Trust the Journey. Today

In this episode, we’re talking about training, expanding on “the journey,” and success through failure…

In this episode, we’re talking about fear, choices, deciding through those feelings and how walking the Appalachian Trail is a pretty good metaphor on the topic…

In this episode, we’re talking about… duh, ourselves… haha… we will share some of our stories, backgrounds, why we were called to create this show, and our goals with it…

In Today’s episode, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ross Ellenhorn…

Dr. Ross Ellenhorn has spent his career creating treatment modalities that help people achieve meaningful changes in their lives outside of institutional models, and treatment formed by diagnostic assumptions. Cardea is the latest step along that lifelong journey, a model that resists the current encroachment of the Western medical model on psychedelic care.

Trained as a sociologist, psychotherapist and social worker, Ross is a pioneer and leader in the development of community integration services, types of care that empower individuals diagnosed with psychiatric and/or addiction issues while they remain in their own communities. He created the first fully operating intensive hospital diversion and wrap-around program in Massachusetts and later developed one of the first public programs for Assertive Community Treatment teams in the state. He is also the founder and owner of Ellenhorn, the most robust community integration program in the U.S., with offices in Boston, New York City and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.

Dr. Ellenhorn has authored two books on human behavior. Parasuicidality and Paradox: Breaking Through the Medical Model (Springer, 2007) addresses psychiatric hospital recidivism and techniques for diverting hospital use. How We Change (and the Ten Reasons Why We Don’t) (Harper Collins, 2020)takes a deep dive into the dynamics that influence all human change. His third book, Purple Crayons: The Art of Drawing A Life (Harper Wave, 2022) is an update on the 1955 children’s classic that explores ways adults can live their lives as art, summon more inner aliveness and resist the ever-growing pressures to conform.

Dr. Ellenhorn is the founder of the Shifting The Paradigm conferences, a biannual series that addresses humanistic and empowering changes in behavioral healthcare; and is the cofounder and president of the Association for Community Integration Programs (A4CIP), a professional association promoting programs dedicated to empowering clients who are receiving services while living and participating in their community. Dr. Ellenhorn is the first person to receive a joint Ph.D. from Brandeis University’s prestigious Florence Heller School for Social Welfare Policy and Management and the Department of Sociology.

Links to Socials:

Website - Cardea: https://cardea.net/

Website - Ellenhorn: https://www.ellenhorn.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardea_space/

Books HERE

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THANK YOU for listening! If you feel you received value from this or any episode, please consider supporting the show in any way you’re inspired. You can make a one-time donation or join the Trust the Journey family on Patreon.

When you become a Patreon supporter, you will be added to our private Facebook group, which is our safe community space for those looking to connect, get support, heal, and grow. Our monthly private, virtual integration calls facilitated by Mel and Jay personally are included with your Patreon membership.

Patreon Link – www.patreon.com/user?u=6057426

One-time donation: https://trustthejourney.today/donation/

You can also join our integration coaching circles one time through this link:

Integration circle: https://trustthejourney.today/integration/

EPISODE SPONSOR:

Ayadose.com from Great Spirit Farm, their Ayahuasca microdose tincture

Website: Ayadose.com

Discount Code: TTJ10 for 10% off

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In Today’s episode, we are thrilled to welcome Yvette Vexta…

Better known by her nom de plume “Vexta,” Yvette Vexta is an autodidactic multidisciplinary artist from Sydney, Australia now based in New York City.

Her career started in Melbourne in the mid 2000s, as one of the first female street artists of the Street Art and Graffiti Movement. Her artwork has evolved since her illegal graffiti days into her uniquely, bold and colorful aesthetic, aimed through a psychedelic lens to investigate our connection to the natural world. Through this lens, she explores themes of mythology, cosmology, and consciousness, whilst keeping her feet firmly rooted in deep psychology. Exploring the personal within universal mythopoetic archetypes, her work often and meshes figurative forms mid her symbolic, geometric shapes with floral, fungi, and coral patterns on the macro and micro levels.

Vexta’s work in her time here on earth provides insight into our fundamental engagement with the modern human condition as connected/disconnected to the natural world, and thus our in ourselves.

Her practice has grown from murals and paintings to hosting events, immersive experiences, and digital art, as well as practicing as a transformative coach with a focus on medicine.

She collaborates with a diverse range of commercial clients, such as visa, the Olympics, Converse, lollapalooza and Governors ball music festival, Faberge, urban decay, sports girl, juxtapoz magazine, and Samsung.

Most days she can be found working out of her studio on the 69th floor of the prestigious World Trade Center in New York City as an artist in residence. When she is not in the studio, she can be found out in nature, meditating, or cooking delicious meals for her friends.

Links to Socials:

Website: https://www.vexta.com.au

Instagram: @vexta

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THANK YOU for listening! If you feel you received value from this or any episode, please consider supporting the show in any way you’re inspired. You can make a one-time donation or join the Trust the Journey family on Patreon.

When you become a Patreon supporter, you will be added to our private Facebook group, which is our safe community space for those looking to connect, get support, heal, and grow. Our monthly private, virtual integration calls facilitated by Mel and Jay personally are included with your Patreon membership.

Patreon Link – www.patreon.com/user?u=6057426

One-time donation: https://trustthejourney.today/donation/

You can also join our integration coaching circles one time through this link:

Integration circle: https://trustthejourney.today/integration/

EPISODE SPONSOR:

Ayadose.com from Great Spirit Farm, their Ayahuasca microdose tincture

Website: Ayadose.com

Discount Code: TTJ10 for 10% off

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In Today’s episode, we are thrilled to welcome Shaul Schwarz & Christina Clusiau…

Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau are award-winning documentary filmmakers, cinematographers and photojournalists based in Brooklyn, New York. They co-founded the production company Reel Peak Films, specializing in documentary films and series that prioritize cinematic quality and journalistic integrity

Shaul’s debut documentary, “Narco Cultura,” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013. In 2016, Christina and Shaul co-directed the Emmy-winning series “A Year in Space,” produced with Time’s Red Border Films; co-directed the documentary “Aida’s Secrets,” which premiered at Hot Docs in 2016; and

co-directed the Emmy-winning documentary “Trophy,” which premiered at Sundance in 2017.

Shaul and Christina were executive producers and cinematographers on the Netflix documentary series “Unnatural Selection.”, they were the co-directors,

producers and executive producers of the Netflix docu-series “Immigration Nation,” which premiered in 2020.

In 2021, the series was nominated for a Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series, a finalist for the Dupont Columbia Award for Excellence in Broadcast, Documentary and Online Journalism and received the 2020 Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award, 2021 Peabody Award and 2021 Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Series. Christina and Shaul also co-directed and

co-produced the documentary series “Shaun White: The Last Run.”

Their most recent film, FLY steaming Sept 25th, 2024, is described this way… To stand on the edge of a cliff and throw your body into the wind, one has to be willing to lose everything. That could mean the love of your life, or it could be the life you love. Over seven years, FLY follows three couples entwined in the world of BASE jumping, risking everything for the rush of feeling truly alive.

In the heart-stopping film from National Geographic Documentary Films, FLY immerses viewers in the exhilarating yet perilous world of BASE jumping. At the heart of the film are three couples: Jimmy and Marta, pioneering figures affectionately known as the “Mom and Pop” of BASE jumping; the fearless wingsuit pilot Scotty and his newfound love, Julia; and the resilient duo Amber and Espen, whose bond is tested by triumph and tragedy.

Through breathtaking aerial footage, vérité scenes and intimate interviews, the film explores the complex balance between passion and sacrifice. A poignant love story that celebrates the spirit of those who dare to defy gravity, capturing the essence of what it truly means to live on the edge.

Links:

Nat Geo FLY film - HERE

:::

THANK YOU for listening! If you feel you received value from this or any episode, please consider supporting the show in any way you’re inspired. You can make a one-time donation or join the Trust the Journey family on Patreon.

When you become a Patreon supporter, you will be added to our private Facebook group, which is our safe community space for those looking to connect, get support, heal, and grow. Our monthly private, virtual integration calls facilitated by Mel and Jay personally are included with your Patreon membership.

Patreon Link – www.patreon.com/user?u=6057426

One-time donation: https://trustthejourney.today/donation/

You can also join our integration coaching circles one time through this link:

Integration circle: https://trustthejourney.today/integration/

EPISODE SPONSOR:

Ayadose.com from Great Spirit Farm, their Ayahuasca microdose tincture

Website: Ayadose.com

Discount Code: TTJ10 for 10% off

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In Today’s episode, we are thrilled to welcome longtime friend and fellow podcaster, Dean Ricci…

A.K.A "The Fuckin' Pilot,” host of “The Lunatic Fringe Podcast” has worked at everything from professional stripping to skydive instruction and now as a longtime pilot and published author. After 27 years in the sport of skydiving and more than 9 years writing for Blue Skies Magazine, the stories have piled up and spilled over into three hilarious and insightful books! His newest book “The Upside of Fear” which just published this year as well as “The Lunatic Fringe Book” and "The Accidental Stripper"

Links to Socials:

Books on Amaxon HERE

Instagram: @wopair

:::

THANK YOU for listening! If you feel you received value from this or any episode, please consider supporting the show in any way you’re inspired. You can make a one-time donation or join the Trust the Journey family on Patreon.

When you become a Patreon supporter, you will be added to our private Facebook group, which is our safe community space for those looking to connect, get support, heal, and grow. Our monthly private, virtual integration calls facilitated by Mel and Jay personally are included with your Patreon membership.

Patreon Link – www.patreon.com/user?u=6057426

One-time donation: https://trustthejourney.today/donation/

You can also join our integration coaching circles one time through this link:

Integration circle: https://trustthejourney.today/integration/

EPISODE SPONSOR:

Ayadose.com from Great Spirit Farm, their Ayahuasca microdose tincture

Website: Ayadose.com

Discount Code: TTJ10 for 10% off

====================================

In Today’s episode, we are thrilled to welcome Autumn Payne…

She is the Founder of Ethical Narrative, where storytelling becomes a force for positive change. Since 2021, Ethical Narrative has achieved remarkable results, raising millions of dollars for nonprofits and amplifying their social reach. Deeply invested in client success, Ethical Narrative goes beyond individual projects, reflecting a profound dedication to uplifting ourworld through art.

Autumn, an award-winning multimedia journalist with fourteen years of experience at The Sacramento Bee, brings a wealth of expertise. Versatile and scrappy, she fearlessly navigates diverse conditions, be it fires, floods, or skydiving. Autumn holds space for anyone with a story to tell, ensuring they are heard because she believes in the healing power of shared narratives.

When not capturing stories that change the world, you'll find Autumn immersed in the joys of gardening and adventuring with her husband and kids.In 2019 Autumn took refuge and became a dedicated student of Lama Jinpa Rinpoche of the Sacramento Buddhist temple, Lion’s Roar Dharma Center. She does her best here to share the wisdom she has learned from the teachings. Any errors that may be presented here are entirely her own.

Links

www.ethicalnarrative.com

www.lovinglionheart.com

@photobyautumnpayne

@ethicalnarrative

In Today’s episode, we are thrilled to welcome Steven Kotler…

Steven is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective.

He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. Steven is the author of eleven bestsellers (out of fourteen books), including The Art of Impossible, The Future is Faster Than You Think, Stealing Fire, The Rise of Superman, Bold and Abundance.

His work has been nominated for three Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 50 languages, and has appeared in over 110 publications, including academic journals such as Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews and Psychophysiology, and mainstream publications like the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, Wall Street Journal, TIME, and the Harvard Business Review.

Alongside his wife, author Joy Nicholson, Kotler is the cofounder of Rancho de Chihuahua, a special-needs dog rescue, and the Buddy Sue Hospice Home for Old Dogs, a canine elder care facility.

Mel has personally followed Steven’s work for many years, has read nearly all of his books, first Stealing Fire and most recently re-reading The Art of Impossible and recommending it to everyone. We highly recommend his work and couldn’t be more fired up to have him on the show.

Links to Socials:

Website: https://www.stevenkotler.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StevenKotlerOfficial

Instagram: @stevenkotler

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KotlerSteven

Twitter (X): https://mobile.twitter.com/steven_kotler/media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-kotler-4305b110

Links mentioned:

GetMoreFlow.com - Train with Flow Research Collective

Dr. George Bannano’s book a resilience research

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi - “Godfather of flow”

Rancho de Chihuahua - special-needs dog rescue

Buddy Sue Hospice Home for Old Dogs

Inktober

:::

THANK YOU for listening! If you feel you received value from this or any episode, please consider supporting the show in any way you’re inspired. You can make a one-time donation or join the Trust the Journey family on Patreon.

When you become a Patreon supporter, you will be added to our private Facebook group, which is our safe community space for those looking to connect, get support, heal, and grow. Our monthly private, virtual integration calls facilitated by Mel and Jay personally are included with your Patreon membership.

Patreon Link – www.patreon.com/user?u=6057426

One-time donation: https://trustthejourney.today/donation/

You can also join our integration coaching circles one time through this link:

Integration circle: https://trustthejourney.today/integration/

EPISODE SPONSOR:

Ayadose.com from Great Spirit Farm, their Ayahuasca microdose tincture

Website: Ayadose.com

Discount Code: TTJ10 for 10% off

====================================

Shreya Mehta is an award-winning fine artist who explores, in her vibrant and varied works, the social issues of identity, gender, power, and spirituality. Her art has been exhibited across the globe, from the Indian Consulate in New York to the private collection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In fact, Mehta secured her place at the Royal Academy of Art in Belgium as the first woman of Indian origin, graduating with none other than the prestigious V.R.I.K.A Award. Born in India, raised and trained in Belgium, and now living and working in New York, Mehta brings a global perspective and a positive touch to all her endeavors. She creates both representational and abstract works, thus defying categorization through constant, energetic change and an inquisitive nature.

Links and socials:

https://artshreya.com/

IG: @artshreya

FB: @artshreya

LinkedIn

:::

THANK YOU for listening! If you feel you received value from this or any episode, please consider supporting the show in any way you’re inspired. You can make a one-time donation or join the Trust the Journey family on Patreon.

When you become a Patreon supporter, you will be added to our private Facebook group, which is our safe community space for those looking to connect, get support, heal, and grow. Our monthly private, virtual integration calls facilitated by Mel and Jay personally are included with your Patreon membership.

Patreon Link – www.patreon.com/user?u=6057426

One-time donation: https://trustthejourney.today/donation/

You can also join our integration coaching circles one time through this link:

Integration circle: https://trustthejourney.today/integration/

EPISODE SPONSOR:

Ayadose.com from Great Spirit Farm, their Ayahuasca microdose tincture

Website: Ayadose.com

Discount Code: TTJ10 for 10% off