We often think of trauma as a single, defining event. But what if the real wound wasn’t one moment—it was a pattern? A long stretch of not feeling safe, loved, or even seen?

In this episode, we sit down with John Young, a psychotherapist who specializes in Complex Trauma and Dissociative Identity Disorder. He’s also the founder of the Complex Trauma Initiative, which helps survivors access the care they need—care that’s often hard to find, and even harder to afford.

Together, we explore:

• The difference between trauma and complex trauma
• Why so many people live with its effects without ever realizing it
• What happens when standard therapy does more harm than good
• And how to begin the slow, relational work of healing with the right kind of support.

This one goes deep. Because when we understand the roots of our pain, we can begin to rewire how we relate—to ourselves, to others, and to the world.

Craving connection is human. But when that craving turns compulsive, it can quietly shape how we show up in sex, love, and intimacy. In this episode, Tangle joins us to share his story—of navigating depression, seeking spiritual healing, and finding recovery in a sex and love-focused 12-step program. We talk about honesty, service, attention, and what it means to build intimacy that actually nourishes.

Desire changes. And in long-term relationships, that shift can feel confusing or even shameful. In this episode, queer mindset coach and somatic practitioner Nathan Serrato joins us to explore why desire fades, how resentment often blocks intimacy, and what it takes to reconnect with ourselves and our partners over time.

What does it mean to truly sound like yourself? In this episode of The Circle, we’re joined by baritone and voice instructor Colin Levin—who has performed over 50 operatic roles—to explore how voice connects to breath, gender identity, and the stories we carry about how we should sound. We unpack gender-affirming voice work, vocal embodiment, and the healing journey of uncovering your authentic voice—whether you’re singing, speaking, or simply learning to be heard.

It’s our first birthday! In this anniversary episode, Eric and Tim look back on 58 conversations about men’s work, embodiment, and personal growth—told through a queer lens and grounded in community. We share surprising messages from listeners who felt less alone, and reflect on moments that changed us: Jonathan Scott’s “diamonds in the surf” tribute to queer lineage; Chef Ava’s practice of “scanning the room with love”; Hannah O’Rourke’s clarity on asexuality and sourcing confidence from within; and Gregory Ganymedes on projection—the pedestal and the villain, both born in us.

We talk about nerves, training wheels, and what practice makes possible; moving from Provincetown to Denver; launching MyEmbodiment.com to bring live breathwork, meditation, and yoga to anyone, anywhere; and the relationships that made this show real—special gratitude to producer Chad Rossi and the Provincetown Recording Studio.

If this conversation serves you, share it with someone you love. Leave a rating or review to help more folks find The Circle. And if you’re ready to go deeper, join us for live practices and community at MyEmbodiment.com. Our container is open, but not broken.

Chapters

00:00 Celebrating One Year of the Circle Podcast
01:33 Reflections on Growth and Challenges
03:26 Surprising Listener Connections
05:28 The Importance of Community
07:29 Personal Growth Through Podcasting
09:04 Impactful Conversations and Highlights
13:40 Navigating Change and Fear
15:52 Self-Validation and Inner Confidence
18:19 Understanding Projection and Its Impact
18:49 Awareness and Projection in Relationships
19:42 Exploring Energetic Perspectives on Health
20:39 The Impact of Men's Work on Personal Growth
22:49 Connecting Through Shared Experiences
25:38 The Importance of Community in Healing
27:58 Universal Themes in Personal Development
29:50 Celebrating Relationships and Support Systems
33:55 Looking Ahead: Growth and New Opportunities

Many of us grew up absorbing quiet messages about who we’re allowed to be. Even after coming out, those messages can live on — shaping how we love, express, and even how we see ourselves.

In this episode, we’re joined by therapist, author, and speaker Chris Tompkins (Raising LGBTQ Allies) for a conversation about internalized homophobia: how early shame becomes part of our identity, and how to begin unlearning it.

We explore:

• The difference between what’s said — and what’s left unsaid — in childhood
• How internalized shame shows up in relationships, sex, and self-image
• The role of the body and nervous system in healing old beliefs
• Why “safe play” and conscious exploration are essential in reclaiming joy
• How affirming environments can interrupt cycles of silence and neglect

This episode is a reminder that there’s nothing wrong with you — and that healing begins the moment you start to believe that.

 🌐 Join The Circle community → www.myembodiment.com

The Warrior archetype is one of the most iconic—and misunderstood—expressions of masculine energy. It’s the part of us that acts with courage, protects what’s sacred, and stays disciplined in pursuit of something greater than ourselves. But when disconnected from heart and purpose, the Warrior can turn destructive—hurting others or collapsing into self-erasure.

In this episode of The Circle, Eric and Tim are joined by MJ Oshin—a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and active paramedic—to explore what it means to embody the Warrior with integrity. Together they unpack:

• The difference between strength and domination
• The shadow forms of the Warrior: Sadist and Masochist
• How rhythm, movement, and discipline refine the Warrior’s energy
• What it takes to rebuild trust in healthy, heart-centered power—especially for queer men

This is a conversation about courage, purpose, and the art of taking right action.

In the final episode of our three-part Q&A series, we explore the often-overlooked topic of men’s intuition—what it is, how it works, and why it matters.

Tim challenges the idea that intuition is gendered, reframing it as a universal human capacity rooted in embodied awareness. Together, we unpack how cultural conditioning teaches men to distrust their feelings, how gaslighting severs us from our body’s wisdom, and how embodiment practices help us rebuild that connection.

Eric asks how “trusting your gut” actually functions in daily life, and Tim shares how sensations in the body—tightness in the chest, warmth in the gut, openness in the heart—can become reliable signals of intuitive knowing. The conversation closes with an invitation to practice: to notice, to feel, and to trust the subtle intelligence within.

Short, honest, and grounded in lived experience, this episode invites you to see intuition not as magic—but as the language of the body learning to speak again.

This week on The Circle, we go all in on the Magician archetype through a queer lens with guest Stan Rain, founder of the Naked Dojo. Together we explore the Magician’s gifts of creativity, imagination, and transformation—and the shadow expressions of the manipulator and the innocent one—through real stories and Internal Family Systems. We also step into modern wizardry with Stan’s AI co-facilitator, TONI, and ask what it means to use powerful tools in service of intention rather than manipulation. This episode blends archetypal psychology, embodiment practice, consent-minded facilitation, and conscious technology to help you bring more clarity, play, and power to your Magician in daily life.

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Welcome and Intro to the Magician Archetype
 02:00 — Meet Stan Rain
 04:05 — Four archetypes overview and why they matter
 07:18 — Painter’s palette metaphor for choice and balance
 09:22 — Who is the Magician: creativity, imagination, manifesting
 12:40 — Play as a practice: Lego blocks and adult tinkering
 16:10 — Curiosity and experimentation in movement and art
 18:45 — Shadow states: manipulator and innocent one
 22:28 — Safety, queerness, and why shadow shows up
 25:36 — IFS parts and relating to shadow without shame
 28:30 — Using shadow skillfully and the Star Wars analogy
 31:05 — Hypnotherapy as conscious influence and intention
 34:02 — Awareness, intention, and skillful use of power
 36:45 — Enter TONI: AI co-facilitator in a breathwork container
 40:00 — How TONI runs timing, music, and context
 42:30 — Boundaries: what AI should not say in a healing space
 45:18 — Mirror effect of AI and why intention is everything
 48:00 — Emptiness, projection, and staying grounded in purpose
 50:35 — Practical takeaways: questions to invite your Magician
 53:10 — Human creativity at the core, tech as a tool
 56:05 — First steps for listeners new to archetypes
 58:20 — Closing ritual and gratitude

In part two of our three part Q&A series, we turn to two of the biggest questions our listeners ask: what does it mean to be a man? And what do we mean when we say queer men?

Tim shares how his definition of manhood has evolved from fear and rigidity to a more expansive, skillful, and authentic engagement with life. Together, we explore how gender expectations shape our experience, how queerness challenges cultural norms, and how men's work can offer a place to wrestle with these questions in community.

Eric asks what it means to belong in a men's circle and how queer men bring unique gifts like fluidity between energies, expanded empathy, and a broader sense of masculinity to these spaces. Along the way, we remind ourselves that ideas of manhood are not fixed: they change across cultures, across history, and across our own lifetimes.

Short, sharp, and from lived experience, this episode unpacks the evolving conversation about what it means to be a man and why queer perspectives matter in men's work.

Chapter Markers

0:00 – Welcome & Episode Framing
Eric introduces part two of the Q&A series, focusing on what it means to be a man and what we mean by queer men.
1:10 – Defining Manhood
Tim reflects on how his understanding of being a man has evolved through men's work, healing, and lived experience.
4:25 – Who Belongs in Men's Circles?
Expanding inclusion: identity, nonbinary men, and working with the masculine aspects of self.
7:05 – What Does Queer Mean?
Tim shares why he embraces the word queer and how queer men experience masculinity differently than straight men.
10:20 – Unique Gifts of Queer Men in Men's Work
Queer men’s fluidity between energies, empathy, and expanded perspectives on relationships and masculinity.
12:50 – Manhood Through Time & Culture
Tim and Eric reflect on how cultural ideals of men shift over history and why authenticity matters more than rigidity.
14:00 – Closing & Invitation
Eric invites listeners to continue the conversation and join practices at myembodiment.com.