The Connected Community: Exploring Possibility

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Ania Halama for a conversation on working with ayahuasca in a way that is responsible, informed, and deeply intentional. After eight years living in Colombia and a decade in relationship with the medicine, four of those in service, Ania shares what most people don’t hear: the real preparation, the risks, the differences in ceremonies across regions, and why not all ayahuasca is the same.

She explains variations like crudo ayahuasca, a gentler preparation method that supports the nervous system, and speaks to how lineage, sourcing, and facilitation shape the experience. The conversation moves beyond the ceremony itself and into what actually creates change—preparation before, and integration after. Ania emphasizes that this work isn’t about a single night, but a longer process that can span months if someone wants lasting results.

They also explore the ethics behind plant medicine, including the law of reciprocity and the responsibility to give back to the indigenous communities who have carried these traditions. Ania offers practical guidance on choosing a retreat, what to ask, and how to discern safety and integrity in a space that’s rapidly growing in popularity.

This episode cuts through the noise around ayahuasca and brings the focus back to what matters: respect for the medicine, responsibility for your own process, and the understanding that the real work happens in how you live afterward.

Key Topics:

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ayahuasca and Ania's Journey

03:22 Understanding Ayahuasca: The Basics

09:44 The Experience of Ayahuasca: Healing and Clarity

14:15 Integration: The Key to Lasting Change

20:30 Safety and Misconceptions about Ayahuasca

22:30 Understanding Ayahuasca and Supplement Interactions

22:57 The Importance of Dieta Before Ayahuasca

25:14 The Law of Reciprocity in Ayahuasca Ceremonies

27:43 Sustainable Harvesting of Ayahuasca

29:04 The Impact of Ayahuasca Vine Age on Experience

30:41 Risks of Tobacco in Ayahuasca Preparations

31:42 Key Questions for Choosing a Retreat Center

33:28 Differences in Ayahuasca from Various Regions

36:10 Finding the Right Ayahuasca Experience

37:28 Setting Intentions and Expectations

40:34 Navigating the Depths of Ayahuasca Experiences

42:23 Connecting with Ania and Future Retreats

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

[email protected]

Connect with Ania:

https://aniahalama.com/

https://facebook.com/ania.e.halama

https://www.instagram.com/ania.halama/

http://linkedin.com/in/aniahalama

Keywords: ayahuasca, plant medicine, integration, jungle retreat, ceremonial preparation, medicinal plants, spiritual awakening, healing, reciprocity, safety, yage, crudo, jungle medicine, law of reciprocity, dieta

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, host Nicky Yazbeck chats with transformational coach Ben Milston for a deeply honest conversation about breaking free from conditioning, healing emotional wounds, and reconnecting with your authentic self.

Ben shares his powerful journey from childhood struggles and depression into a path of self-discovery, emotional healing, and personal empowerment. Together, Nicky and Ben explore how internalized beliefs shape identity, self-worth, and relational patterns, and what it actually takes to unravel those patterns in a real, embodied way.

This conversation moves beyond surface-level self-development into the deeper work of sitting with discomfort, questioning long-held narratives, and allowing space for vulnerability and truth. It speaks directly to those who are self-aware but feel stuck repeating old cycles, offering both insight and grounded reflection on how to begin living in alignment with who you truly are.

The episode also touches on the loneliness that can arise during self-discovery, the courage required to set boundaries, and the ongoing process of transforming inner criticism into self-compassion. Through this dialogue, listeners are invited to reconnect with their inherent value and begin creating a life that feels genuinely aligned rather than externally driven.

Key Topics Explored

   •   Ben Milston’s personal journey from depression to self-empowerment

   •   How childhood conditioning and internalized beliefs shape identity

   •   Emotional healing through awareness, presence, and self-inquiry

   •   The role of discomfort in transformation and growth

   •   Authentic self-expression and the courage to be seen

   •   Boundary setting and redefining relationships

   •   Shedding old identities and embracing vulnerability

   •   Navigating the loneliness that can come with personal evolution

   •   Transforming inner criticism into self-compassion

   •   Reconnecting with self-worth, truth, and inherent value

   •   Listening to the body’s wisdom and intuitive guidance

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Personal Transformation

02:29 Ben’s Journey: From Struggles to Self-Discovery

09:43 The Impact of Conditioning and Internalized Beliefs

13:36 Stripping Away Conditioning: A Journey into Nature

19:59 Embracing Discomfort and Authenticity

24:41 Reconnecting with Self-Worth and Value

28:44 Understanding Self-Worth and Perception

29:48 Challenging Deeply Ingrained Beliefs

33:17 Redefining Good, Bad, and Selfishness

36:11 Navigating Relationships and Boundaries

38:45 The Loneliness of Self-Discovery

41:54 Transforming Inner Criticism into Self-Compassion

44:17 Authenticity in Relationships

47:32 Listening to Your Body’s Wisdom

⸻

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

[email protected]

Connect with Ben

https://linktr.ee/ben.milston.coaching_all.links

https://BenMilstonCoaching.as.me/60MinComplimentarySession

Keywords :   self-development, authenticity, inner child healing, emotional healing, self-worth, personal growth, mental health, self-love, spiritual awakening, overcoming trauma, subconscious beliefs, breaking patterns, identity transformation, nervous system awareness, shadow work, self-discovery, healing journey, boundary setting, vulnerability, aligned living, personal empowerment

Dr. Joel Schwartz is a licensed clinical psychologist based in San Luis Obispo, California, with a private practice focused on complex and often misunderstood cases. He has worked across a wide range of settings, including colleges, clinics, a federal prison, and residential treatment centers, bringing depth and real-world experience to his work with diverse populations.

Joel is a thought leader in the neurodiversity movement, having coined the term Neurodiversity Affirmative Therapy and the identity-forward term “ADHDer,” offering a way for individuals to claim ADHD as a valid and meaningful part of who they are. His work challenges traditional, pathology-based models and instead centers on understanding, acceptance, and a more expansive view of human cognition.

In this episode of The Connected Community: Exploring Possibility, we explore neurodiversity, ADHD, autism, and the importance of understanding and embracing neurological differences. Joel shares insights on the impact of language and identity, the experience of masking, and the emotional toll that can come from trying to fit into systems not designed for neurodivergent individuals.

We discuss how differences in brain functioning are often misunderstood, and how shifting from a deficit-based lens to one of curiosity and acceptance can be profoundly healing. Joel also speaks to the importance of creating environments that support authenticity, where unmasking is not only safe but encouraged.

This conversation offers a humanizing perspective on neurodiversity, inviting listeners to move beyond labels and stereotypes and toward a deeper understanding of themselves and others.

Key Topics:

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding Neurodiversity

07:21 The Complexity of Identity and Labels

13:22 Neuroscience Behind Neurodiversity

17:58 Empathy and Communication in Neurodivergent Individuals

23:58 The Impact of Masking on Neurodivergent Lives

29:48 Empowering Neurodivergent Children

31:38 Understanding ADHD and Learning Styles

35:14 The Role of Physical Activity in Managing ADHD

39:49 Navigating Social Situations with Neurodiversity

43:28 The Importance of Testing and Diagnosis

48:01 Trauma and Its Impact on Neurodiverse Individuals

50:02 Respecting Neurodiversity and Individual Needs

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

[email protected]

Connect with Joel:

Website: neuro-pathways.org 

https://tcsppofficeofce.com/courses/neurodiversity-affirming-understanding-and-care-for-adhd/

TAGS: neurodiversity, ADHD, autism, neurodivergent, masking, support, brain differences, neurodiversity movement, self-acceptance, accommodations, traum, neurodiverse

In this special episode of The Connected Community Podcast: Exploring Possibility, the microphone turns toward host Nicky Yazbeck as she is interviewed by Bethany Shipley. The conversation offers listeners a deeper look into Nicky’s personal and professional journey, from her decades of work as a licensed clinical social worker and yoga teacher to her exploration of holistic and alternative healing practices. This episode invites listeners to see another side of Nicky: the healer, the learner, the question-asker, and the human being continually walking her own path of growth.

Bethany Shipley is a writer, speaker, and podcast host who helps people reconnect with themselves and create lives that actually feel meaningful. She’s known for reframing the idea of “personal brand” away from marketing and toward presence, integrity, and the way we live our everyday lives. Through her podcast, Your Personal Brand with Bethany Shipley, Bethany explores what it looks like to romanticize real life realistically, trust your inner cues, and stop treating personal growth like a performance. Her work is grounded, honest, and focused on helping people feel oriented rather than optimized. Bethany believes you don’t need a different life. You just need a deeper relationship with the one you’re already living.  

Bethany guides the conversation as Nicky reflects on what inspired her to create the podcast and her desire to move beyond surface-level conversations into meaningful dialogue about healing, personal growth, and the human experience. Nicky shares how her professional training, life experiences, and deep curiosity have shaped the way she approaches therapy and space-holding. She discusses the importance of meeting clients where they are, helping people understand their pain, and creating environments where acceptance can soften defenses and allow genuine healing to begin.

The episode also explores Nicky’s evolving perspective on mental health treatment. She speaks about the balance between Western psychological approaches and alternative modalities, emphasizing that healing is not one-size-fits-all. The conversation touches on the role of medication, the difference between depression rooted in life circumstances versus biological factors, and the importance of considering the whole person when supporting mental health.

Bethany and Nicky also discuss transformative experiences that helped shape Nicky’s path, including travel, personal exploration, and her openness to learning from diverse healing traditions. Nicky shares her thoughts on plant medicine and amphibian medicine, discussing both the potential benefits and the ethical responsibilities involved in these practices. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes that powerful healing modalities require discernment, preparation, and integration.

At its core, this episode is about curiosity, self-discovery, and the courage to question societal expectations. Nicky reflects on breaking free from the “shoulds” that often shape our lives and embracing a path that aligns with personal truth. She also shares her vision for the future, which encompasses continuing to integrate different healing modalities and helping people reconnect with themselves.

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Journey

02:59 The Intersection of Personal and Professional

05:49 Understanding Pain and Healing

08:59 The Role of Acceptance in Therapy

11:52 Curiosity and Lifelong Learning

14:44 Breaking Free from the 'Shoulds'

17:39 Transformational Experiences and Self-Discovery

20:32 Integrating Eastern and Western Practices

24:26 Navigating Beliefs and Mental Health

25:39 Understanding Depression: Circumstances vs. Chemical Imbalance

29:27 Exploring Frog Medicine: A Unique Healing Approach

36:50 The Journey of Healing: Personal Growth and Transformation

45:36 OUTRO

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

[email protected]

Connect with Bethany:

www.bethanyshipley.com

www.instagram.com/bethanyjshipley

Keywords: podcast, healing, therapy, personal growth, mental health, mindfulness, self-discovery, holistic health, Eastern medicine, Western medicine, mental health, depression,kambo frog medicine, emotional well-being, self-acceptance, holistic health, alternative therapies

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

Keywords: Shadow work, inner work, self discovery, transformation, inner healing, deep healing authentic self, self awareness, integration

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Human Design analyst and guide Ellen M. Laura for a conversation about the future of humanity, the significance of the year 2027, and how to stay centered in times of collective uncertainty. Trained directly by Human Design founder Ra Uru Hu, Ellen brings decades of experience translating complex systems into practical, usable guidance for everyday life.

Together, Nicky and Ellen explore the widely discussed Human Design prediction that 2027 marks a major evolutionary shift in human consciousness, including the emergence of what are often called “Rave Children”, which a generation believed to carry new forms of awareness and connection. Rather than leaning into fear or sensationalism, the conversation focuses on how to approach these ideas with discernment, curiosity, and emotional maturity.

A central theme of the episode is reframing fear, not as something to eliminate, but as a signal that invites awareness and wise action. Ellen shares how to distinguish between personal fear and collective fear, and how understanding that difference can help people stay grounded instead of overwhelmed. The discussion emphasizes that while global narratives can feel destabilizing, individuals still have agency in how they respond, prepare, and relate to change.

Nicky and Ellen also dive into the importance of emotional regulation, gratitude, and self-care as stabilizing forces during uncertain times. They highlight how community and meaningful relationships become even more essential when navigating large-scale shifts, and how cultivating inner steadiness allows people to show up with greater clarity and compassion. Rather than predicting doom or utopia, the episode invites listeners into a more nuanced perspective, one rooted in awareness, connection, and personal responsibility.

Ultimately, this conversation offers a balanced look at Human Design’s future-oriented ideas while staying grounded in practical tools for living well now. It’s an invitation to move beyond fear-based narratives and into a more empowered relationship with uncertainty…one where discernment replaces panic, gratitude anchors the present, and growth is seen as a shared human journey.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Human Design and 2027

02:24 The Rave Children and Their Evolution

06:21 Understanding the Rave Child Phenomenon

11:33 Navigating the Future: Predictions for 2027

14:21 Fear and Collective Consciousness

23:16 Purpose and Community in the Face of Change

26:06 Navigating Relationships and Personal Growth

27:48 Understanding Fear and Its Impact

30:28 The Role of Human Design in Fear Management

30:59 Preparing for Uncertainty with Gratitude

33:15 The Importance of Emotional Regulation

35:26 Finding Balance Amidst Chaos

37:45 Activism and Personal Responsibility

39:29 The Power of Words and Their Frequencies

41:18 Embracing Uncertainty and Living Fully

42:32 Final Thoughts on Navigating the Future

46:48 OUTRO 

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

[email protected]

Connect with Ellen:

https://ellenmlaura.substack.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ellen.laura.58/

 https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ellen-M.-Laura/author/B001K8IJZO

https://ellenmlaura.com/

Keywords: Human Design, 2027, Rave Children, Fear, Community, Self-Care, Awareness, Evolution, Spirituality, Personal Growth, Ra uru Hu

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, host Nicky Yazbeck meets with Shaneh Woods, founder of Prosperity First, CFO, and author of the upcoming book Profit Is Protest. Together, they explore a radically reimagined relationship with money; one that blends strategy and soul, numbers and nervous systems, spreadsheets and self-trust.

Shaneh invites listeners to move beyond traditional ideas of success and wealth, reframing prosperity as financial agency, overflow, and choice rather than hustle, burnout, or scarcity. The conversation dives deep into the energetic and emotional blocks that keep people from receiving, and how inherited money stories, fear-based systems, and internalized scarcity shape our relationship with income, worth, and power. Shaneh shares grounded, practical tools for shifting these patterns, emphasizing that true prosperity requires both inner work and outer structure.

This episode also explores the idea of profit as protest, which is using money consciously as a tool for liberation, values-based decision-making, and systemic change. Shaneh explains how reclaiming profit can be an act of resistance against scarcity-driven systems and a pathway toward businesses rooted in integrity, joy, and sustainability. The conversation touches on human design and self-awareness as tools for understanding how we earn, spend, save, and receive money in alignment with who we truly are.

This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, healers, creatives, and anyone ready to dismantle old money narratives and step into a more empowered, ethical, and expansive relationship with wealth. If you’re ready to see money not just as numbers, but as power, possibility, and protest, this conversation will change the way you think about profit forever.

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Prosperity Coaching

03:16 Defining Prosperity Beyond Money

07:06 The Blockages to Prosperity

10:43 Energetics of Money and Receiving

14:30 Unpacking Personal Money Mindsets

18:16 Transforming Your Relationship with Money

26:43 The Healing Journey: Understanding Emotional Patterns

29:02 Raising Children with Healthy Money Mindsets

29:09 Tools for Overcoming Financial Blockages

31:52 The Relationship Between Purpose and Prosperity

36:14 Profit as Protest: The Power of Money

36:29 Transforming Money Mindset: Practical Exercises

46:11 OUTRO

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

[email protected]

Connect with Shaneh:

https://prosperityfirst.com/

https://www.facebook.com/shanehsworld/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanehfwoods/

Keywords: money mindset, prosperity, energy, abundance, financial freedom, self-worth, EFT, personal growth, spiritual coaching, wealth consciousness

Two weeks ago, I realized I was doing exactly that. I was smiling through upset, pretending I was okay. My husband gently called it out: spiritual bypassing. It’s when we wear a mask of happiness, even when we’re struggling inside. We avoid emotions like anger or sadness because we’ve been told they’re 'not spiritual enough.' But here’s the truth: real healing happens when we feel, not when we suppress or fake it. The key? Notice your emotions, give them space, and they’ll transform naturally. It’s simple, but powerful. What emotion are you avoiding right now? Share below, let's talk about it. 

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

[email protected]

#SpiritualGrowth #EmotionalHealing #SelfAwareness #MindsetShift #InnerWork #spiritualbypassing #healing 

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, host Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Erica Ballard, women’s wellness coach, intuitive eating guide, and self-described lover of both science and woo, for an expansive conversation about intuitive eating, body wisdom, and the path toward true self-acceptance. With a Master of Science from Tufts University School of Medicine, certifications in integrative nutrition, NLP, and Reiki, and over a decade of experience in public health and wellness, Erica brings a rare blend of evidence-based insight and intuitive knowing to the conversation. Together, Nicky and Erica explore how many women become disconnected from their bodies through diet culture, restriction, intermittent fasting, and the pursuit of “doing health right,” and how intuitive eating offers a way back home to the body. Erica shares her own journey from rigid food rules and calorie control to learning how to listen to hunger cues, fullness signals, and the body’s changing needs across hormonal cycles, stress levels, and different seasons of life. She reframes food not as something to manage or fear, but as information, nourishment, pleasure, and connection, emphasizing that women’s nutritional needs are not static and must be honored in alignment with the menstrual cycle, hormones, perimenopause, and nervous system regulation. The conversation also dives deeply into body image, self-worth, and the subconscious beliefs many women carry about their bodies, highlighting how chronic under-fueling and self-criticism keep the body in survival mode and disconnect women from their innate wisdom. Erica offers compassionate, practical guidance for beginning an intuitive eating journey, including gently re-establishing hunger cues, releasing shame around food, and shifting from restriction to nourishment in a way that supports both physical and emotional health. This episode is a powerful invitation for women to step out of diet culture and into a more sustainable, embodied, and soulful approach to wellness—one that integrates women’s health, intuitive eating, mindful nutrition, body acceptance, and self-trust. Erica Ballard has been featured in Forbes, Women’s Health, and on CBS and WTHR, and currently lives in Denver with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs. This conversation is a must-listen for women seeking a more compassionate, intuitive, and aligned relationship with food, their bodies, and themselves.

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Intuitive Eating and Wellness Coaching

03:34 The Journey to Understanding Body Signals

06:06 Body Image and Societal Pressures on Women

11:34 Starting the Intuitive Eating Journey

13:17 Understanding Hunger and Satiety Cues

17:23 The Impact of Parenting on Eating Habits

19:24 Exploring 'If Love Could Speak' by Janine Roth

29:39 Transforming Diet: The Power of Whole Foods

32:18 Mindful Eating: Understanding Satisfaction

35:13 Eating in Public: The Psychology of Food Choices

39:20 The Importance of Pleasure in Eating

46:21 Intermittent Fasting: Benefits and Considerations

55:33 OUTRO

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

[email protected]

Connect with Erica:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericaballard/

https://www.ericaballard.co/

Keywords:women's wellness, intuitive eating, body image, hunger cues, mindful eating, intermittent fasting, self-acceptance, nutrition, health coaching, women's health, intermittent fasting, health coaching

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, Nicky Yazbeck sits down with KerryAnne “Ray” Kelley for a thoughtful conversation on trauma, embodiment, and the deeper mechanics of change. Ray shares her lived and professional experience as a trauma-informed, nervous-system-informed practitioner and the creator of the Blueprint Breakthrough, which is a framework designed to reveal how early imprints, belief systems, and adaptive survival strategies shape identity, behavior, and capacity.

Together, Nicky and Ray explore how the subconscious mind influences the majority of our daily choices and reactions, often long after the original experiences that shaped them. Rather than approaching healing through self-improvement or force, Ray emphasizes understanding how patterns formed in the first place and how they continue to live in the body, nervous system, and psyche.

The conversation weaves through NLP, somatic coaching, visualization, and sound-based regulation, highlighting how present-time tools can be used to work with trauma without reliving it. Ray explains how dissociation, often pathologized, can actually serve as an intelligent survival response and how, when approached skillfully, it can become a doorway back to safety and self-trust.

A central theme of the episode is identity: who we believe ourselves to be in relation to our trauma, and what becomes possible when healing is no longer about fixing what’s “wrong,” but about restoring clarity and choice at the root level. Ray offers practical insights into daily practices, belief systems, and somatic awareness that support lasting change, especially for high-capacity individuals who are ready to move beyond collecting frameworks and into embodied integration.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen more closely to the body, and reconnect with the intelligence already present within the nervous system without performance, bypassing, or self-blame.

Takeaways:

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

[email protected]

Connect with Kerry Anne:

https://www.kakelley.com/

https://www.instagram.com/kerryloveannelight/?hl=en

linkedin.com/in/misskerryannek

https://www.youtube.com/@KAKelley?app=desktop

https://www.facebook.com/kerry.kelley1

Keywords: NLP, somatics, trauma healing, subconscious mind, self-esteem, empowerment, visualization, personal growth, hypnosis, KerryAnne Kelley, trauma healing, emotional responses, identity change, belief systems, self-exploration, empowerment, healing techniques, personal growth, neuro linguistic programming