In this episode of the LaidOPEN Podcast, host Charna Cassell sits down with Elizabeth Rea, an evidentiary clairvoyant psychic medium and former psychic detective whose work has evolved from solving cold murder cases with federal agents to advising high-net-worth founders and investors behind the scenes.

Elizabeth shares how a near-death experience at sixteen cracked open her psychic perception, setting her on a path shaped by trauma, intuition, and non-conventional intelligence. Together, Charna and Elizabeth explore different forms of psy ability, how trauma can act as a doorway to spiritual awakening, and the ethical responsibility that comes with seeing beyond dominant ways of knowing.

The conversation also dives into the realities of living with heightened perception, navigating relationships, choosing discernment over disclosure, and why Elizabeth now works exclusively with influential, heart-centered leaders to help them avoid unseen risks and identify opportunities others miss. Grounded, candid, and surprisingly pragmatic, this episode reframes psychic ability as a form of intelligence meant to be used with integrity, precision, and purpose.

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction to the LaidOPEN Podcast

00:24 Meet Elizabeth Rea: Clairvoyant Psychic Medium

00:33 Exploring Psychic Abilities and Near-Death Experiences

01:25 The Role of Trauma in Spiritual Awakening

03:23 Elizabeth's Journey and Psychic Development

07:39 Working with Law Enforcement

17:39 From Psychic Detective to Corporate Medium

19:29 Navigating Personal and Professional Life as a Psychic

23:49 The Story We Tell Ourselves

24:22 Near-Death Experience and Bliss

25:47 Precognition and Psychic Abilities

26:32 The Faja Building Murder Case

30:05 The Telepathy Tapes and CIA Infiltration

35:40 Developing Intuition and Psychic Abilities

37:51 Community and Psychic Development

43:27 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

In this episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, I open up about my own deepening journey with Kundalini Yoga and sit with one of the teachers who has guided so much of that unfolding. Amanbir is a Kundalini Yoga teacher and trainer who has spent more than two years empowering and training thousands of students across the planet. His teaching blends traditional Kundalini lineage, Chinese medicine, astrology, and nervous system intelligence in a way that cuts through noise and brings you right into the truth of your own experience.

We explore what Kundalini practice actually feels like inside a real human body and why it has the power to open your heart in ways that are both tender and undeniable. We talk about how mantra, breath, mudra and repetitive movement shift emotional patterns and help move trauma, especially the inherited stories that live in our cells. We get into the beauty and intensity of transformation, the importance of community and consistent practice, and the courage it takes to let yourself soften and expand at the same time.

Amanbir also shares a simple breath practice you can use whenever you feel overwhelmed, disconnected or pulled into old habits. His presence is steady and deeply compassionate, and this conversation offers a grounded entry point into a practice that can change the way you meet yourself.

If you have ever wondered what Kundalini can open in you, this episode brings you right to the heart of it.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction to LaidOPEN Podcast

00:18 Meet Amanbir: Kundalini Yoga Teacher and Trainer

03:20 Amanbir's Journey into Kundalini Yoga

06:31 The Power and Benefits of Mantra

09:22 Personal Experiences with Mantra and Healing

14:51 Understanding Mudras and Repetitive Movements

16:58 Intense Experiences and Kundalini Yoga

23:11 Processing Ancestral Trauma through Practice

25:35 Navigating Workplace Dynamics with Mindfulness

26:54 The Power of Personal Practice

30:05 Community and Teacher Training

32:09 Astrology and Historical Patterns

35:19 Pluto's Influence and Personal Transformation

43:34 Breath Practice for Inner Calm

47:22 Final Thoughts and Resources

Join host Charna Cassell for a raw and eye opening conversation with Margaret Bronson, founder of Deconstruction Doulas. Margaret grew up inside a high control Christian cult and survived domestic violence, child abuse, excommunication, and the long psychological fallout of authoritarian religion. Now she guides others through the same dismantling of belief systems that once owned them.

In this episode, Margaret unpacks how she and her husband developed somatic practices to help survivors heal the trauma stored in the body after years of purity culture, spiritual coercion, and obedience enforced through shame and fear. She breaks down what truly happens inside high control religious communities and why so many people leaving them feel like they're stepping out of a parallel universe.

This conversation also dives into the political reality many of us are waking up to. Margaret explains how the same ideology that shaped her childhood is now embedded in Project 2025, Christian Reconstructionism, and the growing Trad Wife movement. She outlines the playbook of modern theocrats and shows how personal trauma and national policy are intertwined when religion is weaponized.

If you're feeling a visceral reaction to Project 2025, this episode will help you understand why. Margaret offers grounding tools, embodied healing practices, and a clear-eyed look at what we're facing as the country edges closer to an openly theocratic agenda.

Tune in for a fierce, validating, and deeply necessary conversation for anyone untangling from religious trauma or trying to make sense of this political moment.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction and Content Warning

01:20 Meet Margaret Bronson: A Journey of Healing

03:17 Life in a Cult: Margaret's Early Years

04:03 Excommunication and Its Aftermath

06:07 Deconstruction Doulas: Birth of a Support System

06:30 Parental Vulnerability and Cult Recruitment

08:24 The Impact of Cult Ideology

13:43 Breaking Free: Personal and Collective Healing

18:02 Somatic Practices and Reclaiming the Body

19:31 Navigating Sexual Trauma and Rediscovery

25:42 Resources and Support for Survivors

26:35 Generational Trauma and Abuse

27:55 Challenges in Seeking Help

29:49 The Trad Wife Movement

33:17 Christian Reconstructionism and Theocracy

39:21 Embodied Freedom and Healing

46:25 Practical Exercises for Grounding

49:09 Conclusion and Resources

In this episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, Charna talks with Dr. Chelsey Hague-Zavaleta, an expert in applied educational neuroscience and social–emotional learning. Together, they explore what it really means to raise calm, connected kids — and how to do it without losing your mind (or yourself) in the process.

They unpack the science of co-regulation, discuss the difference between gentle and authoritative parenting, and share practical tools for managing stress behaviors and creating family balance.

Dr. Chelsey offers compassionate insights for parents, teachers, and caregivers looking to build calmer, more cooperative relationships with children, and with themselves. Charna also introduces her upcoming group program designed to help parents and individuals deepen their self-regulation and embodiment practices.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Wish for Parenting

00:53 Introducing Dr. Chelsey and Her Expertise

02:41 Chelsey's Journey and Parenting Course

05:13 Parenting Challenges and Co-Regulation

07:45 Gentle Parenting vs. Authoritative Approach

15:54 Tone and Nonverbal Communication in Parenting

20:54 Handling Parental Preferences and Boundaries

30:17 The Ineffectiveness of Negative Commands

30:51 Positive Framing in Parenting

32:38 Intervening Before Explosions

34:04 Handling Stress Behaviors

35:21 Challenges of Co-Parenting and Transitions

37:57 Adoptive and Foster Parenting

45:09 Embodiment and Raising Self-Aware Children

53:22 The Power of Praise and Positive Reinforcement

56:11 Conclusion and Resources

✨ Subscribe to LaidOPEN for more conversations about intimacy, self-regulation, and the science of connection.

In this episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, host Charna Cassell sits down with award-winning playwright, performer, and teacher Ann Randolph, whose autobiographical solo shows blend comedy, storytelling, and profound transformation. Together they explore their long-held desire to collaborate — a journey guided by synchronicity, presence, and creative courage.

Ann shares how her early days working the graveyard shift at a homeless shelter evolved into a celebrated career sharing the stage with icons like Mel Brooks and Alanis Morissette. She opens up about using comedy to approach trauma, the healing power of daily writing, and the importance of embodying your story rather than just telling it.

Charna and Ann dive deep into the somatic roots of storytelling, the interplay between vulnerability and creative freedom, and the spiritual practices that sustain both art and healing. Whether you're a writer, performer, or simply someone seeking personal transformation, this conversation invites you to embrace failure, presence, and play as pathways to authentic expression and connection.

00:00 – Introduction and Guest Introduction

02:11 – Charna's Journey to Meeting Ann

03:39 – The Power of Daily Writing

04:18 – Writing for Transformation

05:02 – Ann's Solo Shows and Comedy

09:18 – Victim, Hero, and Perpetrator Dynamics

12:22 – Somatic Practices in Storytelling

18:19 – Collaborations with Alanis Morissette

23:10 – Working with Mel Brooks

27:42 – Support and Validation

28:15 – Mentorship and High Stakes

29:16 – Opening in New York and Personal Loss

31:27 – Turning Grief into Art

41:26 – The Healing Power of Storytelling

45:29 – Spiritual Practices and Personal Growth

47:42 – Current Projects and Offerings

51:53 – Conclusion and Farewell

This season, dreams are really on my mind. I've been thinking about how they shape our creativity, our healing, and the subtle ways our bodies speak through them. In this episode, I sit down with dreamwork expert Bonnie Buckner, author of The Secret Mind: Unlock the Power of Dreams to Transform Your Life and founder and CEO of the International Institute for Dreaming and Imagery.

Bonnie teaches that dreams aren't just stories from the night—they're a living intelligence, guiding us through symbol, sensation, and emotion. Together, we explore how dreams can open pathways to creativity, empathy, and collective consciousness.

We talk about the erotic and the joyful, the ones that confuse or haunt us, and how every dream—no matter how strange—is an invitation to listen more closely to what our deeper selves are trying to say. Bonnie also shares accessible dream practices you can begin tonight to help translate your inner imagery into healing and transformation.

If you've ever woken from a dream that lingered in your body all day, this conversation will help you understand why—and how to listen when your dreams start speaking back.

Learn more about Bonnie's work at the International Institute for Dreaming and Imagery, and explore my offerings in somatics and embodiment at charnacassel.com and passionatelife.org.

Show Notes:

00:00 — Reflections on the mystery and intelligence of dreams

00:40 — Meet Bonnie Buckner: author, dreamwork teacher, and founder and CEO of the International Institute for Dreaming and Imagery

02:36 — What happens when we dream collectively

04:48 — Using dreams for problem-solving and creative inspiration

07:24 — How dreams mirror our emotional and physical well-being

08:41 — The body as the dream's messenger

15:11 — Supporting children's natural dream connection

26:30 — Lucid dreaming and conscious participation in the dream

28:11 — What sex dreams reveal about desire, energy, and embodiment

29:35 — The role of joy and play in dreaming

31:39 — How life transitions, including menopause, shape dream life

33:36 — Exercises to shift emotion through imagery

38:21 — The symbolism of color in dreams

40:21 — Guided imagery as a bridge to healing

49:23 — Why dream journaling matters

50:40 — Closing thoughts and resources

Welcome back to LaidOPEN Podcast. In this week's episode, we explore altered states of consciousness, sound, healing, and the legacy of ancestral trauma. My guest is Tania de Jong. She's a singer, sound healer, and social entrepreneur who co-founded Mind Medicine Australia, leading efforts to make psilocybin and MDMA legally available for treatment-resistant mental health conditions.

Tania shares her own healing journey as a descendant of Holocaust survivors and the profound impact of psychedelic-assisted therapy in her life. We discuss the importance of set and setting, the benefits of group work, and how finding one's voice can open pathways to expression and integration.

She also sheds light on her advocacy in Australia, her work bridging science and spirituality, and her vision for more compassionate global healing practices.

This conversation is rich with insight for anyone curious about psychedelics, wellness, and transformation. You can experience her new song or watch the Ram Dass meditation she mentioned in the episode.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction to the Late Open Podcast

00:20 Meet Tanya De Young: Singer, Sound Healer, and Social Entrepreneur

00:46 Tanya's Personal Healing Journey

03:52 Discovering Psychedelic Assisted Therapies

05:14 The Profound Impact of Psychedelic Experiences

06:21 Healing Ancestral Trauma

11:34 The Importance of Set and Setting in Psychedelic Therapy

12:40 Mind Medicine Australia's Mission and Training Programs

18:13 The Role of Compassion and Connection in Healing

22:31 Engaging with Indigenous Communities and Future Goals

23:40 Exploring Indigenous Healing Practices

24:08 Mind Medicine Australia Clinic Launch

24:35 The Power of Group Healing

25:15 The Importance of Belonging and Connection

27:25 The Healing Power of Sound and Voice

30:19 Overcoming Fear and Finding Your Voice

33:29 Promoting Global Unity and Understanding

35:57 Gross National Happiness in Bhutan

37:26 Expanding Healing Practices Internationally

39:59 Personal Spiritual Practices for Grounding

41:03 Practical Exercises for Voice and Connection

43:27 Final Thoughts and Resources

Trigger warning: this episode contains discussions of sexual assault.

In part 2 of this powerful conversation, Charna sits down again with Ariella Daly: dream worker, animist, and beekeeper — to continue exploring how dreams can become profound guides for healing, recovery, and transformation. Ariella shares more of her personal path, weaving together the wisdom of dreams, ritual, and the natural world to show how the subconscious can support deep repair after trauma.

Together, we discuss practical tools for reclaiming your body, rebuilding your relationship with eros and creativity, and reconnecting to nature as a source of restoration. Ariella also offers insights into sensory practices, embodiment techniques, and how to integrate dream work into everyday life so it's not just a nighttime experience but a living practice.

We also touch on the magic of collective dreaming — how shared dream spaces can reveal hidden truths, spark collective healing, and open up surprising pathways of growth. If you've ever been curious about how your dreams might be guiding you, this episode offers both inspiration and grounded practices to begin listening more deeply.

Show Notes:

00:00 Welcome Back and Episode Overview

01:05 Continuing Ariella's Healing Journey

03:20 Rituals and Dream Integration

07:45 Embodiment Practices for Recovery

12:30 Reconnecting with Nature Through Dreams

18:15 Collective Dreaming and Group Insights

26:50 Sensory Exercises, Sensory Remediation and Practical Applications

38:40 Closing Thoughts and Resources

Trigger warning: discussion of seggsual assault near the end

In this episode, Charna interviews Ariella Daley, a seasoned dream worker, animist, and beekeeper with over 15 years of experience. Ariella shares her fascinating journey into beekeeping and dream work, influenced by a blend of naturalism from her mother and mysticism from her father. She recounts a significant experience where wild bees moved into her home, deeply intertwining her dream work with her beekeeping practice.

Ariella and Charna discuss the profound healing and intuitive lessons bees can impart, the importance of intentional dreaming, and the animist worldview that sees life and consciousness in all things. Ariella also touches on her personal healing journey through profound experiences with snakes and bees, and later discusses her recent experience of seggsual assault and how dream work has been a vital resource in her healing process.

Show Notes: (You can also watch the episode on YouTube)

00:00 Welcome, Trigger Warning and Introduction

01:03 Meet Ariella Daley: Dream Worker and Beekeeper

03:33 Ariella's Journey: From Childhood to Dreaming with Bees

05:40 The Healing Power of Bees

09:41 Intentional Dreaming and Animism

12:17 The Animist Worldview

15:33 Connecting with Nature and Intuition

19:29 The Meditative Presence of Bees

24:33 Exploring the Connection Between Bees and Dreams

25:10 Ancient Dream Healing Practices

26:08 The Symbolism of Snakes and Bees

28:25 Personal Stories of Dream and Snake Encounters

34:03 The Impact of Trauma and Healing

42:36 Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes

Resources To Reach Out To:

National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN):

Voice: (800) 656-HOPE (4673) | Web: https://centers.rainn.org/

SF Women Against Rape: 415-861-2024

Book Resources:

Judith Herman "Trauma and Recovery"

Babette Rothschild "The Body Remembers and 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery"

Peter Levine "Waking the Tiger"

Staci Haines "Healing Sex"

In this powerful episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, I sit down with medical researcher, writer, and host of Modern Hysteria, Micah Larsen, to dive deep into her deeply personal and courageous journey through PMDD, menopause, and preeclampsia. With warmth and unflinching honesty, Micah illuminates the painful gaps in our healthcare system and the persistence of medical misogyny—and, more importantly, how we can begin to dismantle those barriers.

We explore:

• The courage it takes to speak openly about taboo topics like incontinence, childbirth, postpartum challenges, and menopause.

• How narrative and advocacy are essential tools for transforming women's healthcare.

• Micah's Montana farm: a place of solace, healing, and self-acceptance that has helped her reclaim her body and spirit amid the storms.

This episode is equal parts urgent call to action and celebration of resilience—a reminder that better women's healthcare starts with brave conversations and compassionate communities.

Note: This episode includes discussions of very heavy themes, including suicide. If you're feeling fragile, you might choose to listen in gentle doses, on a different day, or skip it altogether. But know this: this is an inspiring conversation—and I hope it helps ignite a true women's medical rights movement.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction to the LaidOPEN Podcast

00:06 Meet Micah Larson: Advocate for Women's Health

02:10 The Inspiration Behind Modern Hysteria

04:13 Navigating Women's Healthcare Challenges

05:30 Addressing Taboos and Listener Engagement

09:29 Personal Stories and Medical Advocacy

11:46 Understanding Surgical Menopause

16:31 The Struggles of PMDD and Hormone Therapy

20:43 Challenges in the Healthcare System

30:08 The Struggles of Menopause and Misdiagnosis

31:45 The Last Fertility Taboo: Egg Donation

33:58 Women's Healthcare and Systemic Issues

36:35 Personal Stories of Medical Trauma

51:46 The Healing Power of Gardening

57:34 Reflections on Embodied Freedom

01:00:38 Closing Thoughts and Resources