The Clarity Lens

What happens when the life you built no longer fits the person you're becoming?

In this episode of The Clarity Lens, Laura sits down with Dr. Rafael Cordova for a deeply honest conversation about reinvention, identity, transition, creativity, and what it means to find yourself in the in-between.

Rafael shares his journey from academia and education into a new chapter as an artist and writer after a major disruption changed the trajectory of his life. We talk about what happens when an identity you've spent decades building suddenly falls apart, the grief and anger that can come with that loss, and the freedom that can emerge when you stop trying to stay in the lane you were given.

Laura also explores Rafael's Mexican and Latino roots, his experience of living between cultures and identities, and how his grandmother's wisdom, creativity, and healing traditions influenced his newest work, Nepantilan: Rituals for Becoming Your Own Curandero: Wayfinding with Mexica Glyphs.

Support

If this episode resonated and you would like to support The Clarity Lens, you can do so through Buy Me a Coffee. Sharing the podcast and leaving a review also helps more than you might realize. Thank you for being here.

📖 Learn more about Rafael's book

NEPANTLÁN: Rituals for Becoming Your Own Curander@ — Wayfinding with Mexica Glyphs by Rafael Adón Córdova: https://www.amazon.com/Nepantl%C3%A1n-Rituals-Becoming-Curander-Wayfinding-ebook/dp/B0HF38HP9X

What happens when the world starts seeing you through a label—but you refuse to let that label define you?

In Episode 5 of The Clarity Lens, Laura Spale sits down with Brandon Parkes, aka Professor Parkes, for a conversation about life after becoming disabled, navigating life from a wheelchair, and finding purpose in the unexpected.

Brandon brings a perspective that goes far beyond disability. Through humor, gaming, advocacy, and community, he has built a platform that creates awareness while reminding people that a diagnosis, a disability, or a circumstance is only one part of someone's story.

This conversation explores resilience, identity, accessibility, mental perspective, finding joy in the middle of hard things, and the importance of looking beyond the label to see the person.

Because sometimes the biggest shift isn't changing the circumstances—it's changing the way we see them.

Support

If this episode resonated and you would like to support The Clarity Lens, you can do so through Buy Me a Coffee. Sharing the podcast and leaving a review also helps more than you might realize. Thank you for being here.

BONUS EPISODE

In this deeply personal bonus episode, Laura steps outside of her usual conversations to share a part of her story that she has kept private for a long time.

Laura opens up about surviving an abusive relationship, the fear and isolation that came with it, the things people didn’t see, and what it took for her to finally find her way out. She shares the realities of trauma, the complicated emotions that can come with abuse, and the journey of rebuilding after surviving something that changed her life.

Released during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, this episode also explores the connection between abuse, trauma, grief, isolation, and emotional pain. Laura shares her story not for sympathy, but to help break the silence surrounding experiences that are often kept behind closed doors.

This is a raw, honest, and vulnerable conversation — and one that may be difficult for some listeners to hear.

⚠️ Listener Discretion

This episode contains discussions of domestic abuse, emotional trauma, suicide, suicidal thoughts, grief, and other difficult experiences. Listener discretion is strongly advised. Please take care of yourself while listening and step away if the content becomes overwhelming.

If You or Someone You Know Needs Help

Suicide & Crisis Support Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. You can also access online chat at 988lifeline.org.

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) Text START to 88788 Online support is available at The National Domestic Violence Hotline.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or get to a safe location if it can be done safely.

Laura hopes that by sharing what happened behind the scenes of a life that may have looked completely different from the outside, someone listening will feel a little less alone.

Her story is one of survival. And sometimes, telling the story is part of reclaiming it.

Support

If this episode resonated and you would like to support The Clarity Lens, you can do so through Buy Me a Coffee. Sharing the podcast and leaving a review also helps more than you might realize. Thank you for being here.

What happens when you stop shrinking yourself to fit the version of you that everyone else has come to expect?

In this final episode of our mini-series, Renee and Laura talk about what it means to make room for the full version of yourself—the parts of you that are still growing, changing, healing, learning, and becoming.

Sometimes the next version of you requires letting go of the expectations, roles, and limitations that once felt necessary.

You don't have to stay the same just because people are comfortable with who you used to be.

There is room for who you've been, who you are, and who you're becoming.

Sponsor

The Clarity Lens is sponsored by Säti Soda, a USDA Organic functional soda created for a more mindful way to enjoy a refreshing beverage. Listeners can get 10% off their order with code CLARITY.

Support

If this episode resonated and you would like to support The Clarity Lens, you can do so through Buy Me a Coffee. Sharing the podcast and leaving a review also helps more than you might realize. Thank you for being here.

Who do we think we have to become to succeed?

And perhaps more importantly—what parts of ourselves do we think we have to leave behind?

In this episode of The Clarity Lens, Laura and Renée explore what happens when belonging starts to look like shrinking. From masking and perfectionism to people-pleasing, representation, and the pressure to constantly prove ourselves, they unpack the difference between adapting to an environment and losing yourself inside of it.

They also talk about the identities, interests, and strengths we sometimes dismiss as distractions—only to discover that they may actually be some of the most important pieces of our path.

Because success doesn't have to mean becoming someone else.

Sometimes, it's about figuring out what deserves to come with you.

Sponsor

The Clarity Lens is sponsored by Säti Soda, a USDA Organic functional soda created for a more mindful way to enjoy a refreshing beverage. Listeners can get 10% off their order with code CLARITY.

Support

If this episode resonated and you would like to support The Clarity Lens, you can do so through Buy Me a Coffee. Sharing the podcast and leaving a review also helps more than you might realize. Thank you for being here.

What if uncertainty isn’t the problem?

What if the discomfort that comes with not knowing what’s next comes from something deeper — our tendency to confuse uncertainty with danger?

In this episode of The Clarity Lens, Laura Spale sits down with Dr. Renée Jordan, founder of Black Liberation Tech, for a thoughtful conversation about uncertainty, expectations, identity, decision-making, and what happens when people stop trying to have every answer before moving forward.

They explore how the brain tries to fill in the blanks when the future feels uncertain, why we often default to worst-case scenarios, and how those patterns can influence the choices we make.

The conversation also explores AI as a potential tool for reflection, the idea of engaging with our future selves, and what it might look like to approach uncertainty with more curiosity instead of fear.

As this new season of The Clarity Lens continues, the conversations are getting deeper — asking bigger questions, bringing different perspectives to the table, and moving beyond simply talking about ideas to actually putting them into practice.

Because maybe no one has to have everything figured out.

Maybe they just need to take the next thoughtful step.

Sponsor

The Clarity Lens is sponsored by Säti Soda, a USDA Organic functional soda created for a more mindful way to enjoy a refreshing beverage. Listeners can get 10% off their order with code CLARITY.

In this thought-provoking episode, Laura explores how trauma, grief, burnout, neurodiversity, chronic stress, and life experiences shape the way people navigate the world. Drawing from both personal experience and psychological research, she challenges the idea that every struggle is a personal failure and examines how systems, environments, and nervous system responses influence human behavior.

From masking and survival mode to caregiving, emotional labor, and healing, this episode invites listeners to shift from asking, “What’s wrong with me?” to “What happened to me?”—and to approach themselves with greater understanding, compassion, and grace.

Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Zivolife.

Zivolife is a nutrient-dense microalgae supplement packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants—designed to support energy, overall wellness, and help fill nutritional gaps in everyday routines.

It’s sustainably cultivated and crafted for those looking to be more intentional about what they put into their bodies.

Listeners can receive 30% off their order using the code CLARITY.

Sources & Further Reading

For listeners who want to explore the ideas discussed in this episode more deeply:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study (CDC & Kaiser Permanente)
• Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score)
• Brené Brown’s research on shame and vulnerability
• Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory
• Dr. Damian Milton’s Double Empathy Problem
• Attachment Theory (John Bowlby & Mary Ainsworth)
• Research in psychology, neuroscience, trauma, burnout, neurodiversity, grief, emotional labor, and public health

Support

If this episode resonated and you would like to support The Clarity Lens, you can do so through Buy Me a Coffee. Sharing the podcast and leaving a review also helps more than you might realize. Thank you for being here.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, Laura shares one of the most vulnerable stories of her life.

In this episode, she opens up about Chad, her boyfriend who passed in 2018, and the impact of addiction, the grief that followed his loss, and the difficult journey of rebuilding herself afterward. The conversation explores depression, trauma, identity loss, and the lasting impact grief can have long after the world expects healing.

An honest and deeply emotional episode about love, loss, and survival.

Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Zivolife.

Zivolife is a nutrient-dense microalgae supplement packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants—designed to support energy, overall wellness, and help fill nutritional gaps in everyday routines.

It’s sustainably cultivated and crafted for those looking to be more intentional about what they put into their bodies.

Listeners can receive 30% off their order using the code CLARITY.

Support

If this episode resonated and you would like to support The Clarity Lens, you can do so through Buy Me a Coffee. Sharing the podcast and leaving a review also helps more than you might realize. Thank you for being here.

This is one of the most personal episodes Laura has recorded.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, she shares more of her brother John’s story—what happened the day everything changed, and what the days that followed actually felt like from her perspective.

While Laura has spoken about John before, this episode goes deeper into the grief, the questions, the anger, and the moments that shaped her life in ways she didn’t understand at the time.

She also opens up about a recent experience involving someone she loves, which brought everything back in a way she couldn’t ignore.

This episode is heavy, honest, and deeply important.

Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Zivolife.

Zivolife is a nutrient-dense microalgae supplement packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants—designed to support energy, overall wellness, and help fill nutritional gaps in everyday routines.

It’s sustainably cultivated and created for those looking to be more intentional about what they’re putting into their bodies.

Listeners can receive 30% off their order using the code CLARITY.

Support

If this episode resonated and you would like to support The Clarity Lens, you can do so through Buy Me a Coffee. Sharing the podcast and leaving a review also helps more than you might realize. Thank you for being here.

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, this episode of The Clarity Lens goes beyond the research and into real life—breaking down how autism intersects with education, healthcare, insurance, and long-term planning.

In Part 2, Laura unpacks how systems are supposed to work—and where they fall short for families navigating autism every day. From IEPs and 504 Plans to therapy access, insurance barriers, and financial planning, this episode connects the dots between policy, practice, and lived experience.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to apply what you know to systems that don’t always support it, this conversation is for you.

Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Strong Coffee Company—premium instant coffee designed for busy, on-the-go lifestyles. Their blends combine bold, smooth coffee with added protein, MCTs, and adaptogens to support sustained energy, focus, and mental clarity—without the crash.

If you’re looking for a convenient way to fuel your mornings, you can get 20% off at strongcoffeeco.com with code CLARITY.

Sources & Further Reading

For listeners who want to explore the ideas discussed in this episode more deeply:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Autism Prevalence Data (2023) — current estimates indicate that 1 in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). U.S. Department of Education — federal law governing IEPs and special education services

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973). U.S. Department of Education — civil rights protections and accommodations in education

Autism Research Institute (2021). Teacher Preparedness and Autism Support — data showing only ~20% of educators feel fully prepared to support autistic students

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2020). Sensory Processing in Autism — research on sensory sensitivities and their impact in classroom environments

National Center for Education Statistics (2022). Special Education Staffing and Caseloads — data on educator workload and resource limitations

National Education Association (2021). Barriers to Special Education Access — disparities in awareness and advocacy for marginalized families

Education Trust (2020). Inequities in Education Systems — how administrative delays and systemic barriers affect underserved communities

American Journal of Public Health (2019). Racial Disparities in Autism Diagnosis — differences in diagnosis timing and access to services

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) (2020). Speech-Language Therapy Outcomes — evidence supporting early, intensive intervention

Schaaf, R. et al. (2018). Occupational Therapy Using Sensory Integration — effectiveness of sensory-based OT interventions

Medicaid.gov. Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers — structure, eligibility, and limitations of long-term support programs

Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Publication 502 & Form 2441 — medical expense deductions and dependent care credits for families

Support

If this episode resonated and you would like to support The Clarity Lens, you can do so through Buy Me a Coffee. Sharing the podcast and leaving a review also helps more than you might realize. Thank you for being here.