Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

This conversation exposes the impact of cultural trauma on Indian mental and emotional well-being and the conflicts these cultural pressures can cause. After outlining how therapeutic approaches can ease the pain, transform lives and begin to shift cultural norms, expectations and beliefs, Mansi asserts that having dreams, desires, and boundaries is an expression of one's wholeness, not a betrayal of others.

Cultural dynamics explored include: - The expectation that women will sacrifice their personal happiness for family honor - Belief systems that defy logic and reason - Abusive parents, difficult in-laws, avoidant husbands and broken familial promises - The opposition of successful, educated professional vs. traditional wife and mother roles - Normalizing physical abuse, financial abuse, and marital rape

Constantly overriding authenticity to pursue attachment gives rise to appeasement patterns, fawning responses and false beliefs such as, "sacrifice is love." These behaviours are linked to autoimmune diseases, as is detailed in Gabor Maté's book, When the Body Says No. Mansi supports his thesis with a poignant story of a friend battling terminal cancer, who sadly learned this lesson too late.

About Mansi Poddar, Psychotherapist

A trauma-trained psychotherapist and clinical supervisor, Mansi developed the SANI Model of Therapy—a trauma-informed, integrative framework which weaves together 4 key strands of therapeutic wisdom—Somatic Psychology, Affective and Attachment Psychology, Narrative Therapy, and Deep Inquiry. Having supported individuals through trauma, life transitions, and emotional healing for 14 years, Mansi's approach is designed to provide deep healing, emotional resilience, and personal transformation.

She specializes in Compassionate Inquiry (developed by Dr. Gabor Maté), somatic therapy, narrative therapy, and inner child healing, integrative approaches that support deep transformation of both body and mind.

With a MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University, Mansi is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and a Certified Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner trained in suicide prevention. Manis is currently pursuing advanced training in Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), Somatic Experiencing and Somatic Psychotherapy.

Promotional Message

If you're interested in experiencing Gabor Maté's trauma healing approach, consider working with a certified Compassionate Inquiry (CI) Practitioner. Access healing support for mental, emotional and physical symptoms, unresolved trauma, relationship issues, addictions, and more. Use this link to access our global directory of multilingual certified professionals. In addition to their years of CI training and regular Certification reviews, our Practitioners bring the depth of their own personal lived experiences and skills in additional, complementary therapeutic approaches.

Resources:

Websites:

Professional Website

Related Links:

Parental Abuse in Indian Culture

Surviving to Thriving

Books:

When the Body Says No

Podcasts:

Women Making Impact - India

We See Your Pain

Quotes:

"For decades, Indian culture has practised an authoritarian style of parenting where parents believe in having complete autonomy over their child's life, in most cases, even during the teenage and adult years. 'Tough love' is a favorite among Indian parents. 'Traditional Indian parenting' or 'conservative mom and dad' are terms loosely thrown around in India to uphold and normalise acts of suppression and child abuse, carried out for decades in familial structures." - The Naked Truth

"When you question something, you are told, this is our culture, this is our tradition, and when this is done, it means that logic has ended and belief has come in." - Kamla Bhasin.

"We are being educated. We are being told you should get a career, you should get a profession, you should be financially independent. But nobody is teaching men and their families to…create a culture that sustains this for women. So there is a conflict…A lot of women get diagnosed as borderline or bipolar because… they're filled with rage, and after talking, get people to mediate or communicate their needs. Nobody is hearing them. So they get these diagnoses. And a large part of my work is helping them peel off the labels and look at what's beneath it." - Mansi Poddar

"Beliefs that hold women back: 1. Sacrifice is love. 2. Family honor is more important than personal happiness. 3. Good women don't say no." - Mansi Poddar

"Shame is a very strong thing in this culture. Constant comparisons, body shaming, humiliation. I meet adults who are 60 years old who are still being humiliated by their parents." - Mansi Poddar

Social Media:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mansitherapy?igsh=MWxvdTRmanprenlk&utm_source=qr

FB: https://www.facebook.com/psychologistmansi

Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

Our guest, an expert grant writer for charities, social enterprises, and Indigenous organizations, shares her profound transition from a deep sense of invisibility to authentic visibility and happy invisibility. Barb also describes how integrating spiritual wisdom, trauma-informed healing and self-introspection ultimately directed her to surrender to her unique gift for impactful social justice work.

Barb delves into: - Her own "happy childhood" myth, hiding the pain of her childhood medical trauma. - The value of Cosmic Human Design, Gene Keys and True Sidereal Astrology - The mysterious illness that led her to Dr. Gabor Maté's work - How CI therapy and training profoundly transformed her parenting - The power of recognizing one's inherent beauty, gifts, and supported nature

Initially aiming to build a "spiritual empire" based on Human Design, Barb realized her true passion by using her gift of "translation" to simplify complex grant proposals and secure over $50 million in funding for charities, social enterprises, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations.

About Barb Brangan Founder, Grantful & Pearlful

A strategic funding expert, Barb crafts compelling, high-value funding proposals for impact-driven organisations to facilitate amazing projects. The $50+ million in grants and tenders she has secured is fueling transformational social impact across mental health, housing, youth suicide and domestic violence prevention, and aged care.

By combining her Compassionate Inquiry training with her counselling background, Barb's deeply trauma-informed, human-centred approach enables her to help organisations not only secure critical funding but also to align deeply with their mission and values.

Passionate about uncovering the authentic nature of individuals and organisations, Barb weaves her love for True Sidereal (Cosmic) Astrology, Human Design and Gene Keys into her mentoring and strategy work. She believes that when people lead from their innate gifts and lived experience, they can create funding narratives and social impact initiatives that are both compelling and deeply authentic.

Known for her ability to make complex funding processes clear and empowering, and for bringing fun into the process, Barb is a trusted ally for social impact teams ready to scale their vision and impact. A dual citizen of Australia and Ireland, she supports clients locally and globally from Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Promotional Message:

If you've been listening to our podcast and are curious about the transformative power of Compassionate Inquiry®, join us on Feb 22 for a 6-hour online experiential introduction to the Compassionate Inquiry approach and community . This link takes you to a web page where you can get information and, if you choose, register for the CI Experience event.

Resources

Websites:

Professional website - Grateful

Professional website - Pearlful

Books:

When the Body Says No

Article:

Her Business - Featured Member

Related Links:

Nature, Nurture & Your Cosmic Blueprint: How Healing Trauma Unlocks the Gifts in Your Human Design & Gene Keys

Cosmic Human Design

Gene Keys

True Sidereal Astrology

Torres Strait Islanders

Compassionate Inquiry Training

Compassionate Inquiry Practitioners' Directory

Videos:

Getting Grant Ready

New Earth Leadership Summit

Podcast:

How to Transform your Life with Human Design

Quotes: "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost.

"Compassionate Inquiry has completely transformed how I parent. We can allow space for sadness and happiness and all of that, because … the feeling isn't wrong. It's just allowing… it to be there. That has changed me, it has changed us as a family. My daughters are teenagers, and I really enjoy this stage." - Barbara Brangan

Social Media:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/barbarabrangan LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarabrangan/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/barbarabrangansoul

Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

In this episode, Juliano shares his personal journey from the trauma of in utero addiction and premature birth, to being raised in the foster system, to his healing through expressive arts and Compassionate Inquiry®(CI). As a psychopharmacologist with time-limited patient prescription assessments, Juliano describes how incorporating CI practices into these sessions can help patients uncover years of hidden suffering, validate their lived experiences, question false narratives and potentially end trauma cycles

He emphasizes the importance of: - Authenticity, compassion, and self expression - Both being honoured by others, and honouring others - Finding wisdom in one's own lived experiences - The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence's charitable works - His "dissociation superpower" in his work supporting others' healing

Juliano also describes his profound connection with Gabor Maté, who honored him as a "wounded warrior." The conversation ends with Juliano producing this 12-word mantra for living authentically, on the spot: "When you follow your heart's true desire, the universe conspires for you."

A Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner practicing in California since 2011, Juliano is a Compassionate Inquiry focused prescribing provider who views patient-centered care as family-, community-, relationship- and workplace-focused. He offers diagnostic assessments and ongoing medication management for many conditions including; depression, anxiety, substance abuse, PTSD, psychotic, personality and adjustment disorders, OCD, hoarding, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, gender dysphoria, and many more.

Born prematurely addicted to meth and cocaine, Juliano was taken from his mother and placed in a NICU without the comforts of touch or adult protection. Growing up in the foster system, he found wisdom in his own traumas. Having dissociated from grief during bereavement as a survival strategy, today he uses his 'dissociation superpower' to help patients experiencing mortality and existential fears. Juliano also specializes in helping those experiencing chronic HIV/AIDS and cancer, and serving the LGBTQ community's unique needs.

A dedicated and active member of San Francisco's Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Juliano (Sister Shalita Corndog) is currently serving his 3rd term as a Board Member-at-large. He also serves as Co-Legislative Board Member for the California Association of Nurse Practitioners, Bay Area Chapter, lobbying for legislation to improve his profession and the lives of individuals in need of care.

Along with his best friend, Mrs. Bari Littles (his Pomeranian) Juliano enjoys long walks in nature and adventures by the ocean. While his favorite place on earth is Durban, South Africa, he seeks solace from a noisy world in Muir Woods (Marin County, CA) or any Redwood forest.

Promotional Message: If you've been listening to our podcast and are curious about the Compassionate Inquiry approach developed by Doctor Gabor Maté and Sat Dharam Kaur, consider joining the Professional Training Program. It's open to all healing professionals, including naturopaths, physicians, body workers, coaches, and therapists. In addition to learning how to use compassion to support your clients in their most vulnerable moments with greater empathy and authenticity, you'll also deepen your own internal process. If you're interested, tap this link to learn more

Resources:

Websites:

Professional Website

Official Sister Shalita Corndog Profile:

Related Links:

Safety First PSA campaign

Compassionate Inquiry Professional Training

2025 Hunky Jesus

Quotes:

"Safety first, sexy second" - Safety first campaign

"When people ask me my pronouns… I just say, call me anything you want that's not used in a derogatory way." - Juliano Innocenti

"Most of humanity is our tribe. We just are taught to see difference and separate. We're not different. We've just been pulled apart." - Juliano Innocenti

"The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence… there's two parts of our mission. [1] To expiate stigmatic guilt. [2] To promulgate universal joy. When you are in the presence of a sister, you feel joy." - Juliano Innocenti

Social Media:

IG: @innocenti113

FB: facebook.com/innocenti113

Threads: @innocenti113

Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

This conversation explores Eva's transformative journey from traditional peacework to a trauma-informed, soul-centred approach. Her own experience of progressive vision loss forced her into two years of deep shadow work. In this process she identified and released unhelpful core beliefs and avoidant patterns Today, Eva believes she lost her eyesight to rediscover her true vision and destiny, through embracing her Palestinian-Israeli identity

She clearly explains why: - Sustainable peace begins within us - Traditional peacework as fundamentally broken - Trauma-informed peacebuilding is able to end suffering comparisons and the weaponizing of trauma - The Israel-Palestine conflict as a colonial themed theater in which global powers operate - True conflict resolution requires the recognition of multiple truths and perspectives

Eva emphasizes that bringing people together in the midst of a genocide is immoral. Instead, she suggests the focus be on holding space for community pain, including the deep impact of collective generational trauma. She shares an inspiring vision in which she saw humans experiencing darkness as "particles of light" on a journey back to wholeness.

About Eva Dalak. Founder, Peace Activation

A skilled conflict transformation facilitator and peacebuilding trainer, Eva combines grassroots depth with policy-level insight. For 20+ years she has worked with international organisations in 22+ conflict zones across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, blending systemic change with personal and collective healing. After 30+ years as a gender and conflict expert, she leads trauma-informed, soul-centered initiatives as a women's empowerment coach.

Growing up as a Palestinian-Muslim in Israel, Eva experienced a fragmented identity within a system designed to 'divide and rule,' reflecting the collective fragmentation she later observed. Fluent in five languages, she is trained in international development and law, spiritual psychology, and somatic experience.

Currently based in Costa Rica, Eva launched Peace Activation on October 7, 2023 in response to the escalating crisis in Palestine and Israel. It is a global peace initiative rooted in the belief that sustainable peace begins within.

Eva hosts the Peace is Possible podcast and authors The Other Narrative Substack, sharing stories of resilience and hope from the frontlines of conflict. On October 7, 2025, she will release her new book, Dancing In The Dark: How I Found My True Vision For Peace.

Promotional Message:

Did you know that Compassionate Inquiry® offers a free public blog library with over a thousand short posts written by our practitioners and facilitators? Each is only a 5 or 6 minute read, and topics range from connecting with authenticity to overcoming food addictions to understanding epigenetics, rethinking drug use, CI & Psychedelics, and much, much more. You can also read excerpts from podcast guests' interviews. Tap this link to access our helpful, enlightening and inspiring blog library.

Resources:

Websites:

Eva Dalak

Peace Activation

Related Links

The Drama Triangle

The Other Narrative - Substack

Books:

When the Body Says No

Dancing In The Dark: How I Found My True Vision For Peace. (Available Oct 7, 25)

Exodus

Podcasts:

Peace is Possible Podcast

Crossing the Boundary

Peace in the Fire

The Better Human Podcast

Quotes:

"Peace cannot be imposed through declarations. It is an ongoing process, a daily act of quiet courage... and it must be made again and again." - Eva Dalak

I didn't fall into darkness—I answered its call. There, I remembered the grief I carried was never mine alone. What breaks us open is sometimes what births us whole." - Eva Dalak

"I believe that I lost my vision so that I could discover within myself where I had already lost my vision for my destiny. I had to lose my vision to find where, why, and what I am choosing to live." - Eva Dalak

"Wholeness is not something granted by a government, a passport, or a flag... Wholeness is something we must reclaim from within." - Eva Dalak

"Peace is not something we wait for. It is something we activate. We do not wait for peace; we embody it. The work is not done. It is just beginning." - Eva Dalak

Social Media:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/evadalak/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-dalak-0702b02/?originalSubdomain=cr YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChbEP_Qv3J3PuWr2z-d8G4w FB: https://www.facebook.com/evadalak/

Hosted by J'aime Rothbard, Kevin Young and Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

Join us as we explore the overall impact of technology and AI on human attachments, relationships, dependence, skills, wellbeing and our environment. AI is examined in therapeutic contexts, along with the considerable ethical and societal concerns around its use in that capacity, and the documented damage it can inflict on vulnerable populations.

Sat Dharam addresses a number of 'hot' tech and AI topics including the: - Potential future implications of transferring human attachment needs to technology - Innate addictive qualities of tech apps, devices and our increasing addiction to information - Growing human disconnection from intimate presence, relationships, emotions and engagement - Links between our increasing reliance on technology and the loss of essential life-skills - Increases in human dysregulation, dissatisfaction and disembodiment

AI and Data Centers' high water and power consumption are flagged as an "unconscious abuse" of planetary resources, as few are aware of just how costly these 'free tools' are, from an environmental perspective. Should we be diverting resources vital for agriculture and other needs to AI and tech?

The conversation concludes with a call for tech innovators to provide us with ethical guidelines, checks, balances and impact reports. Sat Dharam also emphasizes the need for discernment when using AI.

About Sat Dharam Kaur Compassionate Inquiry® Co-Director, Training Facilitator, Circle Leader, Certified Practitioner

Sat Dharam is a practicing naturopathic doctor (since 1989) with a focus on women's health, cancer and mind-body approaches to healing. Since 2012, she has been studying, hosting, working and teaching with Dr. Gabor Maté. She structured his work in a teachable format; the Compassionate Inquiry® Professional Online Training. Since 2019, much of her naturopathic practice has included Compassionate Inquiry®.

Sat Dharam's educational background includes a BA majoring in Psychology & English Literature, and a BSc in Biology from the University of Guelph. She completed her postgraduate studies in naturopathic medicine at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, where she also taught stress management and women's health for 10 years. The author of multiple *books on women's health, Sat Dharam has also presented at numerous conferences.

An expert instructor in Kundalini Yoga, which she has practiced and taught for over 45 years, Sat Dharam has developed yoga-based curricula in addiction recovery, trauma, and breast health; specialties in which she offers training to teachers around the world.

Sat Dharam and her husband live in an off-grid home on 105 acres of beautiful land where she nurtures fruit trees and a large garden. She enjoys hiking, cycling, and communing with plants. She has three adult children and two grandchildren.

Promotional Message:

If you're drawn to Dr Gabor Maté's teachings and books, you might like to know about the Compassionate Inquiry Short Course. It provides an introduction to the powerful therapeutic trauma healing approach created by Dr Gabor Maté and developed by Sat Dharam Kaur. The Short Course delivers 30 hours of video and narrated powerpoints, plus PDFs that together, will not only help you understand the origins of trauma and how it can be healed, but also how trauma is linked to mental and physical illnesses. Tap this link to learn more about this program, that's priced and presented to make it accessible to all.

Professional Site

Compassionate Inquiry Profile

Beyond Addiction

Compassionate Inquiry

Should LLM (AI) be Used as a Therapist?

Barriers to Healthcare Access

Generative AI's Environmental Impact

Calculating the True Environmental Costs of AI

The Hidden Costs of AI | Sustainability

Books:

*The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Women's Health

*A Call to Women: The Healthy Breast Program & Workbook

*A Naturopathic Guide to Preventing Breast Cancer

*The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Breast Cancer

Hold on to Your Kids

"...in the first months of our lives, the attachment bond happens with parents. In the first two or three years of our lives, the attachment bond happens with the Earth. If children are placed in front of the television at an early age, our attachment needs will get transferred to technology, and that becomes the future of humanity. We're not realizing that's happening." – Sat Dharam Kaur

"Are we skilled in discerning and knowing how to use technology for the betterment of humans [and] the planet? Or is technology interfering with our humanity and the well being of the planet? Those are big questions for any new technology." – Sat Dharam Kaur

"...if we looked at all data centers today, the amount of water that they utilize would irrigate 270,000 acres of corn, 380,000 acres of wheat, 130,000 acres of almonds, and 91,000 acres of rice. And that will jump exponentially in the next two years. Is that what we choose to do?" – Sat Dharam Kaur

"...given that we are becoming so used to these micro interactions and bite sized bits of things, how then do we have deep meaningful conversations? Are we losing that ability to sit in those deep meaningful places with ourselves and other people?" - Kevin Young

Instagram

Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard

This conversation explores how academic learning is impacted by a student's emotional state, prior experiences, and the safety of the learning environment. Bea, who has been teaching in various roles since 1993, saw that traditional teaching methods fail to account for the "whole" students who enter the classrooms. This failure often results in elevated student anxiety and hindered learning:

As a teacher committed to evolving current educational institutions and systems, she addresses: - The impact of negative emotions on learning - Math Anxiety, where it comes from, when and how it shows up - Teaching as a shared experience between teacher and student, not just an information transfer - Systems that discourage vulnerability in teachers, and prioritize conformity over critical thinking - How acknowledging mathematics' inherent difficulty can help students overcome anxiety and fear

Bea sees Compassionate Inquiry's potential to transform the current education system through; creating safety and rapport in classrooms, encouraging students to embrace their struggles, allowing mistakes to help students embody knowledge, educating teachers on students' nervous system responses and underlying beliefs, and embracing somatic approaches to addressing student blocks.

About Dr Bea Bleile, MSc, PhD

German-born Bea enjoyed mathematics in high school, but her love for the subject blossomed during her undergraduate studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. After earning her diploma, she became an associate lecturer at ETH.

Wanting to stay in touch with mathematics while caring for her young child, Bea undertook and completed her MSc in homological algebra. Next, she enrolled in a PhD program in low dimensional algebraic topology, and after completing her doctorate, worked as a post-doctoral fellow.

Today, Bea teaches at the University of New England (UNE) in Armidale, NSW. She teaches all undergraduate mathematics units as well as specialized honours and postgraduate units.

A staunch believer in the liberating power of education, after reading Dr Gabor Maté's book, The Myth of Normal, Bea undertook the Compassionate Inquiry (CI) professional training. Her goal was to expand her ability to teach difficult subjects in accessible ways to support students' learning experiences. The CI training revealed what may be happening in students' bodies and psyches when they experience 'maths anxiety' or encounter learning blocks. It also equipped Bea with the insights she needs to support students in moving past their blocks.

Teaching and planting trees are Bea's preferred ways to contribute to society.

Promotional Message:

If you've been listening to our podcast and are curious about the Compassionate Inquiry approach developed by Doctor Gabor Maté and Sat Dharam Kaur, consider joining the Professional Training Program. It's open to all healing professionals, including naturopaths, physicians, body workers, coaches, and therapists. In addition to learning how to use compassion to support your clients in their most vulnerable moments with greater empathy and authenticity, you'll also deepen your own internal process. If you're interested, tap this link to learn more.

Resources:

Websites:

Dr Bleile's Professional Profile

Related Links:

Paulo Freire

Bell Hooks

Articles:

Reflections on Compassionate Inquiry® and Teaching Mathematics

Everyone Can Learn Mathematics to High Levels: The Evidence from Neuroscience that Should Change our Teaching

Books:

Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom

Pedagogy of the Oppressed

The Myth of Normal

Bell Hooks Books

Quotes:

"Attending school was sheer joy. I loved being a student. I loved learning. School was the place of ecstasy, pleasure and danger. To be changed by ideas was pure pleasure. But to learn ideas that ran counter to values and beliefs learned at home was to place oneself at risk to enter the danger zone. Home was the place where I was forced to conform to someone else's image of who and what I should be. School was the place where I could forget that self and through ideas, reinvent myself." - Bell Hooks

"If you've managed to learn to read and write, you can do maths. It's like learning another language. You have to work at it. Things won't make sense immediately. And it's hard because it's a very precise language. You try to do a problem and you don't even know where to start. That's normal." - Bea Bleile

"The knowledge we now have about the working of the brain is so significant, it should bring about a shift in the ways we teach, give messages to students, parent our children, run schools and colleges." - Jo Boaler

"Another thing that is important in doing mathematics, I guess in doing everything, but especially in mathematics, is to allow ourselves to make mistakes and to allow ourselves to ask a question as it comes up." - Bea Bleile

Social Media:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/bea.bleile

Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

This rich conversation explores many topics, from Ester's personal and professional journeys, to spiritual mysticism, to the parallels between experiencing 'excellence' in art, music and transformational trauma healing. Ester began sharing her NDEs and naming,"'the Divine embrace" as her childhood comfort, the foundation of her healing approach and an enduring influence in her therapeutic practices.

She also reflects on: - Why healing is always possible - Art and music as mediums for elevating consciousness and facilitating emotional healing - How addressing shared human experiences can lead to community healing - The role precise therapeutic interventions play in healing individual and collective systems - Why mastery in any healing modality requires years of devotion and practice

Ester concludes this conversation by sharing a vision in which schools incorporate teachings on presence and emotional health, and by doing so, facilitate greater consciousness in future generations.

About Ester Martinez, PhD

A Master Transformational & Executive Coach, Psychotherapist, Individual & Collective Trauma Therapist and Consciousness Teacher, Ester holds a BA in International Relations, a MA in Humanities and a Ph.D in Philosophy & Ethics. She has also studied and practiced Zen Meditation since 2003.

Ester has applied her multidisciplinary training, (Gestalt group work, Family Constellations, Somatic body/mind work, Craniosacral Therapy, and Francois Mèzier's Body Therapy) in organizational settings and leadership development for 18 years. She is a core transformational faculty member for Mobius Leadership's senior most leadership offerings and a core member of Thomas Hübl's team.

Ester has been pivotal in developing innovative methods in both Constellations work and Mike Boxhall's "Presence in Stillness," and promoting them throughout Spain and South America. She pioneered the integration of mystical principles with Constellations work as a means for deep personal and collective transformation, and is on the leading edge of introducing personal mastery, consciousness work and transformational healing into the business world.

Her deep interest and immersion in the study, research and therapeutic application of mystical principles enables her to help people access, illuminate and integrate previously hidden and unrealized parts of themselves and their lives. Her deep connection to, and comprehension of, what lies beneath perceived patterns, roles, and identity, allows people to connect more fully to their life's true purpose and potential and gain clarity on their blocks.

When not traveling the world promoting and working on her many projects, Ester resides in Valencia, Spain, near her two grown sons. Promotional Message:

If you've been listening to our podcast and are curious about the Compassionate Inquiry approach developed by Doctor Gabor Maté and Sat Dharam Kaur, consider joining the Professional Training Program. It's open to all healing professionals, including naturopaths, physicians, body workers, coaches, and therapists. In addition to learning how to use compassion to support your clients in their most vulnerable moments with greater empathy and authenticity, you'll also deepen your own internal process. If you're interested, tap this link to learn more.

Resources:

Website:

Ester's Mobius Profile

Related Links:

Mobius Leadership

Bert Hellinger (Family Constellations)

Thomas Hübl (Collective Healing)

Craniosacral Therapy

Gestalt Group Work

Zen Meditation

David Garrett (VIolinist)

Gustav Klimt (The Kiss)

Books:

Laws of Healing

Healing Collective Trauma

Video:

The Myth of the Happy Childhood

Quotes:

"If we give ourselves the opportunity of looking at the darkest places in us, the light that has been hidden just shows up again and is always there guiding us." - Ester Martinez

"Great musical artists, like a violin virtuoso, is one with his instrument and creates a field of coherence that transmits joy. Healers are artists in their own right and their instrument is their whole body. We refine our instrument through contemplation, prayer, deep inner work to be the clearest instrument for service, but at the end it is grace that allows deep intuition and deep knowing to emerge from the unknown. That's what people see as deep coherence and miracles." - Ester Martinez

"Precision is love in healing." - Thomas Hübl

"The family group 're-members' the excluded... When a legitimate member of the group is shut out, someone in a later generation must compensate…by suffering a similar injustice. [They]…don't choose their fate… They relive the fate of the excluded person, and recreate [their] experience, complete with the guilt, the innocence, and all the other feelings..." - Bert Hellinger

Social Media:

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ester-martinez-phd-02b48490/

Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

This passionate conversation begins with Lubna's upbringing in war-torn Beirut. She recalls seeing bombs falling and people dying and wondering, "What is the point of this? How do we find purpose?" Her mom told her, "It's okay, everything's replaceable except you, the people you love and the story (or purpose) you live by." After 15 years of corporate work Lubna launched her own business, Stories. Its name acknowledges the intertwining of our purpose and personal brands, and the alignment of our internal and external stories. She also links misaligned stories with depression and other issues.

In this episode, Lubna highlights: - The role of purpose in personal fulfillment - How leaders' trauma can affect their authenticity and decision-making - The workplace transformation from, "Doing Leaders into Being Leaders" - Why corporate leaders are "the nervous system of their organizations" - How leaders' emotional states and level of personal development directly influence their organizations' cultures and employee engagement

The interview concludes with Lubna's vision of Compassionate Inquiry's universal capacity for healing, facilitating new growth in global organizations, leaders, families and individuals.

About Lubna Forzley, Founder & CEO of Stories, Certified Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner, Independent Compassionate Inquiry Circle Leader, ICF-accredited PCC Coach

Lubna has worked with royalty, C-suite leaders, and Fortune 500 giants including American Express, Google, Johnson & Johnson and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. Her executive career includes senior roles at Coca-Cola, UNDP, BNP Paribas, and advisory roles to multi-sector startups from e-commerce to human development.

A sought-after speaker, Lubna has delivered hundreds of talks and shared stages with icon Steve Wozniak and others. The global roundtables she hosts have featured thought leaders Dr. Gabor Maté, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Dr. Caroline Leaf, Sat Dharam Kaur, ND and many others.

As the CEO and founder of Stories, a digital storytelling and coaching platform, Lubna's work supports the internal and external growth of organizational leaders.

The author of, Enhancing Business Community Relations (UNDP), Lubna's new book, Crack It, will be released in 2026. Her work has been featured in Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and AP as well as Andrew Stafford's book, Something to Believe In.

A passionate advocate for Compassionate Inquiry®(CI), Lubna is launching Independent CI Circles while working closely with Compassionate Inquiry® Inc. to bring its therapeutic approach to the Arab World. She serves as a board member for Grief Stories and an advisory board member for Mindtrust Leadership and Nasdaq EC. She champions women in leadership, and is the proud mother of three.

Promotional Message: If you're not a therapist or healer, but you've heard our guests describe the personal transformations they experienced during their Compassionate Inquiry® journeys, and wonder what that would be like for you... Circles is a 10-week small group experience offered to anyone who wants to experience the power of Gabor Maté's approach to trauma healing. Use this link to find out if this program is for you.

NEW! Independent Compassionate Inquiry® Corporate Circles These 10-week online support groups are designed to heal workplace stress, toxic dynamics, and disengagement while helping leaders access resilience, emotional regulation, and deeper self-inquiry. Tentatively scheduled to begin September 30. Use this link to learn more and register your interest.

Resources:

Websites:

Professional Website

CI Practitioner Profile

Speaker Profile

Related Links:

2024 Grow Virtual Conference

Grief Stories

Mindtrust Leadership

Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center

Videos:

2019 TEDx talk

Speakers Bureau Profile

Simon Sinek, Start with Why.

Framework Leadership Podcast

Let's Have This Conversation Podcast

Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Interview

Books:

Enhancing Business Community Relations (UNDP)

Something to Believe In.

Social Media:

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubnaforzley/

IG: @lubnaforzley

Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

This heart-felt conversation arcs from the pain of apartness to the healing power of connectedness. Kosha shares her personal journey, which led her from the cognitive and somatic dissonance of enforced separation (apartheid) to the synchronicity of inter-connection.

She also explains how: - Human love and connection can change systems from the bottom-up - Witnessing eco-communities' good intentions and dedication to restoring relationships with nature, social systems, cultures, and economies led her to, "fall in love with our world and humanity" - Underlying limitations manifesting as unresolved conflicts can block us from reaching our full potential. - The Pocket Project creates pockets of intimacy—with ourselves, others, and the world. - Global Social Witnessing moves from "cold data" (mental processing that fosters separation and polarization) to "warm data" (embodied, relational understanding). - The collaboration of healing movements supports widespread bridge building and waters the seeds of cocreation in the "super juicy" spaces between their different approaches.

In conclusion, Kosha emphasizes the need to address the "sand in our systems;" those subtle, persistent particles of conflict and resistance that hinder collective flourishing. She encourages us to love "our sand" and allow it to settle so that our waters can clear themselves and light can stream in.

About Kosha Joubert, CEO, the Pocket Project

An expert international coach and facilitator, Kosha has worked in systems regeneration, organizational development and intercultural collaboration in 48+ countries. In her current role, she works closely with Pocket Project co-founder, Thomas Hübl, and a global team. Together they are growing a culture of trauma-informed care by focusing on the emergence of collective wisdom, trauma-informed leadership and post-traumatic growth. She co-hosted the "Power of Collective Wisdom Conference" with Thomas in Berlin in 2008, and continues to co-host the annual Collective Trauma Online Summit.

Kosha has also authored several books and received the Dadi Janki Award (2017) for engaging spirituality in life and work, and the One World Award (2020) for building the Global Ecovillage Network to a worldwide movement reaching out to over 6000 communities on all continents.

Kosha holds degrees in Cultural Anthropology, Linguistics and Organisational Development and has studied with Thomas Hübl since 2005. She grew up in South Africa under Apartheid and has been dedicated to healing divides and collective trauma ever since. When she is not traveling, she enjoys living amidst nature's beauty in Findhorn, Scotland.

Promotional Message: If you're not a therapist or healer, but you've heard our guests describe the personal transformations they experienced during their Compassionate Inquiry® journeys, and wonder what that would be like for you... Circles is a 10-week small group experience offered to anyone who wants to experience the power of Gabor Maté's approach to trauma healing. Use this link to find out if this program is for you.

Resources:

Website:

The Pocket Project Website

Related Links:

2025 Collective Trauma Summit

Thomas Hübl's Website

Compassionate Inquiry

Global Social Witnessing

Videos:

Global Social Witnessing (2025)

From Apartheid to Ecovillages (2015)

Podcasts:

What is Collective Trauma? (2025)

Planet Critical (2024)

Books:

ECOVILLAGE: 1001 Ways to Heal the Planet

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts

Attuned

Healing Collective Trauma

Training:

CI Circles

Global Social Witnessing 1

Global Social Witnessing 2

Research:

WHO Report: From Loneliness to Social Connection

Quotes:

"One of the most underutilized resources we have on the planet today is the good intentions of citizens and our willingness to make a difference." - Kosha Joubert

"The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, but connection." - Gabor Maté

"Social connection is essential for the health, strength and resilience of individuals and societies." - The WHO Commission on Social Connection

Social Media: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kosha-joubert/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/thepocketproject

IG: https://www.instagram.com/project.pocket/

YT: https://www.youtube.com/c/thepocketproject

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thepocketproject

Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

This conversation delivers rich insights on the importance of clear communication and intentional maintenance in healthy love relationships. Dr Sara also explores the ways personal and inherited trauma can impact intimate relationships, from causing ongoing emotional issues to expanding individuals' resilience and abilities to maintain healthy relationships. In addition to sharing stories from her personal and professional life, Dr Sara explains:

- How the six relational ingredients of her Emergent Love Model interact and evolve over time. - The specific conditions required for love to flourish, gleaned from studying 312 couples - The common issues that result when couples communicate without mutual understanding. - The different couple conflict dynamics that shape children's emotional health - Why love is a conscious choice, not something one "falls into" or "out of".

Dr Sara offers tools and strategies couples can use proactively to strengthen their relationships and provides practical guidance on how to cultivate loving relationships through awareness, active engagement and understanding rather than passive acceptance.

About Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh

An award-winning social psychologist, global thought leader and relationship expert, Dr Sara's work bridges personal intimacy, professional excellence and intercultural fluency. She has authored multiple books, book chapters and white papers, including her award-winning 2024 book, Love by Design: 6 Ingredients to Build a Lifetime of Love.

Having worked as a senior advisor to the United Nations (UN), its Population Fund (UNFPA), its Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO), and Fortune 500 companies across 41 countries, Dr Sara's mission is: To create world peace, one relationship at a time.

Dr Sara is also a highly regarded scholar who has served on the boards of The International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH), the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), and the California Psychological Association's Division VII.

Dr Sara created and hosted the BBC World Service's, The Whispers, a first-of-its-kind program addressing issues related to sexuality and interpersonal relationships in the Middle East. In 2007, it earned the BBC's Innovation of the Year Award and continues to reach millions of Farsi speaking communities around the world.

Celebrated by peers and clients alike, Dr Sara received: The Clark Vincent Award from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) for advancing the field of marriage and family therapy, The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists' (AASECT) Professional Excellence Award, Pfizer's Innovation of the Year Award, and was a British Council UK Alumni Award for Social Impact finalist. Her work has been featured in global media including NPR, BBC, CNN, ABC, New York Times and USA Today.

Dr Sara lives in Los Angeles and travels extensively for speaking engagements, cultural explorations, media engagements and research.

Promotional Message: If you've been listening to our podcast, you may have heard guests connect their birth experiences with enduring subconscious behavioural and emotional patterns. To help break this cycle, Compassionate Inquiry® offers The Portal, a 28-week trauma-informed training for perinatal health professionals; such as midwives, obstetricians, nurses and doulas, who want to empower their patients to trust their innate ability to birth, bond & nurture their child. Use this link to learn more.

Resources:

Website:

Dr Sara's Professional Website

Related Links:

Articles:

Dr Sara's monthly newsletter on Substack

The Six Signs Your Relationship Is One That Will Last

How to Make a Marriage Work (Even If It's With a Gold Digger)

Books: Love by Design: 6 Ingredients to Build a Lifetime of Love (2024)

Sexuality Education Wheel of Context (2017)

The Orgasm Answer Guide (2009)

Videos:

Is Love the Secret Ingredient at Work?

Love by Design Q&A

Balancing Multiple Roles and Maintaining the Desire Towards Our Partner

How Trauma Affects Your Lovelife

TEDx UCIrvine: Why Our Names Are the Gateway to Intimacy

Podcasts:

A New Model for Love

Love by Design: Why Couples Succeed

Love by Design

Sex in the Middle East

Quotes: "Human beings are members of the whole in creation of one essence, and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, other members uneasy will remain. If you have no sympathy for human pain, the name of human you cannot retain." - Saadi Shirazi

"...within this book, [Love By Design] one of the things that I wanted to achieve was to really capture that essence of thriving relationships, from bedroom to boardroom." - Dr Sara Nasserzadeh

"True love gives your heart a break, not heartbreak." - Dr Sara Nasserzadeh

"Trauma is not what happens to you, but what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you." - Gabor Maté

Social Media: Instagram: @Dr.Saranasserzadeh Facebook: @Dr.SaraNasseZadeh LinkedIn: @Dr.Sara Nasserzadeh