The Radical Therapist

In this episode Chris launches Dangerous Stories Studio, a new constellation of offerings for people navigating transitions and building futures that don't fit existing maps.

In this episode of The Radical Therapist, Chris sits down with systemic therapists and thinkers Christopher Loh and Federico Albertini to explore how New Materialisms are reshaping the foundations of therapeutic practice. What happens when therapy loosens its grip on language as the primary site of meaning-making, and begins listening to the material, the more-than-human, the in-between?

Drawing on philosophy, anthropology, physics, and the emerging edges of systemic psychotherapy, Christopher and Federico guide us through a relational world where matter is active, contexts are dynamic, and change emerges from constellations of forces, not just conversations. Together we explore how New Materialisms challenge the limits of the linguistic turn, illuminate the agency of bodies, environments, and objects, and invite therapists to rethink what “systemic” really means.

A conversation for anyone curious about what emerges when we let therapy become a practice of attention to the material conditions of suffering, care, and transformation, and when we recognize that the future of the field may lie in the spaces, relations, and rhythms we’ve long overlooked.

In this episode of The Radical Therapist, Chris sits down with narrative therapist and educator Todd Disney, Psy.D., to explore his work on Narrative Poetic Inquiry (NPI), the art of drawing out the poetic sensibility of clients rather than performing it as therapists.

Building on the ideas of Foucault, Bachelard, Michael White, Lefebvre, and others, Disney invites us to rethink therapy as an aesthetic and political act: a practice of “making the ordinary strange,” of discovering the sacred in the everyday, and of restoring beauty to lives flattened by productivity and pathology. Together, Chris and Todd explore poetic memory, the ethics of the therapist-as-artist, and how questions can become openings into resonance, imagination, and renewal.

A conversation for anyone wondering how language itself might help us re-enchant the world.

In episode #138 of The Radical Therapist Podcast, Chris sits down with long-time narrative therapist Gene Combs for a conversation on the past, present, and future of narrative therapy. Gene shares his journey into narrative therapy, his thoughts on neoliberalism’s impact on mental health, and why honoring people as the first authors of their lives remains a central commitment in his work.

We also dive into Gene’s recent writing/thinking on listening, what he calls “experiencing the storyteller’s experience” and explore how therapists can cultivate resonant presence in their conversations.

Chris Hoff PhD, LMFT

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2i0DmaT

What if the act of reading could help rewrite the stories we live by?

In this episode of The Radical Therapist, Dr. Chris Hoff sits down with bibliotherapist and narrative practitioner Mariana Casale to explore her new article, “Bibliotherapy as Narrative Practice: Reader Empowerment Through Re-Authoring Conversations.”

Drawing on the work of Michael White, Alejandra Pizarnik, Foucault, and others, Casale makes a compelling case for reading literature not as passive consumption but as a co-authored, transformative act that can decenter dominant discourses, uncover “sparkling moments,” and help people reclaim agency over their life narratives.

MarianaCasale.com

Chris Hoff PhD, LMFT

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2i0DmaT

In this episode of The Radical Therapist, Chris sits down with Dr. Makungu Akinyela, scholar, therapist, and community organizer to discuss his new book Culture, Politics, Spirituality and Practice: A Book of Resistance and Critical Theory for Disturbing Times.

We explore how therapy can be an act of resistance, how spirituality is political, and how Dr. Akinyela’s groundbreaking practice of Testimony Therapy reclaims healing as a collective, culturally-rooted, and justice-oriented process.

From the failures of Western psychology to the power of African-centered healing, this conversation is a call to action for therapists, healers, and anyone committed to liberation work in disturbing times.

https://makunguakinyelaauthor.com/

https://www.sankofatestimonies.com/

Chris Hoff PhD, LMFT

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2i0DmaT

In episode #135, host Chris Hoff sits down with contemplative scholar Brooke Lavelle and philosopher and activist Katrine Bregengaard to explore the emerging field of pluriversal practice—a response to the limitations of "one-world-worlding" that dominate our movements, institutions, and inner lives. Drawing on their co-authored essay (with Maha El-Sheikh) in The Arrow Journal and their work with the Courage of Care Coalition, Brooke and Katrine share how pluriversal frameworks invite us into deeper relationality, cognitive flexibility, and radical imagination. They unpack how dominant systems often reproduce themselves inside the very movements meant to resist them—and offer practices for undoing that replication through somatics, contemplative inquiry, and collective care. This is a rich conversation on healing, liberation, and building the worlds we dream of—worlds where many worlds fit.

Courage of Care Coalition

Liminal Lab by California Family Institute

Chris' Substack

Chris Hoff PhD, LMFT

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2i0DmaT

In episode #134, host Chris Hoff sits down with therapist Brian Dean Williams to explore the complexities of masculinity, mental health, and contemporary dilemmas facing men.

Drawing from multiple perspectives on patriarchy, Chris and Brian discuss:

Whether you're working with men in therapy or reflecting on masculinity in your own life, this conversation is a must-listen.

Brian's Website: https://briandeanwilliams.com/

Chris Hoff PhD, LMFT

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2i0DmaT

In episode #133 Chris sits down with Sanni Paljakka and Tom Stone Carlson, authors of So You Want to Do Narrative Therapy? Letters to an Aspiring Narrative Therapist. Together, they discuss the inspiration behind their innovative book, which blends real client transcripts, personal reflections, and practical guidance into a heartfelt conversation for therapists in training. Sanni and Tom explore themes such as the role of "unstories," the power of counterstories, and how narrative therapy can dismantle oppressive Master Narratives. This engaging episode offers valuable insights into narrative practice, inviting listeners to reimagine therapy as a space for justice, freedom, and collaborative storytelling.

Chris Hoff PhD, LMFT

Sanni and Tom's book: So You Want to Do Narrative Therapy? Letters to an Aspiring Narrative Therapist

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2i0DmaT

In episode #132, host Chris Hoff sits down with Loretta Pederson, author of Honouring resistance and building solidarity: Feminism and Narrative Practice. Together, they explore how feminist principles intersect with narrative therapy to honor clients' resistance to oppression and build solidarity in the therapeutic process. Loretta shares insights from her book, discussing the importance of addressing power dynamics, and fostering collaborative, justice-oriented practices in therapy. This thought-provoking conversation dives deep into the ways feminism and narrative therapy can inspire practitioners to create more equitable and transformative spaces for those who seek our help.

Loretta's Book

Chris Hoff PhD, LMFT

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