I am a huge advocate for promoting mental wellbeing and practices for self awareness and management in the workplace.   I think it is such a gift to both employee and the organization.  So excited to have Stephen on the HR Edition.

Stephen Sokeler is a difference maker and an amazing advocate for mental wellbeing in the corporate workspace.   Stephen is the Founder & CEO of Journey, the leading preventative mental health solution for modern companies. 

In our conversation we talk about:
The Journey Program - what it is, how it differentiates
Measuring ROI for Wellbeing and effective practices

Journey was founded with the mission to help all people live happier, healthier, less stressed lives. They’ve work with wide range of organizations from Facebook, Disney, and Nike, to the Harlem Children’s Zone, Hospital for Special Surgery, and Anti-Defamation League. 

Prior to starting Journey, Stephen was the Co-Founder & CEO of Altrum Honors, a company dedicated to helping organizations celebrate and inspire their employees. Through organic growth and multiple acquisitions, Stephen built the company into the industry leader with a 35% global market share and over $20 million in annual revenue. Stephen successfully sold Altrum in September 2014.

I have so much respect for Peter, and he is another one of those who I would call a true elder.   

Outline of the podcast:
@3 mins- Institutional Religion vs. Being a Priest of Mystery
17 -idea of ascention to spirit vs. descent into soul
23:45 -Soul Work
32:30 - Working with Core Wounds & (murderous) childhood rage
39 - Fight Club pathology
44 - Trump and legistlating memory in school, fear of letting children have emotions
52 - Universality of wounding
56 - Therapy vs. guidework
103:30 - Importance of Ancestor work

A former Catholic Priest who left the order to practice psychotherapy, Peter has been of service to the world as a therapist and guide for over 30 years.    Just pause for a moment and reflect on what wisdom 1/2 a century of experience can bring.  Its pretty incredible to me.

At age 50, Peter took a risk and went on a Vision Quest with Animus Institute, and it forever changed the tragectory of his life.    As he mentions on this podcast (which I hope I am accurately capturing), his work in nature helped him to finally see, understand and work with his own wounding and patterns, which had remained hidden despite all of his training and work in therapy.    So impactful was this work that he studied and became a wilderness guide and interwove the work into his therapy and coaching practice.

He is still serving as a mentor, guide and priest to helping people find deeper connection to themselves, their gifts and their truth.

http://www.peterscanlan.com/peter.htm

Jay is a great guy and I so enjoyed this conversation.  I found Jay through his terrific course on cultivating gratitude on Insight Timer.   Jay is a deep practicioner, and does a terrific job of explaining the science of mindfulness practice, why it is often hard to access gratitude regularly, and how to have gratitude become a habit.

Jay Chodagam is a meditation teacher, TEDx speaker, producer of Peace in the Park festival and SPIRIT Summit conference and host for the Wise Leader retreats. After training as a monk and living in an ashram for 18 years, he is being called to create experiences that combine meditation, adventure and exotic travel.

He has hosted retreats, conferences and festivals since 2004 and traveled to 59 countries with the intention to help people develop SQ (spiritual quotient), to live happy and fulfilling lives, to become successful human BEINGS instead of human doings. Travel has offered Jay more wisdom than his two engineering degrees and he wants to share that.

https://www.findwith.in/index.php

Robbie Schaefer is a musician, songwriter, philanthropist and playwright devoted to service through the arts.     

I have known Robbie for many years and he is impressive on so many levels as a human being. 

What I was most curious about with Robbie was his latest piece of work: in 2017, he premiered the musical  Light Years  at award winning Signature Theatre.    The musical is a piece of alchemy unto itself, Robbie's bold and courageous biographical unpacking and transformation of his own relationship with his now deceased father.

I believe that almost every one of us human beings carry some sort of unreconciled dynamic with our parents and possibly generations before.   Most of the times it is not fully conscious because it feels too painful to face.   It takes an act of courage (and sometimes desperation) to call it forth and work with it.  And to me, an even bigger act of courage to turn it into a work of public art for all to see.  Which is what Robbie did.

I hope you enjoy this talk we had.  I know I did.
 
Robbie Schaefer is the guitarist and songwriter for the indie folk band Eddie From Ohio (winners of 7 Wammie Awards; over 150,000 cd’s sold) and has released several solo albums, including his most recent, 2017′s Sounds Like Home: Songs From the Musical, Light Years.

As a solo performer Robbie has shared the stage with Sara Bareilles, Jason Mraz, Josh Groban, Michael McDonald, Keb’ Mo and Emmylou Harris, among others. His performances–intimate, witty and soulful—are little adventures, says writer/artist Jen Lemen . . .

“ . . . Robbie Schaefer lives, loves, creates music and holds space for anyone who’s up for suspending time so we can actually remember what it feels like to be human again. Aliveness is his jam and he helps us find our way by being a regular guy saying the most honest, real thing, whether it’s in a song or an insight that’s just come to him in a flash . . . ”

In 2011, Robbie founded OneVoice, an international non-profit devoted to uniting and empowering youth through music and the creative arts. The organization has completed and on-going projects in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Nicaragua, India, and Pikpa refugee camp in Lesvos, Greece.

He served as on-air host and Music Director at Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s Kids Place Live from 2007-2012, and in 2010 was awarded the New York Festival’s United Nations Award for programming. He has presented TEDx Youth talks in Boulogne-Billancourt (Paris), France in both 2012 and 2016.

Ever have one of those experiences of deep knowing or truth that feel beyond rational explanation?     For those of us living in a busy working world, I think its easy to disregard or discount our own empathic abilities.   What I so appreciate about Elizabeth is that she is completely down to earth and relatable.   And that she believes that empathic and psychic abilities are something we can all access for our own highest good.

Listen in to learn more...

Elizabeth is a clairvoyant and offers psychic energy healing sessions by phone and teaches online courses on love, relationship, and creative living.   She's also an Assistant Teacher of Clairvoyance at the Inner Connection Institute. 

Her mission is to support people ready to clear inner blocks so they can manifest love and lead their lives with creative authenticity.

https://www.elizabethhunterdiamond.com/

So pleased to have my good friend David Treleavan on to talk about this important topic of better understanding and working with trauma.  David is a leader in the conversation and teaching of trauma sensitive mindfulness.    You don't have to be a mindfulness practicioner to learn a ton from him.

David Treleaven is a writer, educator, and trauma professional working at the intersection of mindfulness and trauma. He is the author of the acclaimed book Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness and founder of the Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness (TSM) Community—a group of practitioners committed to setting a standard of care through mindfulness-based practices, interventions, and programs.
David focuses on connecting mindfulness providers with the knowledge and tools they require to meet the needs of those struggling with trauma. Through workshops, keynotes, podcasts, and online education, he is closely engaged with current empirical research to inform best practices.
His work has been adopted into multiple mindfulness teacher training programs around the world, including UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, the Engaged Mindfulness Institute, and Bangor University’s MA in Mindfulness program in the UK.
David is currently a visiting scholar at Brown University and has worked with a number of organizations to bring Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness to their staff and programs.
You can find more of his work at www.davidtreleaven.com and his book, Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness is available all places where books are sold.

Such a great candid talk with Reggie Hubbard about race, life and human relations.    I co-taught a class with Reggie based on Ruth King's "Mindful of Race" book, and so appreciated his realness, perspective and grounded kindness.   

Reggie is someone who has the capacity to meet anyone where they are.   Reggie teaches Members of Congress, Congressional Staff, leading progressive organizations and individuals, sharing techniques for growing peace and ease as a foundation, not an afterthought.  He also advises yoga communities, yoga studios, teachers and the broader wellness industry on the importance of diversity and inclusion, opening the practice to all and eliminating exclusionary cultures and habits.  

His teaching practice is designed for all levels and lifestyles, the only thing required is an open mind.   The focus of his teaching is to bring more peace and balance to activists AND to guide the wellness community toward being more engaged, concerned citizens.   Achieving this balance is how we catalyze transformative change.

  In addition to his yogic activities, Reggie has held many senior strategic and logistical roles across a variety of fields, ranging from global marketing, digital and community organizing, government relations, international education to Presidential campaigning.   He currently serves as a senior political strategist for a leading progressive campaigning organization, managing their relationships, impact and communications with Capitol Hill.  He received a B.A. in philosophy from Yale University and an MBA in international strategy from the Vlerick Business School in Belgium.

You can find Reggie's schedule and contact information at:  https://activepeaceyoga.com and follow him on Instagram.

So honored to have Jade as my first guest.  Jade served as a guide to me on a vision fast 15 years ago which changed the lens through which I view life.   She is a true elder, a wise and humble guide and resource to the world, and for 2 decades has helped human beings find greater purpose and meaning through encounters with nature, dreams, ritual and community.

https://www.itsournature.net/about-jade-sherer

Jade Sherer has devoted her life to showing up to support others as they navigate the small and large transitions of their lives. For more than twenty years, she has guided others in nature-based transformational processes and ceremonies and has been a mentor to hundreds of people as they have listened for what is next in their lives and how they might they bring their integrity and authentic genius alive for the world.

Jade is currently guiding, mentoring, creating and facilitating custom programs for audiences around the world -- from philanthropists, to students, to women over 50, to CEO’s. She was trained at Animas Valley Institute as well as by Stephen Foster and Meredith Little at the School of Lost Borders. She guided at Animas Valley Institute for 15 years and went on to initiate and train new guides there. She was offered a depth of experience that changed her in fundamental ways by attending Bolad’s Kitchen with Martin Prechtel.   She is a graduate of UCSC and is a founder of a green cemetery. 

 At this time on earth, Jade sees soul-based collaboration combined with mindful self reflection as crucial to growing community, justice, commerce and planetary care. She is working with other new thought leaders to bring women's leadership alive and to the forefront in these times.  She envisions weaving soul work with activism in impactful ways for the creatures of Earth.  Jade is in the midst of writing her first book and lives with her four-legged significant other, Ubuntu, amidst the boulders of Prescott, Arizona.