EPISODE #81 - Lisa Gungor is an artist, author, yoga instructor, and a facilitator in Yes Collective’s new Root Work Immersive Circles. When she was introduced to the Yes Collective team, she was just "Lisa" the yoga and ecstatic dance teacher. But the team later found out that she's a Grammy-nominated Christian indie rock musician who traveled the world, started churches, and then left Christianity and her entire career and identity behind. 

So not only does Lisa have a super fascinating story, she's an all around amazing human being. So, we had to have her on to talk about her journey, what led her to make such a monumental move away from Christianity and "the church," and how she came to facilitate retreats focused on a this-world sacredness. 

If you care about making massive life transitions, finding new identities and meaning grounded in honesty and compassion, and stepping into the everyday sacred, you're gonna love this interview with Lisa Gungor.

1. Lisa's personal website is here: https://www.lisagungor.com
2. Lisa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/direct/inbox/
3. Lisa's music (as Isa Ma): https://open.spotify.com/artist/0pWvGTyszb31m9wq2cLlJ0?si=fGPeFvBiT3Orb19LvrnNAw
4. Lisa and Dr. Hilary McBride's Sacred Feminine retreat: https://sacredfeminine.co/
5. Lisa's book, The Most Beautiful Thing I've Seen: Opening Your Eyes to Wonder: https://a.co/d/i0Sg7CH

Yes Collective is co-hosted by Justin Wilford, PhD

Justin Wilford, PhD, is a co-founder of Yes Collective, an educator, a writer, and an emotional health coach. He earned doctorates from UCLA (cultural geography) and UC Irvine (public health), and specializes in translating complex, scientific ideas into actionable programs for mental and emotional health. 

EPISODE #80 - Welcome to this special edition of the Yes Collective Podcast. This one is a collaboration with our new friends at REVcovery podcast, Sarah Heath and Justin Gentry. The REVcovery podcast is focused on life after Christian ministry, recovering from being a professional Christian, and finding meaning in the aftermath. 

Justin doesn't fit the bill for their typical guest: he's never been in Christian ministry and never was a professional Christian, although his father was, and he researched Christian megachurches for his first dissertation, so he's no stranger to this world. But the main reason we had this conversation was to talk about community and transcendence after church, or what Justin calls "post-church." 

Justin W., Sarah, and Justin G. had a really good time chopping it up about what a post-church space could look like, the importance of embodiment and dancing, what spirituality can be after religion, and who the "post-church" is even for. 

If you care about building new spaces for community, transcendence, and personal growth then buckle up, you're gonna love this collaborative episode with Sarah Heath and Justin Gentry at the REVcovery podcast.

1. Check out the REVcovery podcast here: https://www.irreverent.fm/show/revcovery/
2. Sarah Heath's personal website is here: https://revsarahheath.com
3. Justin Gentry's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justin.gentry/?hl=en
4. Justin Wilford's "Post-Church" essay is here: https://www.justinwilford.com/newsletter-archive/we-need-post-church-churches-full

Yes Collective is hosted by Justin Wilford, PhD

Justin Wilford, PhD, is a co-founder of Yes Collective, an educator, a writer, and an emotional health coach. He earned doctorates from UCLA (cultural geography) and UC Irvine (public health), and specializes in translating complex, scientific ideas into actionable programs for mental and emotional health. 

EPISODE #79 - This week we're thrilled to welcome on the podcast Colin Pugh, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Psychedelic Society. Colin is the Executive Director of Brooklyn Psychedelic Society (BPS), an organization founded in 2015 whose mission is to serve as a prototype of a psychedelic co-op, which is to say a democratically governed, community-based healing center. BPS's current focus is on creating Trellis, an open-source community-based healing model that maximizes the safety, accessibility, and effectiveness of psychedelic journeying both underground and above. Colin is originally from Syracuse, NY and has lived in Brooklyn, NY for the past nine years.

We talked about how Colin first came into contact with psychedelics, how he connected with the Brooklyn Psychedelic Society and eventually became its Executive Director, and how he helps the BPS today grow a model of community-based healing that could one day spread across the country. We then dive into Justin's idea of "post-church spaces" aimed at intentionally nurturing community, transcendence, and personal growth outside of religious institutions. If you care about how we can find rich, healing community outside of traditional religion, then you're going to love this discussion!

Yes Collective is co-hosted by Justin Wilford, PhD

Justin Wilford, PhD, is a co-founder of Yes Collective, an educator, a writer, and an emotional health coach. He earned doctorates from UCLA (cultural geography) and UC Irvine (public health), and specializes in translating complex, scientific ideas into actionable programs for mental and emotional health. 

EPISODE #78 - We're thrilled to announce our first 8-week Root Work program is filled! three weeks of preparation and four weeks of integration surround 4-day retreat in Temecula, California. This program supports deep inner healing and new levels of self-acceptance, self-clarity, and self-expression. 

If you're interested on getting on the email list for the next one, just sign up here. 

On this episode, we have on one of our amazing retreat facilitators, Kirby Slager. Kirby is a somatic movement, breathwork, and sound practitioner who is dedicating to creating spaces for people to find their own capital-S Self. We talk about Kirby's past career as a comedian and actor, how dancing saved her, how she almost missed her calling as a breathwork guide, and how she crafts experiences as a facilitator. 

We couldn't be more excited to have Kirby on our team and we're grateful we get to share her talents with y'all!

But first, a quick announcement about an upcoming Yes Collective Studio Circle that you can join today. It's called Internal Family Systems for Your Daily Life - Level 1, facilitated by Yes Collective cofounder, IFS practitioner, and podcast cohost Justin Wilford, PhD.

Through out this four-week, live online program, we’ll:

1. Learn about the paradigm-shifting model of Internal Family Systems
2. Discover how all of your parts inside work to protect and defend you (and how there are NO bad parts)
3. Connect more deeply with your True Self and all your parts
4. Practice noticing, listening, witnessing, holding, and caring for every part of you
5. Learn tools to help parts relax, trust, flow, and connect with each other
6. Open up opportunities to bring IFS into your relationships, personal projects, career, and spirituality

You can learn more about the program and sign up here!

Yes Collective is co-hosted by Justin Wilford, PhD

Justin Wilford, PhD, is a co-founder of Yes Collective, an educator, a writer, and an emotional health coach. He earned doctorates from UCLA (cultural geography) and UC Irvine (public health), and specializes in translating complex, scientific ideas into actionable programs for mental and emotional health. 

EPISODE #77 - We just finished Week 1 of our newest 4-week Studio Circle called Internal Family Systems for Your Daily Life, facilitated by Yes Collective cofounder, IFS practitioner, and podcast cohost Justin Wilford, PhD.

In this podcast episode, Justin talks with lead trainer for the IFS Institute, Sue Richmond, LCSW. If what you hear makes you want to dive deeper, then you can still hop into the Yes Collective network with this 7-day free trial and join the IFS Studio Circle. If you're already a member of the Yes Collective then click here. Through out the four weeks, we’ll:

1. Learn about the paradigm-shifting model of Internal Family Systems
2. Discover how all of your parts inside work to protect and defend you (and how there are NO bad parts)
3. Connect more deeply with your True Self and all your parts
4. Practice noticing, listening, witnessing, holding, and caring for every part of you
5. Learn tools to help parts relax, trust, flow, and connect with each other
6. Open up opportunities to bring IFS into your relationships, personal projects, career, and spirituality

If you're really into IFS or you've just heard about, you're going to love this interview with Sue Richmond. She's a licensed clinical social worker and lead trainer with the Internal Family Systems Institute. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Keene State College, and her Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Connecticut, with a specialization in social group work and casework. She works with people living with a wide range of disorders including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and a variety of stress-related disorders. She’s also taught social work and individual and group psychotherapy at a variety of institutions. 

Show notes:

1. Sue's official website
2. Mariel Pastor's IFS Unburdened System Mandala
3. The Internal Family Systems Institute, where Sue is a lead trainer

Yes Collective is co-hosted by Justin Wilford, PhD and Jenny Walters, LMFT.

Justin Wilford, PhD, is a co-founder of Yes Collective, an educator, a writer, and an emotional health coach. He earned doctorates from UCLA (cultural geography) and UC Irvine (public health), and specializes in translating complex, scientific ideas into actionable programs for mental and emotional health. 

Jenny Walters, LMFT, is a licensed marriage family therapist and senior expert contributor to the Yes Collective. She is a graduate of the Pacifica Graduate Institute and is the founder and director of Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy in Los Angeles, California.

EPISODE #76 - We are beyond excited to launch our next Studio Circle live on July 25th! It's called Internal Family Systems for Your Daily Life, facilitated by Yes Collective cofounder and IFS practitioner, Justin Wilford, PhD. Justin has a doctorate in designing and evaluating mental health programs and is trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Authentic Relating, and Internal Family Systems.

In preparation for this Studio Circle, Justin grabbed a bunch of questions from his clients, friends, and colleagues new to IFS and collected them into the top 10 questions people have about IFS. In this episode, Justin goes solo and answers these questions from his perspective. He doesn't mess around and goes straight to the heart of each question. We think you're going to love Justin's honest, revealing, and experienced takes on these pointed questions. 

After listening, be sure to hop into the Yes Collective network with this 7-day free trial and join the IFS Studio Circle. If you're already a member of the Yes Collective then click here. Beginning with our first live session on July 25th, we’ll:

1. Learn about the paradigm-shifting model of Internal Family Systems
2. Discover how all of your parts inside work to protect and defend you (and how there are NO bad parts)
3. Connect more deeply with your True Self and all your parts
4. Practice noticing, listening, witnessing, holding, and caring for every part of you
5. Learn tools to help parts relax, trust, flow, and connect with each other
6. Open up opportunities to bring IFS into your relationships, personal projects, career, and spirituality

This is the work I do one-on-one with clients all the time. But let’s face it, not everyone can afford one-on-one IFS work. But all members of Yes Collective can join in this IFS Studio Circle (and membership to Yes Collective is only $50/month).

When you join the Yes Collective and IFS for Your Daily Life, you’ll get:

1. Four 90-minute, live workshops on Zoom, led by Internal Family Systems Institute-trained practitioner, Justin Wilford, PhD
2. Four weekly self-paced lessons
3. Four at-home practices to explore what it means to be Self-led and thrive as a harmonious system of parts
4. Video recordings along with transcripts of each live session

EPISODE #75 - Perhaps you've seen a 60 Minutes episode or a Netflix documentary on the emerging science of psychedelics in mental health. Or perhaps you've even found your way into a psychedelic-assisted therapy session or retreat. Or maybe psychedelics are a totally uncharted territory for you. Regardless of where you are on this spectrum, you're going to love this conversation with Dr. Alicia Wuth. 

Alicia is a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Denver, Colorado. She did her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at a major children's hospital, and she's also on the executive team here at the Yes Collective. A few weeks back, she had the opportunity to attend the largest psychedelic science conference ever held. 12,000 attendees (thousands of them were therapists) and 500 speakers over a full week in Denver, Colorado. The biggest names in the field representing Johns Hopkins, MIT, UCLA, Stanford, and countless other research institutions were there alongside celebrities like Aaron Rodgers and Jada Pinkett-Smith. It was quite an event!

Alicia joined us today to talk about the experience, the science, what she learned, and how it changed her views on the rapidly expanding world of psychedelic science. We dig into the science, the culture, and the practice of using psychedelics for mental and emotional health, and what's on the horizon for the Yes Collective. 

If you're at all curious about how psychedelics might change the landscape of mental and emotional health then you're going to love this conversation about Psychedelic Science 2023 in Denver Colorado. 

Yes Collective is co-hosted by Justin Wilford, PhD and Jenny Walters, LMFT.

Justin Wilford, PhD, is a co-founder of Yes Collective, an educator, a writer, and an emotional health coach. He earned doctorates from UCLA (cultural geography) and UC Irvine (public health), and specializes in translating complex, scientific ideas into actionable programs for mental and emotional health. 

Jenny Walters, LMFT, is a licensed marriage family therapist and senior expert contributor to the Yes Collective. She is a graduate of the Pacifica Graduate Institute and is the founder and director of Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy in Los Angeles, California.

EPISODE #74 - Have you ever been told you're “too sensitive," “too dramatic,” “too shy” or you “think too much”? Do you often feel overwhelmed and aren't sure why? 

What if all of your sensitivities were just untapped resources for living a connected, creative, and thriving life?

If this resonates for you, then you're going to love this conversation between Justin, Jenny, and licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Alicia Wuth on what it means to thrive as a highly sensitive person (HSP). They talk about what HSP really means on the ground in people’s lives, their own personal HSP journeys, and they dive into Jenny's new 4-week live Studio Circle, The Sensitive Uprising: How to Thrive as a Highly Sensitive Person.

Starting live on June 13th, Jenny and the Yes Collective team will help you:

1. Learn what it means to be a highly sensitive person (HSP)
2. Discover how all of the common HSP traits can be gifts that HSPs bring into the world
3. Connect more deeply with our own unique truth as HSPs
4. Practice noticing how sensitivity shows up in our systems while sharing with each other in a safe, caring, and supportive environment
5. Learn tools to deal with overwhelm and overstimulation
6. Open up opportunities to bring your distinct sensitivity into your personal projects, career, and relationships 4-week live studio circle on Jenny’s expertise in HSP and explore how she works with HSPs to unlock their potential. We’re calling it “The Sensitive Uprising: How to thrive as a Highly Sensitive Person”

If you're already a member of Yes Collective then you can join the Studio Circle today by clicking here. And if you're not yet a member, then click here to get started with a 7-day free trial.

If you think you might be even a little HSP, then join the Sensitive Uprising, and buckle up for this beautiful conversation.

Yes Collective is co-hosted by Justin Wilford, PhD and Jenny Walters, LMFT.

Justin Wilford, PhD, is a co-founder of Yes Collective, an educator, a writer, and an emotional health coach. He earned doctorates from UCLA (cultural geography) and UC Irvine (public health), and specializes in translating complex, scientific ideas into actionable programs for mental and emotional health. 

Jenny Walters, LMFT, is a licensed marriage family therapist and senior expert contributor to the Yes Collective. She is a graduate of the Pacifica Graduate Institute and is the founder and director of Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy in Los Angeles, California.

EPISODE #73 - We are thrilled to launch our first Internal Family Systems Studio Circle in July! It's called "IFS for Your Daily Life," and it's a live 4-week workshop led by IFS Institute-trained Justin Wilford, PhD, and his expert therapist team Jenny Walters and Alicia Wuth. They'll cover the foundational model of IFS, the big ideas, and most importantly the real-world, on-the-ground, life-changing practices you can do to bring IFS self-healing into your daily life. You'll leave the course with more clarity around your internal system, a better connection with your true self, and sustainable practices to continue your own self-healing work. 

If you’re already a member of Yes Collective, then you can join this studio circle today for no additional cost. And if you’re not yet a member of Yes Collective, then come on in! As a member you get immediate access to all our live Studio Circles - right now, as of late May, we’re in the middle of an amazing Circle on Authentic Relating. And in June we’re going to launch one on thriving as a highly sensitive person (HSP). 

If all this talk about internal family systems is new to you, then today’s podcast is going to blow your mind. If you’re old hat with IFS, then you’re still going to love what we have in store. Today’s guest is Dr. Frank Anderson, psychiatrist, therapist, author speaker and trauma specialist. He did his residency in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, worked with Bessel van der Kolk at the Trauma Center, is the former director of the Foundation for Self Leadership, a senior trainer of Internal Family Systems therapy and is an advisor to the International Association of Trauma Professionals. 

We are so excited to have Frank on because he’s a leader in Internal Family Systems therapy, and IFS is a major part of what we do here at Yes Collective. We had him on last year to talk about IFS and parenting, and we couldn’t wait to have him back to dive into other IFS topics like relationships, grief, forgiveness, and spirituality. 

Yes Collective is co-hosted by Justin Wilford, PhD and Jenny Walters, LMFT.

Justin Wilford, PhD, is a co-founder of Yes Collective, an educator, a writer, and an emotional health coach. He earned doctorates from UCLA (cultural geography) and UC Irvine (public health), and specializes in translating complex, scientific ideas into actionable programs for mental and emotional health. 

Jenny Walters, LMFT, is a licensed marriage family therapist and senior expert contributor to the Yes Collective. She is a graduate of the Pacifica Graduate Institute and is the founder and director of Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy in Los Angeles, California.

EPISODE #72 - Hey there, before we get started we want to let you know about an incredible 4-week online program—we call them Studio Circles—that we're launching in the Yes Collective, with the first live session on May 13th. This Studio Circle is all called "Creating Authentic Relationships." We designed this powerful 4-week live program to teach you the fundamentals of Authentic Relating. Each week, in our 90-minute live online sessions, we're going to dive into new relationship ideas and skills, and then we get to practice them together. We guarantee you there is no better way to super boost every single relationship in your life. 

And you don't have to take our word for it! The last authentic relating studio circle we did was with a group of licensed therapists—people who do relational work for a living. And they loved it. In their testimonials, they called it "transformative," "impactful," "nourishing," "surprisingly deep but safe," and "a lot of fun." 

We'll be doing Studio Circles on new topics each month - in June we'll be doing one on Highly Sensitive People and one on Internal Family Systems. Details below

One of the inspirations for this Studio Circle is the practice of Circling. It's a close cousin of Authentic Relating but Circling is more meditative and slightly less structured. Today's guest is a world-class Circling facilitator and relationship coach. Her name is Cathy Courtenay, and Justin met her at an amazing retreat in Sedona last year. She helped lead the most beautiful Circling session on the final day of the retreat and it absolutely blew everyone away. 

Cathy has been on a path of personal and spiritual growth for most of her life. She brings her heart and deep listening skills to everything she does. Her range of experience with dance, somatic bodywork, marketing, parenting, Relational Coaching (RLT Certified), and facilitating the Circling Method gives her a unique ability to cultivate authentic, meaningful relationships with her clients and students and she meets them right where they are.

Her greatest strength is creating a safe space that allows others to be with things that feel difficult, to stand fully in what’s real for them and to ultimately experience true transformation. Her warmth and love evoke the full expression, truth, and authenticity of those she serves.

On this podcast, we talked with Cathy about what Circling is and how it was discovered, how it creates deep relationships, how it builds greater self-awareness, and what it's like to go to a Circling event. If you care about creating deeper relationships in your life then you're going to love this episode with the wise and wonderful Cathy Courtenay. 

CATHY'S LINKS:

Cathy Courtenay's website: https://www.cathycourtenay.com

Cathy Courtenay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathycourtenay/

YES COLLECTIVE LINKS:

Link to join Yes Collective: https://home.yescollective.app/

When you join Yes Collective, you automatically gain access to all of the live Studio Circles. 

Yes Collective is co-hosted by Justin Wilford, PhD and Jenny Walters, LMFT.

Justin Wilford, PhD, is a co-founder of Yes Collective, an educator, a writer, and an emotional health coach. He earned doctorates from UCLA (cultural geography) and UC Irvine (public health), and specializes in translating complex, scientific ideas into actionable programs for mental and emotional health.