYPACT.

About the episode:

In this episode, Dr. Victoria Ranade and Dr. Colleen Byrne—two clinical psychologists—talk candidly about AI and mental health, balancing real-world excitement with ethical considerations. Drawing on Dr. Byrne’s expertise in ethics, they explore what it means to use AI responsibly in clinical and everyday life: transparency and consent, the risks of “over-validation” and hallucinated certainty, and the growing question of accountability when technology influences mental health of vulnerable people. They also discuss how AI can shape identity and relationships (especially for adolescents), why human presence still matters in therapy, and what these tools can and can’t replace. They also discuss how to protect inner trust in a world that’s changing fast.

“It starts to feel like this AI kind of sees you – but not in the way another human can.” - Dr. Victoria

“If you're feeling anxious until you check with AI—that's a red flag.” - Dr. Byrne

“Intuition isn't always right—but it's still a form of intelligence.” - Dr. Bryne

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Introduction: AI enthusiasm meets ethical concern

01:42 – Practical uses of AI in clinical and personal workflows

04:00 – Entering the world of ethics: real-life dilemmas and learning

06:47 – Transparency, consent, and APA’s early AI guidance

09:38 – The sycophantic AI: validation, delusion, and self-trust

13:00 – Emotional bonds with AI and the risk of human replacement

17:35 – Adolescents, identity, and the impact of algorithms

21:30 – Comparing AI tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Bastion, Perplexity

25:50 – Human presence in therapy: what AI can’t replicate

30:06 – Sentience, consciousness, and what makes us human

36:48 – Parenting, protection, and ethical development of AI

43:50 – Final reflections: hope, responsibility, and inner trust

PODCAST LINKS:

✨ Podcast Website: https://www.innercalling.org/

✨ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innercalling-with-dr-victoria/id1809177408

✨ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4K2khwqNKgs90Hs8vrQenZ?si=41beac3235054354

✨ Podcast Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_zIrjdevY1Q91PX5woaNtjTDvell1ZJ8&si=lvYtBD2PHmF3bVAX

SOCIAL LINKS:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvictoriaranade

✨ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vchranade

WORK WITH DR. VICTORIA + HOPE+WELLNESS

✨ Therapy & Psychological Testing at Hope+Wellness: Kind, Compassionate, Evidence-Based Mental Health Care

👉 https://www.hope-wellness.com

Disclaimer: https://innercalling.org/disclaimer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Jun Lee is a New York City-based photographer whose work spans editorial fashion, fine art weddings, and portraiture. His photography has been featured in Vogue, LA Times, New York Times, New York Times Bride, and more. He brings a minimalist style and emotional depth to each unique event he captures. His approach as a photographer is to not only create images that feel honest and interesting, but to document a story.

https://www.justinjunlee.com/

https://www.instagram.com/justinjunlee/

https://www.justinleeweddings.com/

About the episode:

In this episode of innercalling, Dr. Victoria Ranade talks with photographer Justin Jun Lee about learning to trust your inner voice as an artist in a fast paced world full of distractions and algorithms. Justin also reflects on growing up Asian American, navigating family and cultural expectations, and how he built confidence in his creative voice over time. He shares how intuition, personal projects, and tuning out digital distraction helped him stay true to himself—and how the importance of knowing who you are matters more than following trends. Tune in to learn when you really know to trust an innercalling to follow your dream and the difference it can make when you take the leap :)

Quotes:

“I think it was always great that there was this voice that was always there being like, ‘Justin, I think you can do this.’” — Justin Jun Lee

“Growing up, honestly, I really didn't see that many Asian Americans on covers of magazines. And I think now as a photographer, I just wanna see more of my people represented. 'cause it's, it was so rare for me growing up to see anyone that looked like me.” — Justin Jun Lee

“That's the thing about intuition is like when you hear it, listen to it and then follow it, then it gets stronger. 'cause you see where it goes and you begin to trust it more. It's like this trust relationship. It's a faith relationship.” - Dr. Victoria

“To be a true artist is to have a voice and to believe in your art, even when no one else does.” - Dr. Victoria

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Introduction and Justin’s artistic journey

01:52 – Discovering art and photography in childhood

03:41 – Got Milk ads, faces, and falling in love with portraiture

05:14 – Academic pressure, shame, and finding safety in art

08:41 – Favorite artists and creative influences

10:16 – Building confidence through personal projects

11:56 – Portraits, trust, and capturing someone’s essence

13:36 – Celebrity shoots and creating connection quickly

15:21 – Fear, money, and choosing photography anyway

17:04 – Listening to teachers, friends, and inner calling

20:05 – Asian American identity and lack of representation

23:57 – Photographing community and creating change

26:11 – Embracing voice and vision through personal work

28:56 – Advice for young artists: notebooks, intuition, and courage

31:08 – Advice for parents of creative children

34:45 – Authenticity, honesty, and resisting the algorithm

45:09 – The story of neighbors John and Suzie

50:42 – Photographing his father during the pandemic

54:00 – Squid Game editorial, pressure, and preparation

57:56 – Closing reflections on intuition, faith, and self-trust

**

PODCAST LINKS:

✨ Podcast Website: https://www.innercalling.org/

✨ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innercalling-with-dr-victoria/id1809177408

✨ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4K2khwqNKgs90Hs8vrQenZ?si=41beac3235054354

✨ Podcast Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_zIrjdevY1Q91PX5woaNtjTDvell1ZJ8&si=lvYtBD2PHmF3bVAX

SOCIAL LINKS:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvictoriaranade

✨ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vchranade

WORK WITH DR. VICTORIA + HOPE+WELLNESS

✨ Therapy & Psychological Testing at Hope+Wellness: Kind, Compassionate, Evidence-Based Mental Health Care

👉 https://www.hope-wellness.com

Disclaimer: https://innercalling.org/disclaimer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cat Bushera is a personal stylist and founder of Style by Cat. As a stylist, she partners with you to curate a wardrobe and personal style that matches your needs and personality perfectly. Cat has over 10 years of experience working in the fashion industry, from retail management to consulting to working behind the scenes at fashion events! Cat serves clients in the Washington DC metropolitan region, including Maryland and Northern Virginia, and also serves clients virtually across the country. Learn more about Cat at her website here: https://stylebycat.com

***

In this episode, Dr. Victoria and personal stylist Cat explore how clothing can be a powerful doorway back to authenticity—an invitation to embody yourself rather than perform. Together, they talk about body image, confidence, and how dressing in alignment with who you are can support greater ease, self-trust, and a deeper sense of presence in your body.

They also speak candidly about the harder parts: accepting your body, navigating body image struggles, and the ways style can intersect with eating disorder recovery, motherhood, and postpartum changes.

Cat also brings in her experience as a leader and entrepreneur, sharing how pursuing a career in fashion required trusting her inner knowing—and how that trust ultimately paid off, even when it didn’t make sense by society’s standards at the time.

**

“I’m actually shocked at how empowering it is to show up as yourself in clothes that you feel like reflect who you are.” — Dr. Victoria Ranade

“What is trending is your personal style. Not what Instagram is telling you to wear, not what everyone else is doing – what works for you.” — Cat Bushera

 **

Timestamps

00:00 – Feeling empowered by clothing and embodiment

02:00 – Introduction to Cat and the question of authentic style

07:30 – Growing up in Paris and discovering fashion

13:00 – Body image, belonging, and early identity

20:00 – Trusting an inner calling when it doesn’t make sense

28:30 – Leadership, retail, and redefining success

36:30 – Getting fired and facing shame

44:30 – Starting a business during COVID and motherhood

52:00 – How Cat identifies personal style

01:01:00 – Body image, postpartum changes, and confidence

01:10:00 – Eating disorder recovery and healing process

01:20:00 – Raising daughters and body-positive messaging

01:29:00 – Unlearning expectations placed on women

01:37:00 – Inner calling, intuition, and “cleaning up your own backyard”

01:44:00 – Closing reflections

**

PODCAST LINKS:

✨ Podcast Website: https://www.innercalling.org/

✨ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innercalling-with-dr-victoria/id1809177408

✨ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4K2khwqNKgs90Hs8vrQenZ?si=41beac3235054354

✨ Podcast Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_zIrjdevY1Q91PX5woaNtjTDvell1ZJ8&si=lvYtBD2PHmF3bVAX

SOCIAL LINKS: 

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvictoriaranade

✨ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vchranade

WORK WITH DR. VICTORIA + HOPE+WELLNESS

✨ Therapy & Psychological Testing at Hope+Wellness: Kind, Compassionate, Evidence-Based Mental Health Care

👉 https://www.hope-wellness.com

Disclaimer: https://innercalling.org/disclaimer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I interview Wayde, who shares his remarkable journey of growing up gay in the Deep South during the 1960s and 70s—a time when homosexuality was rarely discussed, deeply stigmatized, and often hidden. We explore what it was like to suppress his identity, come to terms with being gay, find community during the AIDS epidemic, and ultimately discover self-acceptance through spirituality, intuition, and meditation.

This conversation explores what it means to trust yourself when the world tells you who you should be. We discuss coming out, religion, self-love, intuition, Reiki, spirituality, healing, meditation, the HIV/AIDS crisis, and the lifelong journey of becoming comfortable with who you truly are.

***

“I just knew. Listening to my intuition saved my life.” — Wayde

“You don’t need the world to affirm who you are if you already know it inside yourself.” — Wayde

PODCAST LINKS

Website: www.innercalling.org

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innercalling/id1809177408

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4K2khwqNKgs90Hs8vrQenZ?si=ad3d2dbeceab49c4

WHAT IS INNERCALLING? 

INNERCALLING is a podcast where clinical psychologist Dr. Victoria Ranade explores psychology, mental health, neuroscience, spirituality, wisdom, and what it means to live a meaningful life. Through long-form conversations with leading scientists, psychologists, physicians, authors, philosophers, and spiritual teachers we explore the biggest existential questions in life—from depression, anxiety, trauma, relationships, and resilience to purpose, consciousness, faith, intuition, leadership, and human flourishing. These conversations bridge science and spirituality while exploring what helps us become more fully human. Learn more at www.innercalling.org.

Thank you so much for joining us today. I'm grateful you're here and for your support. If you'd like to connect with Dr. Victoria, you can find her here:

Dr. Victoria Ranade: www.victoriaranade.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/drvictoriaranade

Hope+Wellness: https://www.hope-wellness.com

Inquiries: [email protected]

Disclaimer: https://innercalling.org/disclaimer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“AI does not understand you, care about you, or know what it means to be human.” – Dr. Julie Carpenter

“What worries me is how easily we stop trusting ourselves.” – Dr. Victoria Ranade

Is Artificial Intelligence really helping us or is it actually reshaping our minds, relationships, and humanity? Can a technology that feels supportive, validating, and “human” actually be undermining our self-trust, autonomy, and mental health? In this episode, Dr. Victoria Ranade and Dr. Julie Carpenter explore the psychological, emotional, and ethical impact of generative AI. Together, they unpack why AI feels so compelling, how it is intentionally designed to engage and retain us, and what happens to humans when we outsource our thinking, emotional processing, and decision-making to AI. This conversation looks under the hype and examines the development of AI through the lenses of mental health, attachment, surveillance, education, power, and what it means to remain human in an increasingly automated world. Dr. Carpenter explains why AI should not be used as therapy, why children are especially vulnerable to overreliance on these systems, and how confirmation bias, emotional manipulation, and surveillance are built into the technology itself.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Julie Carpenter is a social scientist and user experience researcher who studies how humans form trust, intimacy, and emotional relationships with AI systems. She is the author of The Naked Android: Synthetic Socialness and the Human Gaze and an external research fellow with the Ethics and Emerging Sciences Group. For over two decades, her work has examined how emerging technologies quietly reorganize culture, relationships, and everyday life. https://www.jgcarpenter.com/

In this episode, we will explore:

• Why AI feels emotionally supportive and why that’s risky
• How AI exploits human attachment, trust, and vulnerability
• Why AI should not be used for therapy, mental health, or parenting advice
• The illusion of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
• How bias and misinformation are baked into AI systems
• The environmental and surveillance costs of generative AI
• What parents, educators, and clinicians should be thinking about right now in regards to AI
• How overreliance on AI erodes self-trust and critical thinking
• What AI can never replicate about being human

Timestamps

0:00:00 Introduction: Why AI Feels So Compelling

0:02:45 Meet Dr. Julie Carpenter

0:05:12 What Is Generative AI—Really?

0:08:40 Why AI Sounds So Human

0:12:30 Emotional Attachment & AI Companionship

0:17:45 AI as a “Funhouse Mirror”

0:22:10 Why AI Is Not Neutral

0:27:40 Surveillance, Data, and Power

0:33:15 AI, Children, and Learning Concerns

0:40:20 Why AI Should Never Be Used as Therapy

0:47:55 Confirmation Bias and Emotional Manipulation

0:55:30 The Myth of Artificial General Intelligence

1:03:10 Environmental Costs of AI

1:10:45 Reclaiming Human Judgment and Autonomy

1:18:20 What AI Can Never Replace

1:24:30 Cleaning Up Our Own “Backyard”

1:30:10 Final Reflections on Humanity and Hope

Show notes

DAIR Institute

Dr. Julie Carpenter's blog, where she explains the ideas behind AGI and who is chasing this philosophy, "Why AGI Won’t Save the World And Who Wants You To Think It Will"

✨ Learn more + stay connected: https://innercalling.org/

✨ Looking for kind, compassionate, evidence-based mental health care? Check out Hope+Wellness, founded by Dr. Victoria based in the belief that hope can be found even in the most difficult seasons of life. https://www.hope-wellness.com

✨ Instagram: @‌drvictoriaranade

Disclaimer: https://innercalling.org/disclaimer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.