LaidOPEN Podcast

In this episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, I sit down with Mayan astrologer, cacao ceremonialist, and author Christine Olivia Hernandez to talk about ritual, gratitude, discernment, and how to live in alignment with your natural rhythm.

Christine shares how Mayan astrology and the Sacred Calendar can help you understand who you are and how your energy is meant to move, rather than forcing yourself into systems that lead to burnout and self doubt. We explore gratitude as an embodied, devotional practice, not a bypass, and how daily ritual can support nervous system regulation during uncertain times.

We also have an honest conversation about the abuse of power and sexual energy in spiritual and ceremonial spaces, and why discernment is essential when working with teachers, rituals, and plant medicines. Christine talks about ceremonial cacao as a heart opening ally when sourced and used with integrity.

The episode includes an exploration of Mayan astrology, elements, the Tree of Life, ancestral memory, and how challenges often reveal our deepest strengths. We close with a guided practice to support grounding and inner connection.

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and special episode announcement 00:26 Meet Christine Olivia Hernandez 02:30 Daily practices and the power of gratitude 03:59 Maltiox and gratitude as a lived exchange 06:25 Navigating personal and collective challenges with gratitude 09:17 Grounding, protection, and energetic hygiene rituals 12:29 The healing power of ceremonial cacao and why sourcing matters 20:25 Understanding the Mayan Sacred Calendar and sacred time 24:28 The abuse of power and sexual energy in spiritual spaces 30:41 Navigating ceremony and teachers with discernment 31:16 Learning through hardship, devotion, and gratitude 32:57 Mayan astrology, elements, and energetic makeup 33:55 Exploring the Tree of Life and inherent strengths 37:28 Stability, astrology, and building a life that fits 41:29 Past lives, synchronicities, and ancestral memory 49:35 Guided practice for grounding and inner connection 53:07 Closing thoughts, resources, and next steps

In this episode of the LaidOPEN Podcast, host Charna Cassell sits down with content creator Taylor Perkins, better known on social media as Cult Daddy, for a deep conversation about spirituality, embodiment, trauma, and reclaiming personal truth after high control religion.

Taylor shares his journey growing up Mormon, achieving financial success, losing everything, and experiencing a profound spiritual awakening that reshaped how he understands consciousness, meaning, and self expression. Together they explore psychedelics as one possible tool for unlearning indoctrination while emphasizing the importance of safety, integration, and nervous system awareness.

This episode dives into paradox, expansion versus ascension, parenting as a mirror for inner child healing, embodied boundaries, trauma responses, relationships as reflections, and how suffering can become a signal for realignment rather than something to escape.

A grounded and compassionate conversation for anyone questioning inherited beliefs, navigating spiritual awakening, or seeking a more embodied and self directed path.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction to LaidOPEN Podcast 00:30 Meet Taylor Perkins: A Journey of Spiritual Awakening 02:12 The Paradox of Enlightenment 03:23 From Success to Spiritual Crisis 05:13 The Healing Power of Psychedelics 07:06 Navigating the Psychedelic Experience Safely 12:04 Parenting and Emotional Expression 18:11 The Mirror of Reality and Personal Growth 25:31 Understanding Contraction and Fear 26:33 Introduction to Embodiment Concepts 27:39 The Importance of Boundaries 30:09 Manifesting Intentions and Timelines 35:12 The Path to Authenticity and Self-Expansion 38:00 Partnerships and Self-Reflection 42:18 Unity and Acceptance in Duality 47:46 Final Thoughts and Resources

Manifesting isn't about wanting harder, visualizing longer, or thinking positively enough. In this episode of the LaidOPEN Podcast, Charna Cassell sits down with master manifestor, psychic medium, and intuitive Colette Baron-Reid to unpack why so many people feel stuck despite "doing all the right things" and what actually creates change.

Colette shares her unconventional approach to manifestation through meditative drawing, a practice designed to retrain the brain, regulate the nervous system, and bring the body into alignment with what you're calling in. Together, they explore the science behind creativity and brain plasticity, why alignment matters more than intention, and how art can act as a bridge between intuition and reality.

The conversation also weaves through Colette's personal spiritual journey, including her path to sobriety, her evolving relationship with a higher power, and the collaborative creation of her latest book. Along the way, Colette offers practical exercises and grounded insights you can use immediately to shift patterns, release emotional blocks, and approach manifestation as a lived practice rather than a fantasy.

This episode is for anyone who feels like manifesting hasn't worked for them and is ready to understand why and how to do it differently.

Chapter Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and welcoming Colette Baron-Reid

00:25 Manifestation, brain science, and why intention alone isn't enough

01:42 Colette's work, background, and the origins of her new book

03:12 The intersection of art, neuroscience, and manifestation

08:36 Colette's spiritual journey and the influence of New Thought

09:54 Why art is a powerful tool for manifesting and alignment

11:47 Synchronicity and collaborating with artist Anna Denning

16:00 Alignment, intuition, and lived personal experience

21:02 Gratitude and daily practices that support manifestation

28:31 The role of creativity and drawing in mental health

31:57 Synchronicity, spirituality, and meaning making

32:34 Finding comfort in non denominational spiritual spaces

34:01 Sobriety, 12 step programs, and redefining a higher power

39:55 Intention, energy, and embodied awareness

41:23 Manifestation through inner work and nervous system training

44:39 Everyday synchronicity and reflection

49:13 Finding meaning in challenge and uncertainty

51:05 Practical drawing and emotional release exercises

57:17 Closing thoughts and resources

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.

"When we learn to regulate ourselves, our children learn safety through us." — Dr. Chelsey Hague-Zavaleta

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

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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.

Show Notes

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