Well this is a TYTP first - I have the partner of a previous guest on the pod today! Dr. Laura Latham is married to episode 5’s guest Dr. Tim Latham! How cute is this?!! I know so many of you loved Tim’s episode, and you’re going to absolutely love Laura’s equally as much. They are both such compassionate, knowledgeable, and intentional providers, which comes across so clearly in each of their amazing interviews.

I so enjoyed sitting down and chatting with Laura about all of her passions, which include chiropractic care and yoga. She is brilliant, and balances those brains with being genuine and down-to-earth. I had the best time talking with her and we connected effortlessly. Ihighly recommend seeking her out for chiropractic or yoga support, she is a true gem of a doctor and a lovely woman!

*Skip to 5:04min mark to bypass the intro and get to the interview

In this episode we hear:

- How she discovered her passion for chiropractic

- How she chose to do a yoga teacher training

- What appeals mot to her in a yoga practice

- Her views on partnering with her patients rather than being seen as an authority figure

- How she navigates religion and ethics, and how yoga became her religion

- How meditation and yoga impacted her life

- How meditation is like food (no really, she’s got a great analogy!)

- How a chiropractor lives and moves in the world knowing so much about the body (people watching is on a whole other level with her!)

- How her experience as a chiropractor informs her personal yoga practice, as well as how she’s contributing to my ‘yogalma matter’ NSYA

- What you can expect in an appointment with her

- How she handles clients who may be struggling with the work they’re doing together

Today’s episode was a dream come true for me. I’m so excited to share my awesome conversation with Ann Swanson. I found her incredible book, The Science of Yoga, one day and suddenly anatomy made sense! I rave about it to everyone I know - it’s definitely one of the most important texts on anatomy, the science behind yoga, breath work, etc that I’ve ever come across, and believe me I do my research! Whether you’re a yoga teacher or a student of yoga or meditation, this episode is going to bring you as much joy as it did me. Ann has an engaging and accessible manner about her that makes learning all of this information so much more easy!

I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book for yourself. And please write a review on Amazon, as Ann mentions it really helps promote the success of the book..

*Skip to 6:56min mark to bypass the intro and get to the interview

Big thanks again to Stacey Mulvey, my guest on episode 14, who connected me with the beautiful Jalisa Williams, today’s pod guest.

We covered a wide range of topics, from exploring using more inclusive language to her mission to promote inclusivity within meditation/mindfulness/yoga, to her experiences as a social worker. She’s so clearly passionate about making yoga, wellness, and mindfulness more accessible to people who may have a stigma associated with it or those who have never felt welcome within those realms.

I know you’ll love this episode, Jalisa is truly an incredible force bringing major growth and expansion to her community out in Colorado. I definitely think this episode will offer you a lot to chew on and ponder, and hopefully help you begin to think more creatively about making wellness practices more accessible to more people.

*Skip to 4:02min mark to bypass the intro and get to the interview

In this episode we hear:

- We discuss her impactful work in her private practice career

- Her thoughts on the term “person of color/POC”

- How she uses mindfulness and meditation in her therapy practice

- Her thoughts on dismantling racism and stereotypes

- All about Black Girl Magic

- About discovering sacred spaces specifically for Black individuals

- Her passion for bringing yoga and holistic practices to more people

- Reducing stigmas around wellness and self-care within the Black community

- How yoga is for everyone and every body

- Owning “selfishness” in a positive way

- All about her beautiful offering “Flowetry” and her mission with Soulflower Experiences

This episode has been waiting in the wings for months (I try to spread out the themes for each episode release) and I’m so excited to finally bring it to your ears today. Emily is a good friend and one of my yoga mentors, and on a beautiful day in April she had me over to her home (which she affectionately calls “the tree house”). We had an amazing conversation underneath her lovely skylights with Mama Kitties keeping watch.

Emily’s vulnerability and honesty make this episode truly one of the most important I’ve engaged in thus far. She openly shares about her mental health struggles and how she worked through them to come out on the other side resilient and willing to devote her life to supporting others in a healing capacity. And yes, of course we discuss yoga, Reiki, and the magic of TIMBo.

At the end of the episode Emily mentions workshops that have already passed, and I chose not to edit that out so that you can hear about all the wonderful creative experiences she offers. Check out Coolidge Yoga’s website and Emily’s website to see what she’s up to in the near future, including upcoming Reiki trainings.

As I mention in the podcast intro, we discuss the seriousness of mental health issues, including suicide. If you (or someone you know) are in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help to a close friend of family member, or call or text the Samaritan’s Hotline at (877) 870-4673, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255, or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741. Here’s what to expect if you’ve never called a crisis hotline before.

*Skip to 8:11min mark to bypass the intro and get to the interview

Today’s guest is the lovely Denise Hooks, and I’m so grateful to Stacy Mulvey, my guest on episode 14, for connecting us! Denise is an incredible therapist based in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she offers individual therapy, group therapy, and co-owns a consulting agency with her husband.

We spent like 3 hours on the phone, not even kidding!! I immediately felt comfortable with her, like I know her; she’s so easy to talk to and so smart and articulate. She’s doing such incredible work with womxn of color and survivors of trauma, two of her main areas of focus.

As a disclaimer, parts of this episode may be triggering for people as we discuss topics (although not in a very detailed way) like interpersonal violence, suicide, and abortions.

Also, we had some sound issues, I hope it’s not too distracting for you! Apologies in advance.

*Skip to 6:08min mark to bypass the intro and get to the interview

In this episode we hear:

- How Denise decided to become a therapist and how she decided to work with the population she serves

- How her cultural background and being a black womxn shapes her practice as a therapist

- How she uses Existentialism and Gestalt therapies with clients, and how her theater background helps her help clients more efficiently

- What Narrative therapy is and how she finds it especially useful working with people of color

- How to find your theoretical approach as a therapist

- The importance of boundaries and ethics in therapy

- How to be a competent and inclusive provider

- How to navigate challenging conversations within therapy, specifically when “racial undertones” or racism occurs

- Using Existentialism in working with survivors of trauma

- How memories and emotions are strongly tied together

- How trauma can become trapped in the body, and ways to use different techniques in therapy to release it

- About the stigma that exists for seeking therapy, specifically within communities of color

- About her therapy group for womxn of color “Consciousness Raising”

- About Denise and her husband’s consulting business Elevated Consulting and how they offer Organizational Psychology to businesses

It only took three decades, but I now LOVE going to the dentist. Shocked?! I’m not! Anti-Dentite’s be damned. Dr. Mayr is one of my most favorite people, and he is an incredible dentist. He and his staff are committed to helping patients feel welcomed and comfortable in the office, and he treats everyone with thorough care and respect. Even if your insurance is out-of-network, you should definitely go see Dr. Mayr, his business partner Dr. Yuko, and their incredible team at Harmony!! You’ll leave the office feeling empowered to take care of your oral hygiene and overall health, without feeling ashamed if you admitted that you forget to floss daily.

This episode will offer you information all about what on earth it means to be a holistic dental practice, as well as how Dr. Mayr balances traditional Western dentistry with holistic/biologic dentistry. He also candidly shares a bit about his personal life, and - dun dun dunnnnnnn - whether or not he flosses daily!!

*Skip to 4:54min mark to bypass the intro and get to the interview

Let’s get controversiallllllll!!

I know what you’re thinking: whoa, a therapist is releasing a podcast episode about WEED?! Relax - I’m not endorsing nor condemning the use of marijuana, but this is a growing industry (punny!) and cannabis yoga is a thing now, just like beer yoga. It’s a controversial topic within the yoga-sphere and in the therapy world. While I am well-aware that research on the effects of cannabis is still young and limited due to federal regulations, more and more people are using it to alleviate symptoms of chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, epilepsy, to overcome opiate addictions, and the list goes on. I don’t think you can go into any store today without seeing something that has CBD added to it! I know people who swear by it. In addition, I’ve seen first-hand the negative effects of marijuana on young developing brains (e.g., the onset of early psychosis). See what I mean? Controversial! I hope that listeners can come with an open mind and trust their own autonomy. This is a safe and nonjudgmental place, and everyone is absolutely entitled to any opinion they may or may not have.

I’m very excited to release this episode today, and I know you’re going to dig it as much as I do. I learned so much from my chat with Stacey, and I loved getting to know her and hearing more about her fascinating story. She is a really brave, cool, genuine, and empowered woman, and talking with her was so effortless.

I know you’ll love this episode, and I promise you don’t need to imbibe in cannabis to appreciate it!

*Skip to 6:23min mark to bypass the intro and get to the interview

In this episode we hear:

- about Stacey’s background and how at a young age she broke free from the Mormon culture/religion

- briefly about the research that continues to develop on the impact of marijuana use on mental health

- how she came to teaching yoga through pole dancing, Callanetics and Pilates

- the importance of understanding anatomy in order to teach

- about Stacey’s upcoming yoga teacher training that she created for her company Marijuasana

- recognizing the pros and cons of imbibing in cannabis

- how Stacey created her business Marijuasana

- Stacey’s “coming out” with cannabis

- about Stacey’s experience being a female entrepreneur

- about how yoga can be joyful

- about the power of community with yoga and cannabis use

- about her style of teaching

- about Stacey’s views on cannabis as a drug and a form of medicine

- the difference between Sativa and Indica and how not all marketing of their effects are accurate

We’re having a bit of a testosterone stretch here, eh?! Today’s guest is the magical and incredible meditation teacher Wilhelm, a fellow NSYA-er (keepin’ it in the fam, y’all) and a truly kind soul. While I’ve known Wilhelm for a couple of years now, I knew little of his personal life and experiences growing up in South Africa pre-and-post-Apartheid, and I have a lot of gratitude for all that he shares with us in this episode.

While I myself practice different forms of meditation, mostly focusing on my breath, I’m no expert nor am I green in my practice. I’ve had some amazing experiences dropping into consciousness under Wilhelm’s guidance - I’m talking images in my mind of smatterings of bright colors, feeling energy flowing, tapping into my inner guide…it’s amazing. He is an incredible teacher who respects how personal the practice is, and aims to break down any barrier one may have to connecting to their own meditation practice.

If you’re curious to learn more about meditation and live locally, check out his upcoming workshop on May 11th: Beyond the Cushion: Meditations for the Moment workshop at Coolidge Yoga Brookline!

PS: One quick disclaimer, I meant to say this in the intro - this episode was recorded in early April at the onset of that annoying illness I had that caused me to skip a week of releasing an episode. I definitely sound sick, to me at least!

*Skip to 5:24min mark to bypass the intro and get to the interview

In this episode we hear:

- How “where are you from” is a loaded question for him

- How breaking his ankle brought him to yoga and meditation

- How he strayed off the yoga teacher path

- How event planning and meditation are closely related, in Wilhelm’s wise opinion 

- On coming out as a young man in South Africa

- How to reframe your 9-5 when you have a side hustle

- His ritual before he leads meditation

- How to begin meditating

- How making tea can be a meditation

- The importance of having a grounding ritual when you serve others

- How Wilhelm keeps his chill

- About the barriers he experienced when initially practicing meditation

- How meditation aligns the body and the mind

- How he plans his meditation teachings

- Why standing meditations are a supportive option for people fearful of meditating

- How meditation allows one to welcome every part of themselves, even the inner critic or rebel

- How your affinity with Harry Potter can be a meditation

- Using social media mindfully

Jeffrey Thomas is living history. This wonderful man is a friend and sangha-mate of mine from my YTT, and I’m so grateful that Jeffrey agreed to allow me to interview him - this is one of the most important interviews I’ve done thus far. Jeffrey shares his experience of being a young Black man growing up in the south in the midst of the Civil Rights movement, and candidly shares how this has shaped his teaching today, as well as how his experience inspired him to create the Mandela Yoga Project.

It’s an honor to have sat down with Jeffrey, and it is truly an honor to call him a friend; this episode is truly incredible and I’m eternally grateful for Jeffrey’s willingness to share, his vulnerability, and candidness.

One final note, please consider supporting his Mandela Yoga Project here, any amount helps!!

*Skip to 6:58min mark to bypass the intro and get to the interview

My guest this week is a former colleague Paul Sullivan, a local professor and therapist operating his own private practice. Paul and I worked together last in 2012 or 2013 at a partial adult psychiatric program in Brookline, MA. I’m so grateful that Paul and I have kept in contact over the years as he’s been an important person in my professional career and professional development; he actually offered me some simple advice back when we worked together and I call upon it often, as you’ll hear me explain in the episode.

We start our conversation where Paul is really selling me on starting a private practice - stay tuned for more on that, hopefully soon!

*Skip to 5:26min mark to bypass the intro and get to the interview

In this episode we hear:

- About Paul’s journey to establishing himself in private practice

- All about Paul’s theoretical approaches, including Positive Psychology (umm hi apparently this is my jam)

- How Paul balances his jobs, spending quality time with family, and making room for play

- Peaceful parenting

- Paul’s interest in sustainability and CSAs

- How Paul helps his clients and students thrive

- Paul’s view of the developmental stages in life

- All about Paul’s mindfulness and meditations practices

- How Paul offers his clients and students tangible and accessible ways to feel happier and live more conscious lives

- Theraveda Buddhism (What? Just listen to the episode!)