n a world that often feels disorienting with its speed and complexity, finding our true selves can sometimes seem like a search for a needle in a vast, shifting haystack. This quest for personal identity and authenticity was the focus of a deep and insightful conversation on my podcast Honor Your Spark, where I was recently joined by existential psychotherapist, consultant, writer, and columnist Dr. Sara Kuburic, also known as the Millennial Therapist. In this conversation, we explored the intricacies of human emotions and behaviors and how existentialism (and specifically, existential therapy) can offer a unique perspective on navigating life's challenges with authenticity, courage, and responsibility.

The corporate world is not exactly known for being fair to women. Even with significant progress made in recent decades, the wage gap still has women getting paid 16% less than their male counterparts (substantially worse for women of color), and women are often passed up for promotions or higher-level positions. Remember this exchange from the Barbie movie during Ken’s visit to corporate America? Ken: You guys aren't doing patriarchy very well. Corporate Bro: We're actually doing patriarchy very well [lowers voice] Corporate Bro: ... we're just better at hiding it. So when I discovered Sam DeMase through her book A Power Mood, I knew I had to invite her on the podcast. We had a fantastic conversation about the importance of self-advocacy for women in the workplace, and how they make make more strategic moves for career advancement.

Aesthetic styles like Minimalism, Grunge, Rustic, and Boho have been in the mainstream awareness for a quite a while now— and in recent years, social media has made it possible for folks to connect around more niche aesthetics like Cottagecore, Y2K, Academia, Old Money (for real), and— one of my personal favorites— Goblincore. And similarly to Minimalism, Goblincore is not just an aesthetic, but also a lifestyle. In this episode of "Honor Your Spark," I had the privilege of diving deep into the enchanting and rebellious world of Goblincore with the brilliant McKayla Coyle, an author who not only has penned a fantastic, detailed guide to Goblincore (Goblin Mode) but also lives and breathes this inclusive and anti-capitalist lifestyle.

Navigating pivots is a necessary skill set in all areas of life— especially in our careers, whether you’re an employee or an entrepreneur. In the case of Jason Shen, who pivoted from Silicon Valley entrepreneur to Facebook employee to executive coach, resilience becomes the name of the game. In fact, in his first startup, Jason says of his team: "We didn't run out of money— we ran out of resilience." As he continued to see how critical resilience was for navigating both personal and professional pivots, he became passionate about understanding it deeply. The more he thought, learned, and researched about resilience, Jason started to understand it not just as one skill or trait, but as a set of skills that can be cultivated.

The idea of being an “activist” can feel incredibly daunting. Since not a single person can ~save the world~ even if activism is their full-time job, it doesn’t take much to start feeling that creeping sense of “Why bother?”. Omkari Williams is here to tell you why we should still bother— and how we can think of activism in a way that actually fits into our lives for the long haul.

Our modern world is paradoxical in many ways, one being this: people will spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on books, courses, coaching, and therapy to become more self-aware— and yet, our technology and pace of living can cause us to be anything BUT aware. Instead, we often find ourselves on autopilot, seldom relying on critical thinking or reflecting deeply on our internal experience

Anyone who hasn’t been through some kind of substantial hardship yet has no business being a therapist or coach. There— I said it. No, your therapist/coach doesn’t need to have gone through the same experiences you have; but if they haven’t even set foot inside the school of hard knocks, how the hell are they supposed to have the perspective to help their clients navigate suffering? In this episode of the podcast, Angela Gentile, public school teacher turned professional hypewoman and speaker, shares how her own experiences have shaped both who she is as a person and as a coach and catalyst with her clients.

It ain't my business to tell anyone how to eat or live their lives, but hey— it's my podcast, so I sure as hell am gonna tell you what I think. 😜 In all seriousness, I haven’t talked much at all about veganism or animal advocacy in the Bad Bitch Therapist world yet. In the past, I actually had a whole separate “Val the Vegan Therapist” website and vegan podcast, and while I’m still just as passionate about veganism today, I just realized that was not a thing that I wanted to do as a full-out additional brand / business.

As I was thinking about how I wanted to ring in the New Year on the podcast, a lightbulb went off— “wait a second, didn’t I find that list of New Years Resolutions I made in high school? That shit would be HILARIOUS.” So yes, in an effort to both entertain and inspire you, dear listeners, I am subjecting you in this solo episode to the wisdom of my 16-year-old self. 😂😂I had a blast reading through each of the 11 items on the list and sharing with y’all what I think of them now, 20+ years later.

People often hire a professional organizer to help declutter their homes, believing the problem lies exclusively with managing physical STUFF. Liz Jenkins, owner of the thriving organizing business A Fresh Space, knows that the relationship between physical and mental clutter is way more than drawer-deep. 🤓

The word “budget” often brings up the same connotations as the word “diet”: restriction, deprivation, punishment— basically, a total JOYKILL. On the flipside of the coin, I realized recently that I actually also had a negative connotation with the word “profit” (greedy, using people, capitalist pig, etc.)—talk about damned if you do, damned if you don’t. But it doesn’t have to be that way, right?

It’s always fascinating talking to leaders, service providers, and entrepreneurs in completely different industries and noticing how much overlap there is in the challenges and opportunities we encounter. In this episode of the pod, I’m talking with esthetician Caitlin Hart— and as a kindred spirit who is highly ambitious, she’s had to learn (like many of us, the hard way) how to adjust and recalibrate in her career to align with different seasons of her life. Caitlin’s most recent labor of love is a pair of online courses to help estheticians learn the business side of the industry that school does not prepare them for, so they can benefit from her 14 years of experience in the field.

Ok, raise your hand if you’re a fellow recovering Gifted Child 🙋‍♀️ Yuuup, that’s what I thought. 😜 TLDR; being “gifted” (aka let’s just proudly own it, being a fucking NERD) IS a superpower, with so many amazing ac-tu-al GIFTS. AND…  like any superpower, it has its kryptonite. If high ambition goes unchecked, things can get ugly. (🎵hello, burnout, my old friend…🎵)

This episode is truly a meeting of the Bad Bitch minds. 😜When I came across Amanda Yoa after she liked one of my posts, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between our message, vibe, and even our freaking brand colors/symbols. TBH, my first thought was— “Oh wow, our shit is so similar, and she’s been here longer than me… I wonder if she’ll think I copied her 😬…but I have never even seen her account until today!”

“It’s a rot day, bestie. Just don’t rot for like 5 days straight… it’s giving Depression Era.” If you read that and you’re like… ummm ??? — you’re not alone. 😆 THIS elder millennial (hi, it me) has officially reached a point where I have to ask for help from my resident Gen Z translator, Emerson Ryder. Emerson is on my team of amazing therapists at The Gaia Center, and she is truly a magical unicorn if I’ve ever met one. She has an uncanny ability to simultaneously throw out these foreign-to-me terms while also conveying wisdom, depth, and empathy. At every single team meeting, Emerson has us in stitches… AND she is incredibly thoughtful in how she handles even the most tender and difficult issues that come up in her client sessions.

Every single day of our lives, the world tells us who and how we should be. Damn— that’s pretty heavy, isn’t it? We get told how we should act, talk, dress, look, move, what we should and shouldn’t eat— hell, we’re even told how we’re sleeping and breathing “wrong” 😵‍💫… not to mention that much of this advice or “research” (much of which is empirically flawed and biased) contradicts the advice we read about the same topic the week before. Quite frankly,  it’s EXHAUSTING.

Friends, you’re gonna want to grab your journal and pen for this one, because the latest episode of Bad Bitch Therapist Podcast is so full of gem’s it’s a g*ddamn treasure chest. Allow me the pleasure of introducing you to this week’s guest, Patrick Murphy, who has become a dear friend in the past several years AND one I have yet to meet in 3D (but it’s finally happening next month!). Patrick has SO many gifts in his own right— and then you stick us two Enneagram 7’s in a Zoom room together and it’s like a nonstop pinball game of truth pings and lightbulb moments. 💡⚡️

In the latest episode of Bad Bitch Therapist Podcast, we're diving into the realm of relationships that defy mononormativity and the Relationship Escalator. Not sure WTF any of that means? No worries— just buckle up and put on those headphones! Val here, and I’m not gonna lie— I was nervous AF jumping into this interview, because these 3 guests have hosted their own podcast, Multiamory, for almost a decade… and by this point have something like eleventy-zillion downloads. No pressure! 🫣😜

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains quite a bit of conversation around suicide. Please see the resources at the bottom of the show notes if you or someone you know is struggling and needs support. I love this week’s episode because it’s a true heart-to-heart with my dear friend and absolute badass cousin Becca, who's an excellent role model for anyone who’s been dealt some rough fucking cards and has committed to a life of authenticity and joy.

Have you ever read something in a book and felt your jaw drop to the floor because you knew that idea was going to *actually* change your life?

Open an app, send a few messages, have the same conversations over and over, go on a date, and then…ghosted AGAIN. 😑 Dating these days feels like an endless cycle of anxiety, stress, and honestly, like a roller coaster we’re not sure we want to be on… you know those old wooden ones that make you wonder if you’re concussed after? Just like that. 🎢🫨

⚡️ LIT AF is only open to new members through July 7— after that, you'll have to wait til September! DM or email me with questions. 🫶LINK FOR INFO + TO JOIN: https://valeriekmartin.thrivecart.com/lit-af CONNECT WITH VAL:Instagram: www.instagram.com/bad.bitch.therapistTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@badbitchtherapistWebsite: https://badbitchtherapist.co/Email: heyboo@badbitchtherapist.coBook a Free Clarity Call: https://badbitchtherapist.co/contact DISCLAIMER: None of my online content or coaching services are to be considered as therapy or a substitute for individualized mental health treatment or healthcare. These offerings are created for entertainment and educational purposes. For full disclaimer, visit https://badbitchtherapist.co/disclaimer .

Show me someone who doesn’t have money shit, and I’ll… well, I’ll tell you you’re probably wrong, because they don’t exist. 😜Or— at least they only exist if they’ve seriously done their WORK around money. And sure— systemic and economic issues like privilege, intergenerational poverty, inflation, lack of affordable housing, recessions— of course these variables play a BIG role in our lives with money. (Serotonin? In this economy? 😵‍💫)

When you envision a fraternity house full of hormonal college dudes having a conversation about sexual consent, who do you imagine they’d be more likely to listen attentively to: a sterile, scripted lecture delivered by a poor graduate intern from Campus Health, or… one of the most successful adult film stars in the business? Uh, yeah, that’s what I thought. And that’s exactly what Tasha Reign did, in fraternities and in lecture halls at numerous university campuses. She’s also an activist within her industry fighting for the rights, safety, and dignity for sex workers, having published articles and served as chairperson of the Adult Performers Advocacy Committee. And did I mention she has not only a Bachelors in Women’s Studies from UCLA, but also a Masters in Journalism from USC’s renowned Annenberg School?

Our managed care system can eat a d*ck. 🙊 Oops, did I say that? Because I DEFINITELY MEANT IT. 😡 For any of you who are fortunate enough to not know what “managed care system” is— it’s the jargon-y term for insurance-based healthcare, which— in the US, is MOST healthcare.

Join Val for a solo episode including a powerful EFT tapping practice to shift into a more magnetic mindset, AND a sneak peek at her brand new membership, LIT AF, for the woman who is ready to honor her highest self by embodying her more EVERY DAMN DAY.

It’s refreshing to live at a time where acknowledging and discussing privilege has become practically mainstream. Yet, there are some types of privilege that usually get left out of the conversation. One of them? PRETTY privilege. While it’s uncomfortable to acknowledge that the world treats attractive people differently, it’s also undoubtedly true. And just like any type of privilege, typically the people least likely to recognize it are the ones who possess it. That’s just one of the reasons why I love my friend Kelly Haze, today’s guest: she’s not one to deny reality.  She knows she’s beautiful, and she knows she’s been treated differently because of it— in both good and bad ways.

This episode is overflowing with  gold freaking nuggets, y’all. Here’s just one taste that our guest Erica Murphy casually dropped in the convo: The pain of truth is never going to be as bad as the pain of ambiguity or of self limitation. 🤯❤️‍🔥RIGHT?! Whether you’re a healer or on your own healing journey (or both), we ALL share in the purpose to leave this planet and everyone we encounter a little better than we found them. There are SO many ways of doing that, and frankly none of them should come at the cost of your own wellbeing. Erica and I dig into the unfortunate reality that much of the helping profession IS set up to burn out the healers— and the path she has walked from burnout to freedom.

Perfectionism is a sneaky little bitch. What makes me say that? Well, most of us wouldn’t actually SAY that we expect perfection of ourselves. That’s ridiculous, right?! Clearly we’re much smarter than that. 😜And yet… most of us nod along knowingly when we hear things like, “I brushed off the 20 positive comments and obsessed about the ONE negative comment.” If that’s not perfectionism, I don't know what is!

Too fat. Too skinny. Too much cellulite. Not enough muscle. Big butt? Ok, but better have a tiny waist. We are told every single day a MILLION ways that our bodies should NOT be. What the actual fuck, right? Between mainstream media, social media, and all the SuPeR heLpFuL comments our families and friends make— it’s no wonder we grow up with so much shame, anxiety and guilt around how we look and feel in our bodies. (And let’s mince no words about it, fat phobia is RACIST, too.) Just when it seemed like things were maaaybe heading in a positive direction the past few years— apparently “heroine chic” is IN again?. 😡😡CAN WE NOT.

Have you ever been curious about the difference between life coaching and therapy? Or wanted a peek behind the curtain with either one? If you just read an Instagram or blog post on “coaching vs therapy,” there’s a very strong chance it’s ridiculously oversimplified. “Therapists work on ‘problems’ rooted in the past, coaches work on goals for the future!” COOL. Except it ain’t that simple. Thankfully, Katie Read is joining me for this episode to help us unpack some of the complexity.  As you’ll hear, Katie is primarily speaking to therapists (since that’s the niche of peeps she serves), but a lot of what we talk about that translates WAY beyond that— and/or is just interesting for understanding the working lives of therapists.

How many times have you said to yourself or someone else, “OMG, I’m SO overwhelmed”?  Like… 10 times in the last week alone?! I get it, and I’ve absolutely been there— but it’s also something I’ve worked really hard to shift out of and into a more helpful, empowered mindset. And it’s a challenge my clients come to me with all the time: How can I stop feeling so overwhelmed??

It’s pretty cool that we’re living at a time when our culture is least *starting* to recognize that people (especially women) don’t cease to have value and worth as soon as they hit middle age. Of course, we still have a HELLUVA long way to go toward eliminating  ageism— but thanks to people like Jen Vertanen, we’re making progress.

As much as there arguably shouldn’t be such a thing as a #trendingdiagnosis 😂, we all know the internet has been BLOWING the F up with all things ADHD. And hey— if it helps people get the tools and support they need, I’m for it.

What comes up for you when you see these words? Bitch. Whore. Slut. Pussy. Are these words inherently bad, or do they only feel “bad” because they’ve been weaponized against women and used to control us?

In this episode, we’re diving into the 3 Qualities You Need to Cultivate to Saunter into Your Bad Bitch Era. I’ll also give you a clear action step for each that you can realistically do in the next 24 hours—or okay, take a few days… but the key is your actions should be small and simple enough that they could be done in the next 24 hours!

Welcome to the Bad Bitch Therapist Podcast! What does it actually mean to be a "Bad Bitch"? I’m Valerie Martin, licensed therapist, coach and your host— and if you’re asking me, it means being fully alive, unstoppable, kicking ass at the things that light you up, and being permanently unavailable for the things that make you feel like shit. In this podcast, we’ll explore mental & emotional wellness, strategies for getting shit done (especially for all my fellow ADHD and Squirrel Brained business owners out there), and have some fun while we’re at it—because life is too damn short to spend it listening to some boring ass podcast, #amiright?! Think of this show as your guiding compass for stepping into your Bad Bitch Era— because it is YOUR TIME to thrive.No more playing small, no more hiding who we are, and DEFINITELY no more sacrificing our joy, happiness and fulfillment for someone else. Are you ready to join the #badbitchMovement? Hit subscribe and join me on this powerful journey of tough-love compassion plus massive action. Connect with me: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bad.bitch.therapist TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@badbitchtherapist Website: https://badbitchtherapist.co/ Email: heyboo@badbitchtherapist.co Book a call: https://badbitchtherapist.co/contact

Brief note from Val before we dive into today's episode:In bittersweet news, this is the FINAL episode episode of Bodyful— but I'm not going anywhere, and neither are these episodes! Stay subscribed to this feed, and you'll get episodes of Bad Bitch Therapist Podcast, which will be launching January 24, 2023.And for now— a wonderful final Bodyful conversation with our guest, personal stylist Dacy Gillespie... As a surprise to literally no one, the style & fashion industry is not typically kind to diverse bodies. 🙄And today’s guest Dacy Gillespie is one of the few personal stylists working hard to change that.With an approach to styling that prioritizes inclusivity of all sizes, shapes, and abilities and aligns with the principles of Health at Every Size (HAES), Dacy is a tremendous gift to her industry and to each person fortunate enough to work with her as a client.I am so glad that this is the final episode of Bodyful, because it’s a topic that I’d not covered on any previous episode, and one that is SO important and lacking in mainstream discourse. As Dacy emphasizes in the conversation, finding a style that’s right for YOUR body doesn’t mean identifying what OTHER People find “flattering” for your body type— it’s all about exploring and identifying what FEELS good and makes you feel good about yourself when you wear it. About Dacy Gillespie (she/her)Dacy Gillespie intuitively guides her clients to discover what they feel best in. She helps them let go of the external messages they’ve been given about what they should wear and get to the heart of what’s making them uncomfortable about their clothes. Through their work building a functional wardrobe, Dacy’s clients make a mindset shift from thinking they need to wear what’s flattering to unapologetically taking up space in the world.After a lifetime of jobs in high-stress careers that didn’t suit her highly-sensitive, introverted personality, Dacy started mindful closet in 2013 in an attempt to create a more emotionally sustainable lifestyle. She has two boys, ages 4 and 8, and a husband she adores who is well aware of her mental load.To learn more or contact Dacy, visit her website at www.mindfulcloset.com or connect with her on Instagram @mindfulcloset.Stuff Mentioned + Additional Resources:Health at Every Size (HAES) principlesGet Dacy’s worksheet on capsule wardrobesAnd she got to help REAL SIMPLE explain capsule wardrobes to their readers!----------------------------------------------------BAD BITCH THERAPIST PODCAST is coming soon! Launching January 24, 2023— if you're subscribed to this feed already, you will be subscribed since the new show will remain in this feed!✨ In Tennessee and looking for therapy? Check out The Gaia Center.✨ Get the monthly Gaia Center newsletter with exclusive content & tips from our therapists✨ Learn about coaching, speaking, and other stuff Val is up to

The Creatures of Change podcast ended up being way more meta for me than I’d planned…After recording a season of 6 episodes with incredible guests, I landed on clarity about MY next big change professionally— which measns hanging up my hat with this iteration of podcasting to make room for the next thing.But these episodes will live on as a mini-season within my main podcast feed, because the conversations were incredibly inspirational and instructive examples of embracing change— perhaps none more than the guest for the final episode, Dr. Caitlin Faas.Caitlin has basically rebuilt her life in the last 3 years. Some of those changes were chosen and planned, but other life-altering ones unfolded completely unexpectedly, bringing down the house-of-cards identity that we so often build around our roles. I am incredibly inspired by Caitlin’s resiliency, adaptability, vulnerability, and humility through her process of change, and honored to call her a friend.About CaitlinCaitlin Faas, Ph.D. is a certified master life coach instructor who helps experts get out of the hamster wheel for good. Common issues include: overeating, overdrinking, and overworking. She was a tenured psychology professor and department chair before leaving to be a full-time entrepreneur. Dr. Faas has worked with thousands of professionals every year who were once addicted to running in the hamster wheel of endless expectations. She is also the author of Unstuck: Three-step system to help high achievers move from stress to flow. Dr. Faas delivers easy-to-follow advice about “growing up, showing up, and cleaning up” your life and explains the data-backed scientific roots of your stress from emotional, social, economic, academic, and mindfulness perspectives,Additional Links + ResourcesThe Life Coach SchoolThe Summers School of Yin Yoga and the River Bird Sangha with Josh & Terry SummersInstinctive Meditation with Lorin Roche and Camille Maurine✨ In Tennessee and looking for therapy? Check out The Gaia Center.✨ Get the monthly Gaia Center newsletter with exclusive content & tips from our therapists✨ Learn about coaching, speaking, and other stuff Val is up to

*Announcement*Creatures of Change podcast is no longer releasing new episodes. The episode archives will remain available in the same podcast feed as Valerie’s new show, Bad Bitch Therapist Podcast. Happy listening! You never know when an old acquaintance will chance to cross your path again.In this case, Melanie Reese— a therapist I worked down the hall from for over a year— saw the news about this podcast and reached out about being a guest. In this ~40 minute conversation, we connected on a deeper level than we ever did during that whole year.It was a joy to hear Melanie share some of the growth and healing she’s experienced personally throughout the pandemic, and how that continued evolution has allowed her to support her clients in new and deeper ways.In this episode, Melanie and I talk about the the huge business leap she took just prior to the pandemic (spoiler alert, it involved OFFICE SPACE 💀😂) and what she learned weathering that challenge, the process of shedding her Christian identity (and the difficulties that arose in some family relationships), and how her own experience of living with chronic pain and illnesses has continued to evolve along with her spirituality, impacting the way she approaches her client work as well. About MelanieMelanie Reese is a board-certified, psychotherapist and owner of Trauma Therapy of Nashville, LLC, a private practice specializing in holistic trauma healing. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and Certified Brainspotting Practitioner. Melanie and her team of therapists specialize in the treatment of trauma, women’s issues, relationships and chronic pain & illness. Melanie’s education and professional background in both the mind and body gives her a unique and effective approach to therapy with clients. She works heavily from a neuroexperiential perspective, using modalities such as Brainspotting, EMDR, mindfulness, somatics and body movement. As an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, Melanie also helps guide clinicians in their development as skilled therapists and individuals. Additional Links + Resources@traumatherapynashville on InstagramThe Surrender Experiment by Michael SingerPerrennial Wisdom for the Spiritually Independent - edited by Rabbi Rami ShapiroThe Daily Stoic podcast with Ryan Holiday: Episode with guest Daniel Lubetzky (founder of KIND Snacks)

*Announcement*Creatures of Change podcast is no longer releasing new episodes. The episode archives will remain available in the same podcast feed as Valerie’s new show, Bad Bitch Therapist Podcast. Happy listening! I found Jenny Blake online way back in 2015— I don’t recall exactly how, but probably after hearing her on someone else’s podcast.I resonated immediately with her message, her love of systems, and unique ideas about personal and professional growth. I followed everything she’s created since— her podcasts, different iterations of her online communities, and her two books, Pivot and Free Time.I am honored to call Jenny not just a mentor, but a friend (a friendtor!) — and I continue to be inspired by her all the time. If you are navigating a career transition, Pivot — the book and the podcast — are a must. And if you’re an entrepreneur, Free Time (the book and the podcast) is a goldmine of strategies for making your business and life run more smoothly so you can reclaim more of your most precious asset: your time.I hope you love this conversation with Jenny Blake— and if you do, make sure to check out the show notes for the link to my 2019 interview with her on my previous podcast, and where you can join her online community!About JennyJenny Blake is an award-winning author, podcaster, and keynote speaker who loves helping people move from friction to flow through smarter systems, powered by Delightfully Tiny Teams. Her third book, Free Time: Lose The Busywork, Love Your Business (Ideapress, March 2022) will free your mind, time, and team for more of your best work. Jenny’s previous book, Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One (Portfolio/Penguin Random House, 2016), won the Axiom award for best business book in the careers category.Celebrating over a decade of running her own business after five years at Google, Jenny now licenses her content to clients like Google and CHANEL. She hosts two podcasts with over one million downloads combined: Free Time for Heart-Based Business owners, and Pivot with Jenny Blake to help others navigate change.After working at a Silicon Valley startup, then at Google for five years in coaching and career development, Jenny moved to New York City in 2011 to launch her own business. She loves yoga and buys too many books. Jenny lives in Manhattan with her husband and angel-in-fur-coat German shepherd. Learn more and take the Free Time quiz at ItsFreeTime.com.Additional Links + ResourcesIn addition to all the links in Jenny’s bio above that you should definitely check out—✨ Listen to her 2019 interview on my previous podcast, “What’s the F***ing Point?”✨ If you listen and know you need more Jenny in your life, join me in her BFF community!✨ One Stone Creative - the podcast production co Jenny uses that I mention in the intro (run by a fellow BFF member!)✨ Never tried Peloton? Use this link to try the app free for 60 days! (yoga, barre, strength, outdoor walking/running tracks— all kinds of no/low-equipement stuff aside in addition to their treadmill & bike classes)

*Announcement*Creatures of Change podcast is no longer releasing new episodes. The episode archives will remain available in the same podcast feed as Valerie’s new show, Bad Bitch Therapist Podcast. Happy listening! When I first met Rosa Castano in 2019, she was kicking ass and taking names in the tourism industry— which is BIG business here in Nashville. Fast forward 3 years and 1 pandemic later, and she’s now a mom and CEO of her own business offering wellness coaching/education services to businesses and individuals.Rosa is one of those dynamic people whose personality and gifts far exceed anything I could say in writing. In this conversation, we explore not only her own personal career pivots, but also what she has learned from embracing changes, big and small. Rosa truly walks her talk, and was a joy to sit down with for this conversation. I hope you love it!About RosaRosa Castano spent more than five years as a seasoned expert in the Tourism & Hospitality field, leading sales campaigns across the country for two of the largest tourist industries in the Nashville, TN market. Like many others in the space, Castano was forced to pivot to a new path after the COVID-19 global pandemic put a halt to her tourism career. The shift allowed Castano to take the time to re-evaluate her career aspirations, landing her with an industry she has long been passionate about: the wellness industry. Throughout her years working successful careers in the tourism and corporate sectors, Castano knew wellness would always be a priority for her life.Outside of work, she completed a 200HR Yoga Teacher training in 2019. With this certification, Castano began to lead yoga classes for her former employers’ wellness programs. Since the pandemic, Castano completed an additional certification adding a 200HR Meditation Teacher training. With the full time focus on wellness, Castano is trailblazing ahead with her business where she offers Workplace Well-Being both in the Corporate Setting and for Individual One-on-Ones.Follow Rosa on IG @wellbeingwithrosa For full show notes on this episode, visit https://gaiacenter.co/blog/creaturesofchange-03.

*Announcement*Creatures of Change podcast is no longer releasing new episodes. The episode archives will remain available in the same podcast feed as Valerie’s new show, Bad Bitch Therapist Podcast. Happy listening!Ray Holloman (often at his most hilarious in tandem with his wife Alicia) is one of those people whose posts cause you to actually cackle.He’s witty, kind, silly, freakishly productive, obsessed with dinosaurs— and until 6 years ago, was living in a body that didn’t feel like his own.In this episode of Creatures of Change, Ray shares about how transitioning his gender not only resulted in feeling more at-home in himself than he’s ever felt, but also equipped him to embrace all kinds of other changes, including leaving a company he’d been with for 12 years.We also talk about balancing change with routine, because the comfort zone is NOT an inherently bad place to hang out. Also, for real, read Ray’s bio below… the man is HELLA impressive. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed having the conversation!About RayRay Holloman is a Black, transgender man that lives in the south. His unique identity gives him the ability to see multiple sides of marginalized communities. Ray currently works doing Disaster Recovery for a large tech company. Ray has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Belmont University, and Masters degrees from Lipscomb University and Tennessee Tech University. Ray is married, with 4-ish dogs, 20-ish chickens and 9-ish quail.Ray has worked with groups including Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, Trans Empowerment Project, Nashville Technology Council, and other various nonprofits. He currently chairs the New Leaders Council Pride Caucus Transgender education subcommittee, is on the Vanderbilt University Medical Center LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, and chairs the Tennessee Department of Health HIV Prevention Transgender Task Force. Ray enjoys sharing his story to educate the public about transgender and queer people. In his limited spare time, he enjoys farmstrong, quilting and cooking.For full show notes on this episode, visit https://gaiacenter.co/blog/creaturesofchange-02.

*Announcement*Creatures of Change podcast is no longer releasing new episodes. The episode archives will remain available in the same podcast feed as Valerie’s new show, Bad Bitch Therapist Podcast. Happy listening!Welp, not to make it ~aLL aBoUt Me~ 😝 but for the first episode of Creatures of Change, I thought it would be fun to talk about some of the changes I’ve made or experienced throughout my 36 years so far.Once I finished outlining the 10 changes I wanted to touch on, I realized that in many ways, I sort of accidentally told the story of my life (in 30 minutes— buckle the F up! 😂).That’s pretty cool to think about: my intention was to talk about changes, and it turns out that those changes were all the moments that were either pivotal in getting me to where I am today, and/or are a big part of my daily life now. This insight just reaffirms my excitement about exploring change with a variety of guests on future episodes.This new podcast, Creatures of Change, explores the concept and practice of change from a variety of perspectives: stories of folks who’ve made huge changes in the trajectory of their lives, others who have made small but lasting and impactful changes in their day-to-day lives, and— we’ll also just nerd out about the science of human behavior, and how we can get better at executing the small changes, and embracing the big ones.Oh, and if you’re looking to make a change in your life and want some guidance and support to set yourself up well for it? We’ll also do episodes featuring coaching with podcast host Valerie Martin, who happens to be both a therapist and self-development supergeek.For show notes on this episode, visit https://gaiacenter.co/blog/creaturesofchange-01.

Hi y'all! I am popping in. In the podcast feed over here for a moment to share. Share an exciting update. You may have heard this if you listened to Bodyful episode 24 with Mary Reynolds Thompson that recently aired: the podcast is relaunching in the new year! It will still live in this same feed, but will be revamped as Bad Bitch Therapist Podcast.  More to come on that with a trailer soon, but for now, I just wanted to give you a heads up on what to expect in the feed between now and then (including  why you're seeing so many episodes come into your feed over the next week!) :POver the past few months I did this wonderful little mini season of Creatures of Change podcast on a separate feed, and those will coming into this feed so that they can live here and be found here instead of getting lost in internet purgatory—they are really excellent conversations. There are five episodes so far and one that I am finishing up editing the 6th/final episode, and we'll post one episode each day starting this Sunday December 18th, through December 23rd. Also sometime between now and the New Year, there will be one more episode of  Bodyful airing that's a really excellent conversation with stylist Dacy Gillespie of Mindful Closet.  So stay tuned for those episodes over the next couple of weeks, followed by the exciting relaunch of Bad Bitch Therapist podcast in January. Thank you so much for being here... trailer for the new pod format coming soon!xoVal

Every now and then you come across a writer whose words and ideas just hit you bone-deep.For me, most of them have been people whose words make me feel more intimately connected with the world around me: Mary Oliver, Robin Wall-Kimmerer, Richard Powers, Bill Plotkin— and most recently, Mary Reynolds Thompson.When I started digging into Mary’s work in preparation for this conversation, I felt that rare but familiar deep resonance. In her latest book, A Wild Soul Woman, she explores five landscape-based archetypes she’s written about previously, this time specifically in the context of how they show up in womens’ lives.In this episode, we explore about everything from burnout and addiction recovery to defining what it means to move through the arc of the human experience in your own “shero’s journey.” About Mary Reynolds Thompson (she/her)Mary is an award-winning author, internationally recognized speaker, and a facilitator of poetry therapy. A pioneer in the spiritual ecology movement, her focus is on the transformative power of landscape archetypes and nature metaphors to reveal our true purpose and right relationship with the planet.Author of A Wild Soul Woman and Reclaiming the Wild Soul, a 2015 Nautilus Award-winner, Mary’s writings have also appeared in numerous other publications and anthologies. Through her books, courses, and talks, she reaches creatives, change-makers, and seekers who long to awaken to their most courageous and Earth-connected selves and have the impact they desire.To learn more or contact Mary, visit maryreynoldsthompson.com and follow her on Instagram @wildsoulwriter. Stuff Mentioned + Additional Resources:“The Song of a Wild Soul Woman” - written, creative interpretation by Dancing Wolf, creative interpretation by TreeSistersBodyful Episode #12: Jill Dunkley on Being in Right Relationship with the World Inside & OutsideTreeSistersJungian psychologist and writer Marion WoodmanThe Work that ReconnectsAnimas Valley InstituteWomen Who Run With the Wolves by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola EstesUntamed by Glennon Doyle----------------------------------------------------Did you love this episode? Please consider leaving a rating/review wherever you listen to podcasts!NOTE FROM VAL: In 2023, my podcasting is shifting gears... so stay tuned for an exciting announcement about that soon, and Bodyful episodes will remain on this feed to continue to be shared and enjoyed!✨ In Tennessee and looking for therapy? Check out The Gaia Center.✨ Get the monthly Gaia Center newsletter with exclusive content & tips from our therapists✨ Learn about coaching, speaking, and other stuff Val is up to

As a person who’s never been into sports, the thought of walking into a boxing ring is more than a little intimidating— but that’s exactly what I did yesterday with the support of trauma-informed boxing coach Cleveland Hughes.Not 10 minutes prior, I called it a “boxing rink” 🤡 😂 — so suffice to say, I don’t know much about boxing. But even with just a few minutes of instruction, it was so clear to me how useful these skills could be, not only to develop physical strength, but also sharp mental awareness, bodyfulness, and perseverance.In this conversation, Cleveland and I talk about his journey to boxing, and his decision to gain further education to become one of the world’s first trauma-informed boxing instructors through his signature program, Healing Mitts. We also commiserated about some of the ways the fitness industry can be inherently harmful, especially for trauma survivors, when leaders do NOT have a fundamental awareness of trauma. About Cleveland Hughes (he/his)Cleveland Hughes is a boxing coach and the developer of the Healing Mitts Intentional Boxing Training System. In 2009, a therapist suggested to Cleveland that he try boxing to help him cope with my anxiety and depression. He noticed the life lessons he was learning in therapy also applied to boxing. Through deep inner work, he gained the skills necessary to fight back against his mental health issues and trauma. He knew that he wanted to help people heal through the sport of boxing.With 15 years of experience coaching boxing, and additional education on trauma-informed best practices, Cleveland developed Healing Mitts to help empower people struggling with mental health issues. He is proud to be a trauma-informed boxing coach and a mental health advocate.He currently offers group and private coaching in-person in Miami and Nashville (soon fully relocating to Nashville), as well as coaching online.You can learn more about Healing Mitts at healingmittsboxing.com (a work in progress, more coming there soon!) and book a virtual or in-person session with Cleveland at the website or through DM on Instagram @clevelandh.boxing, where he shares tips and resources on boxing and mental health. Stuff Mentioned + Additional Resources:Cobra Kai (if you watch it, track down the original 3 karate kid movies first — they are a must for backstory!)Bodyful episode 19 with Laura Khoudari on Healing Trauma One Rep at a TimePolyvagal theory----------------------------------------------------Did you love this episode? Please tell a friend, and subscribe to Bodyful for a new episode every 2 weeks!✨ For Previous Bodyful episodes and show notes✨ Sister podcast Creatures of Change✨ In Tennessee and looking for therapy? Check out The Gaia Center.✨ Get the monthly Gaia Center newsletter with exclusive content & tips from our therapists✨ Learn about coaching, speaking, and other stuff Val is up to

In 2018, I went to a hypnotherapy training near Seattle. It was not your traditional therapy training— there were maybe about 30 of us staying at essentially a large cabin in the woods for about 6 days, sharing a room with 3 random strangers.One of my roommates, Jasmin Cage, happened to be from Memphis, just a couple hours down the road from me in Nashville— and we hit it off instantly. Both yoga teachers, both vegan (for the animals and other reasons), both Enneagram 7 squirrel-brains. 😝I’d always regretted not staying in touch with Jasmin after the training… one of those things where, after a few months had passe, I felt like I’d missed the window. Wouldn’t it be “weird” to reach out a year, 2 years later? Would she even remember me? But 4 years after that training, this August, Jasmin popped into my inbox with the gift of reconnecting AND reminding me an important lesson that avoiding doing something based mostly in worrying about what other people might think is just plain SILLY.In this conversation, Jasmin and I shared our candid thoughts on hypnosis/hypnotherapy, the yoga world, and got into a nuanced discussion of drinking culture, sobriety (including her new project Sobrietree), and… well, we had so much to cover that we’re planning to do a part 2, coming soon!About Jasmin (she/her)Jasmin Cage is a Memphis, Tennessee-based fine artist and RYT-200 (soon to be 500) yoga instructor. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Heart-Centered Hypnotherapist, and a Certified Y12SR practitioner (Yoga of 12 Step Recovery). Jasmin currently teaches yoga, breathwork, and meditative practices at Lakeside Behavioral Health Systems- a network of inpatient psychiatric facilities in west Tennessee. She recently launched Sobrietree, a project incorporating yoga, art, and spoken word.You can find out more about Jasmin and her work at jasmincageart.com and on Instagram @sobrietree.For full show notes including links to resources mentioned in the episode, visit https://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-22.----------------------------------------------------Did you love this episode? Please tell a friend, and subscribe to Bodyful for a new episode every 2 weeks!✨ For Previous Bodyful episodes and show notes✨ Sister podcast Creatures of Change✨ In Tennessee and looking for therapy? Check out The Gaia Center.✨ Get the monthly Gaia Center newsletter with exclusive content & tips from our therapists✨ Learn about coaching, speaking, and other stuff Val is up to

I recently had a student in a yoga class ask me “what exactly is trauma-informed yoga?” For the long answer, see the research paper I wrote back in 2016— but for a shorter answer, I created this solo episode that’s relevant for students and teachers alike.Also, the subject of cultural humility (vs cultural appropriation) in yoga has become so intertwined for me with trauma-informed principles, because they’re both about HONORING: honoring the autonomy of each student, and honoring the wider purpose of yoga and its lineage. So we’re talking both subjects in this episode.As per usual in my solo episodes, I’m talking off the cuff while walking outside, so this lil 30-minute episode is far from comprehensive. But if you have questions, feel free to leave a comment here, send me a DM, or email me— I’d love to hear what resonates, what your experience with these subjects is, and as always, anything else you’d like to hear me talk about on the pod. And hopefully some of the resources below will be helpful to dig in further!For full show notes including links to resources mentioned in the episode, visit https://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-21.----------------------------------------------------Did you love this episode? Please tell a friend, and subscribe to Bodyful for a new episode every 2 weeks!✨ For Previous Bodyful episodes and show notes✨ Sister podcast Creatures of Change✨ In Tennessee and looking for therapy? Check out The Gaia Center.✨ Get the monthly Gaia Center newsletter with exclusive content & tips from our therapists✨ Learn about coaching, speaking, and other stuff Val is up to

Shea Rose (she/her) is one of those rare humans who is both incredibly multifaceted and genuinely DEEP in all of those facets— like a shimmering emerald that catches the light from every direction.She is a musician, an activist, an educator, a healer— and she brings such richness into all of these capacities after having journeyed her own path from trauma to healing in ways deepened all aspects of her voice: inner voice, physical voice, and written voice.In this conversation, Shea and I explore the power of the voice, how we can start to find our voice when it feels suppressed or small, and how we can use movement and sound to access our fullest and truest self expression.If you’re a musician or creative of some kind, you’ll especially resonate with this one (no pun intended 🤓) but even folks who don’t strongly identify as creative will still find so much value and depth in Shea’s wisdom.Shea Rose is a multipassionate musician, activist, healer, and curator. Her music is influenced by soul, hip-hop, rock, and folk, and speaks to identity, self-acceptance, and transformation. You can find more about her work and offerings at shearose.com and on Instagram @shearose. For show notes including Shea's full bio and links to resources mentioned in the episode, visit https://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-20.----------------------------------------------------Did you love this episode? Please tell a friend, and subscribe to Bodyful for a new episode every 2 weeks!✨ For Previous Bodyful episodes and show notes✨ In Tennessee and looking for therapy? Check out The Gaia Center.✨ Get the monthly Gaia Center newsletter with exclusive content & tips from our therapists✨ Learn about coaching, speaking, and other stuff Val is up to

Each year, there are just a few books that make it onto my all-time favorites roster, and this year, one of those is called Lifting Heavy Things: Healing Trauma One Rep at a Time.I highlighted damn-near half the book because there was so much that resonated personally and professionally. A few chapters in, I knew I wanted to try to get the author Laura Khoudari on the podcast.Fortunately for me, she quickly responded and was down for it— after all, Bodyful is kind of a perfect fit for all the topics she wrote about in the book! And as a fellow Health at Every Size-aligned practitioner, Laura approaches fitness and training from a weight-neutral perspective (which, I don’t have to tell you, is unfortunately a rare thing in that industry).This was such a rich conversation, and I can’t wait for y’all to hear it. Whether you’re a trauma survivor, work with trauma, love fitness, are repelled by working out— you’ll gain something from listening to this one.About Laura KhoudariA trauma practitioner, and certified personal trainer, Laura Khoudari is passionate about giving people the tools they need to heal from trauma and cultivate mental health and wellness. She is the author of the book Lifing Heavy Things: Healing Trauma One Rep at a Time. Her work has been widely recognized by the trauma and fitness community, and she has been featured on Buzzfeed, UpWorthy, Outside Online, Medium, Tonic, Nike, and Girls Gone Strong. She lives in New York City with her family and two cats.For full show notes including links to resources mentioned in the episode, visit https://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-19.----------------------------------------------------Did you love this episode? Please tell a friend, and subscribe to Bodyful for a new episode every 2 weeks!✨ For Previous Bodyful episodes and show notes✨ In Tennessee and looking for therapy? Check out The Gaia Center.✨ Get the monthly Gaia Center newsletter with exclusive content & tips from our therapists✨ Learn about coaching, speaking, and other stuff Val is up to

Sexual desire is one of the most loaded relationship topics in our culture— and challenges with it are the most common reason couples state for seeking therapy.In this solo episode, I share about some of the concepts I’ve found most useful since learning more about sexual desire, desire differences in relationships, and how to get unstuck when you’re struggling with desire in your relationship.I hope you find this episode helpful, and I'd love to know if there are topics you'd like to see covered on future solo episodes, and/or guest recommendations for the show. (Comment on this post or email me at valerie@gaiacenter.co !We’ll be back in 2 weeks with another guest episode that I’m super excited to share with y’all.Links + Additional Resources:✨ Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski, PhD✨ One of Emily’s TED Talks where she explores the dual control model✨ Dipsea app✨ Lasting app-----------------------------------------------------------Did you love this episode? Please tell a friend, and subscribe to Bodyful for a new episode (usually) every 2 weeks!✨ For Previous Bodyful episodes and show notes✨ In Tennessee and looking for therapy? Check out The Gaia Center.✨ Get the monthly Gaia Center newsletter with exclusive content & tips from our therapists✨ Learn about coaching, speaking, and other stuff Val is up to

The word “somatic” is very on-trend right now (…unless you’re the APA and you’ve surreptitiously withdrawn contuing education credits for all somatic-focused trainings because you’re a bunch of rigid, evidence-based-yet-evidence-denying buttheads)… oh, did I say that?I digress. The science** is clear that somatic (AKA body-focused) approaches are effective for treating trauma, anxiety, depression, and more— and, outside of mental health issues, that working directly with the body (as opposed to just the mind) is beneficial for increasing a sense of confidence/self-efficacy and decreasing the buildup of daily stress that can lead to burnout. Among other benefits too abundant to list in this one paragraph!The guest for this episode is Ben Munday, who went from growing up in a very masculine environment to being surrounded by powerful women in the fashion industry. When he decided he wanted to make a career shift to focus on coaching women in business, he experienced in his coach training how powerful working directly with the body could be, and knew he wanted to make somatic work core to both his own lifestyle and his approach with clients.As you’ll hear quickly in our conversation, Ben is a smart, kind, and grounded person— and it was a pleasure talking with him about topics we’re both passionate about.If you love the episode and decide to schedule a free consultation call with Ben, make sure to tell him Bodyful podcast sent you and he will give you a discount if you decide to book!FIND BEN ONLINE: his website (I highly recommend downloading the free guidebook), LinkedIn, and on Instagram.For full show notes including Ben's full bio and links to resources mentioned in the episode, head to https://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-17.----------------------------------------------------Did you love this episode? Please tell a friend, and subscribe to Bodyful for a new episode every 2 weeks!✨ For Previous Bodyful episodes and show notes✨ In Tennessee and looking for therapy? Check out The Gaia Center.✨ Get the monthly Gaia Center newsletter with exclusive content & tips from our therapists✨ Learn about coaching, speaking, and other stuff Val is up to

I've had a bad case of Life Getting in the Way recently— which has involved some amazing trips and experiences, but I'm eager to get back to a biweekly routine with the podcast! My next guest interview was gracious about rescheduling when I got unexpectedly stuck in New York, so that episode will release in two weeks. Meanwhile, I thought I'd share a solo episode with a primer on self-regulation via working directly with the nervous system— why we should know about it and how we can do it, with a few of my go-to tools.I hope you find this episode helpful, and I'd love to know if there are topics you'd like to see covered on future solo episodes, and/or guest recommendations for the show. Thanks for listening!xxValerieFor full show notes including  links to resources mentioned in the episode, head to https://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-16.----------------------------------------------------Did you love this episode? Please tell a friend, and subscribe to Bodyful for a new episode every 2 weeks!✨ For Previous Bodyful episodes and show notes✨ In Tennessee and looking for therapy? Check out The Gaia Center.✨ Get the monthly Gaia Center newsletter with exclusive content & tips from our therapists✨ Learn about coaching, speaking, and other stuff Val is up to

converastion with researcher and author Zephyr Scott on what our food system alienation has to do with our ruptured relationship with food and body, and what we can do about it

converastion with therapist Valerie Martin and dietitian Emily Murray on healing our relationships with food— whether related to normalized disordered eating in our culture, or recovery from an eating disorder

Confession:As much as I’ve lived (and practiced psychotherapy) long enough to know there is no such thing as a “magic bullet” cure-all for emotional and physical pain, I remain permanently and eagerly on the lookout for strategies and ideas that might be juuust a bit shy of magic.And believe me when I say that I have purchased an embarrassing amount of books, programs, apps, trainings, and online courses in that ongoing quest. In the summer of 2021 as I was clicking around on Amazon, the good ole’ hate-it-but-kinda-love-it algorithm recommended a newly published book that caught my eye, called The Open Focus Life: Practices to Develop Attention and Awareness for Optimal Well-Being.Focus? Attention? Tangible practices? Optimal Well-Being? The book was immediately in my cart. And because I also cannot ever just have a “casual” interest in anything, while I was waiting on it to arrive, I started listening to the audiobook of Dr. Fehmi’s previous book, The Open Focus Brain, which I quickly devoured, and downloaded/started using the Level 1 audio practices from the Open Focus website.Almost immediately, I noticed that Open Focus practice— while similar in ways to other mindfulness meditation practices I’d done— left my mind feeling different than any of those practices. The best I could describe it is lighter, clearer— and, yes, more open.I was hooked, and I decided to begin mentoring with Susan Shor Fehmi, who has carried on the work of her late husband Les (the creator of Open Focus). It was such a gift to have the experience of learning directly from Susan, who is a kindred spirit in many ways. I was delighted when, at the completion of my Open Focus Coach training process, I asked if she’d come on the podcast, and she said yes.About Susan Shor Fehmi, LCSW (she/her)Susan received her Master’s degree from Columbia University and is currently the Director of the Princeton Biofeedback Centre in Princeton, NJ, where she combines the teaching of Open Focus™ training with multi-channel, phase synchrony neurofeedback.  She is interested in combining traditional psychodynamic psychotherapy with the skills of Open Focus and Synchrony Training.  She, along with Les Fehmi, Ph.D. are co-authors of several peer-reviewed journal articles and their latest book, The Open-Focus Life, published by Shambhala.Links + Additional Resources:Open Focus website: Full of resources including Open Focus audio recordings, directory of OF coaches & biofeedback providers, information on trainings, and moreBook: The Open Focus Life by Les Fehmi, Susan Shor Fehmi, and Mark BeauregardBook: The Open Focus Brain by Les FehmiBook: Dissolving Pain by Les FehmiWant to do Open Focus coaching with me? Reach out here!

I am not a naturally “calm” person, and it’s not often that I meet someone who instantly makes me feel calm in their presence. But when I met Jill Dunkley in 2019, that’s absolutely how I felt.Jill is grounded, real, warm, kind, smart, and wise, and I’m grateful to call her a friend.In this conversation, Jill and I explore:what it means to be in right relationship both inside and outside ourselveshow trauma-informed practices and ecopsychology can support us in developing those capacitiesthe relationship between our individual healing and our commitments to the work of decolonizingLearn more about Jill’s current and upcoming offerings on her website here.About Jill Dunkley (she/her)Jill Dunkley lives on unceded Algonquin Land in rural Eastern Ontario with her husband, ecopsychologist, Andy Fisher.  For most of her adult life she has explored the question “what does it mean to be in right relationship with the world inside of me and the world outside of me?”  Now in late adulthood, she currently lives with that question at the intersection of trauma-aware mindfulness, yoga that adapts to the needs of the individual, and the earth. Jill is also a certified yoga therapist and mindfulness instructor and has found many great insights about her questions in the field of radical ecopsychology.For full show notes including links to resources we mention in this episode, head to https://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-12

Spoiler alert: Diet Culture (along with its co-conspirators The Patriarchy and White Supremacy) is THE WOOOORST.And even though it may be called “diet" culture, this term has come to represent a tangled, shitty web of harmful systems that impact not just our relationship with food, but also our relationship with our bodies, movement, and how much privilege (or lack thereof) we carry in our day-to-day lives.For the majority of people who were raised in that overculture, “exercise” was something to be dreaded— an entirely unpleasant (even punishing) experience intended to whittle away fat (which was determined to be disgusting and unacceptable), and carve sharp, angular edges.But there is a new generation of fitness leaders heading the charge to both dismantle diet culture and revolutionize our relationship with movement. One of them is badass Nashville-based personal trainer Barb Puzanovova, who is on a mission to bring the JOY back to training and fitness.In this episode with Barb, we dig into the harm caused by diet culture, how to reclaim bodily autonomy in regards to movement, and why the conversation around privilege and body size in our society is complicated.Here’s the truth: Thin doesn’t equal healthy, fat doesn’t equal unhealthy, exercise doesn’t have to be about weight loss, and most importantly, health is context-dependent. There is no one-size-fits-all... both literally and metaphorically.Barb’s body of work is all about redefining and cultivating joyful movement, and she reminds us that we don’t have to force ourselves to do exercises we hate…and yes, you will hear me proclaim on this episode that I may never do another single burpee again 😂. There are no rules to exercise (walking counts! bouncing around and prancing through the park counts! stretching counts!)— and tapping into pleasure with movement creates a much more powerful experience that can help you become more bodyful in your WHOLE life.This episode with Barb will empower you and give you a giant permission slip to move in a way that feels good, and I can’t wait for you to listen!Barb offers training sessions virtually, and her schedule opens up again in late January if you’d like to work with her!About Barb Puzanovova, CPT (she/her)Barb Puzanovova, aka The Non-Diet Trainer, is a Health at Every Size (HAES), weight-neutral, and inclusive ACE-certified Personal Trainer, Behavior Change Specialist, and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. Due to her own story of recovering from an eating disorder, she empowers people to step off the scale and into their life so they can move their body with less rules and more joy.For full show notes including links to resources mentioned in the show, head to https://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-11 . 

No brief introductory words could adequately communicate how proud I am to know this woman.Dr. Daltry Dott is not only an incredibly skilled and successful anesthesiologist, but she also happens to be one of my lifelong best friends, going on over 20 years now.In the intro for this episode, you’ll hear me share just a couple ridiculous anecdotes from some of our younger years. We have laughed ourselves to tears maaany times, and we have sat in coffee shops quietly while she studied for her medical licensure boards and I “studied” (even post grad school, just my idea of fun) psychology/mental health books.I’ve been hosting various podcasts for several years now, and it wasn’t until I recently got a bee in my bonnet (yes, yes I just did) to learn more about doing therapy with clients struggling with chronic pain that I thought, DUH, I should talk with Daltry, aka Dr. Dott, aka literally an expert on chronic pain!Even if you don’t think you’re interested in this topic, I urge you to listen to this one as I’m sure you’ll learn something that ends up being important or helpful either for yourself or someone you love.As always, remember that this podcast is educational/entertainment, and NOT intended to replace individualized care from your medical and mental health providers.About Dr. Daltry Dott (she/her)Daltry Dott, M.D., CHCQM, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in complex chronic pain management and utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to help individualize treatment plans and provide comprehensive and compassionate care to each patient.Dr. Dott earned her medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism Honors Societies for her exemplary leadership, academic achievement, and compassionate care. She completed a residency in anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, serving as Chief Resident during her final year, and then remained at Vanderbilt for advanced training through a pain management fellowship. Dr. Dott is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology in both Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. She is also certified by the National Board of Echocardiography in basic perioperative transesophageal echocardiography and by the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians in health care quality and management, with subspecialty certifications as a physician advisor and patient safety and risk manager. She was included in D Magazine's Best Doctors in Collin County list for 2021.For  an awesome list of resources Dr. Dott provided re: pain, vist the show notes on our website at  https://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-10

For full show notes at our website, visit www.gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-09Pleasure is not just a sex-positive buzzword or a euphoric state to chase sometimes— it is essential to our humanity. When we prioritize pleasure, we connect back to the truest version of ourselves.In this conversation with Dr. Rachel Allyn, holistic clinical psychologist and author of the recently released book, The Pleasure Is All Yours, we chat the power and importance of pleasure, WTF “bodyfulness” really means, and why it matters.Pleasure is most often associated with sex— and while sex is important, pleasure is SO much more than just that. It’s one of the fundamental aspects of being fully alive in the time we are given in these beautiful, messy, awkward, miraculous flesh suits.The full spectrum of life includes the capacity for both tremendous pain AND tremendous pleasure— and learning how to make space for both to coexist is a necessary piece of feeling the truth of our own aliveness, instead of always feeling removed from our experience or seeking to fill the good ole Bottomless Pit of Despair. While the experience of pleasure may seem fleeting, cultivating moments of pleasure can compound into deeper, lasting states of joy and contentment.For many of us, we’ve spent so much time being conditioned into how we’re “supposed” to think, feel, and act that we’ve forgotten what it feels like to trust the knowing of our own body. This leaves us feeling a disconnect, both with ourselves and with others.Through Dr. Allyn’s bodyfulness framework that she shares in her book (this conversation is just a teaser!), readers can learn to reconnect to their bodies, their hearts, and release internalized shame and conditioning.About Dr. Rachel Allyn (she/her)Rachel Allyn, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified yoga instructor, public speaker, and relationship columnist. She is the founder of YogaPsych, PLLC, a psychotherapy practice for adults that blends Western medicine with Eastern philosophy, and connects the mind with the body. She has been in private practice for almost fifteen years working with individuals and couples dealing with sexuality, intimacy, and relationship problems as well as trauma, depression, anxiety, and loss. She’s been quoted in books and magazines including Yoga Journal, Women’s Health, Outside, Good Housekeeping, and Cosmopolitan.Links + Additional Resources:The Pleasure Is All Yours: Reclaim Your Body's Bliss and Reignite Your Passion for LifeBodyfulness by Dr. Christine CaldwellDr. Allyn’s YouTube Channel@drrachelallyn on InstagramVisit her website at www.drrachelallyn.com for more info on working with Dr. Allyn via therapy, retreats, online courses, and other offerings

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The more I learn in my clinical sexology doctoral program, the more I’m blown away by the field of sexology in general and the highly skilled sex therapists, coaches, and educators like this episode’s guest, Tara Galeano.Tara got into sex therapy initially because her therapy clients were walking to talk about their sexual challenges and longings, so she committed to deepening her knowledge and expertise to be able to better support them. Later in her career, she had an awakening of her own, in which she recognized just how much she had been falling into the cultural trap of minimizing her needs and desires.In Tara’s case, that reckoning coincided with the end of her 25 year marriage (due to layered issues that you’ll hear about in the interview)— and the beginning of a deeper commitment to herself and the fulfillment of her needs, desires, and pleasure in ALL capacities.Tara also developed a specialty in working with women in treatment for cancer, which led to the creation of her book, Rediscovering My Body— first written for women with cancer, and then revised and re-released for ALL women longing to reconnect with their sexuality. It’s in a beautiful interactive journaling/coloring format with guided exercises— I got a copy since we initially recorded our conversation, and have started working through it. It will definitely be one I recommend to many of my clients!As I mention in the intro of this episode, we had a technical glitch where we lost the last 15 minutes of Tara’s side of the conversation— so the episode ends more abruptly than we intended, but there’s still a lot of goodness in this one. I hope you enjoy it!About Tara Galeano (she/her)Tara is the founder of Rediscovering My Body and Boulder Sex Therapy, and is an author, speaker, retreat host, and  sexual empowerment coach. She has worked with women for over two decades to get their sexy back. Tara knows that there is pleasure in the body, beyond our wildest dreams, and every woman can access it. In “Rediscovering My Body”, she teaches women how to show up for pleasure in their lives. Tara rediscovered her own body after leaving her twenty-five-year marriage. Realizing that she had given so much of herself away, she knew that she needed to come back to the inherent wisdom of the body. Now Tara has embodied this path and is moving forward to share this with women everywhere with her book, her online courses, and community, and her retreats. She lives in San Francisco with her soul sister and is learning how to live more fully in her nomadic heart. For full show notes including links to resources mentioned in the episode, head to https://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-07 

We each have maybe a handful of teachers in our lives that fundamentally shift the way we see or experience— Michelle Cassandra Johnson has been one of those teachers for me.Michelle is a true embodiment of grace, fire, compassion, and grit, and is a radiant example of how to to show up with skillfulness and heart in a dysfunctional world.Her new book Finding Refuge: Heart Work for Healing Collective Grief was released just this week, and I am so excited to dive into and savor it starting next weekend when I’ve carved out some special time and space to do so.I hope you enjoy this conversation with Michelle, and that if you arent’ already familiar with her books and other offerings, that this will be the first of many times you get to experience her gifts.“Our culture conditions us to notice what is going on from the head up and not from the throat and heart down. The only way out is through, by way of the feelings. If we are going to make social change, we need to cultivate a practice of feeling... When one connects with their feelings as yoga teaches us to do, one can connect with their heart. If one is connected with their heart, they have the opportunity to be changed and to shift their perspective. They have the opportunity to feel the pain of living in a world that is designed to break the spirit through violence, oppression, and injustice.”— Michelle Johnson (from Skill in Action)About Michelle Cassandra Johnson (she/her)Michelle is an activist, social justice warrior, author, anti-racism consultant and trainer, intuitive healer, and yoga teacher and practitioner. She has led dismantling racism work in many settings for over two decades and has a background and two decades of practice as a clinical social worker. Michelle’s work centers on healing from individual and collective trauma, coming back into wholeness and aligning the mind, body, spirit, and heart. She published Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World in 2017 and her newest book, Finding Refuge: Heart Work for Healing Collective Grief was published by Shambhala Publications in 2021.Michelle teaches workshops in yoga studios and community spaces nationwide and is on the faculty of Off the Mat, Into the World. In 2020 she created her own podcast, Finding Refuge, which explores collective grief and liberation and serves as a reminder about all the ways we can find refuge during unsettling and uncertain times and of the resilience and joy that comes from allowing ourselves to find refuge.Links + Additional Resources:View these show notes on our website at https://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-06Follow Michelle on Instagram @skillinactionFinding Refuge book and 40-day sadhana (sliding scale pricing)Finding Refuge podcastSkill in Action bookMichelle’s upcoming eventsMichelle’s race equity training

Occasionally you meet someone who makes you feel good just by being in their presence, no matter what you’re doing or talking about. Sarah Jane Chapman is one of those people.She is (in my words) a modern-day witch who lives in alignment with the earth as an extension of herself, and has worked hard to heal her relationship with her body after years of slogging through diet culture and eating disorder recovery.Sarah Jane is a mama, a massage therapist, and a yoga teacher who teaches the kind of classes I actually want to take (which, TBH is rare 😄). And does a lot of other cool shit, which you can hear about in our conversation or read in her bio below or at her website. I hope you enjoy this conversation!“Yoga therapy is an individualized practice created to work with someone’s specific system. I typically see clients once or twice a month to check on their practice and tweak it if necessary. If practiced regularly, I can see changes in my clients’ systems. It’s truly magic.”— Sarah Jane Chapmanwww.sarahjanechapman.comInstagram: @sarahjanechapFor full bios and links to resources mentioned in the episode, visit the full show notes at http://gaiacenter.co/blog/bodyful-05.

Creators of the Embodied Recovery for Eating Disorders model, Paula Scatoloni (LCSW, CEDS, SEP) and Rachel Lewis (MS, EDS, LPC, LMBT) bring a wealth of experience in the field of eating disorder treatment, along with expertise in neurobiological and body-oriented approaches to healing.

This image I have of this conversation with Tiya Caniel is that listening to it is like sensing a flower starting to bloom and open its petals within your own body. I hope you share that experience, and I can't wait for you to get to know Tiya.

In this conversation with Deirdre Fay, we discuss the essence of her Becoming Safely Embodied skills and book, which is now in my top 5 books to recommend to clients on the topic of healing from trauma.

Bodyful is my 5th podcast to produce, and I’ve never been this excited or proud to share anything I’ve created. Already, just with this first interview and the future guests I have lined up so far, I know this is going to be something really special. On episode #1, I'm speaking with Colorado-based thearpist and author, Melissa Walker.

Elizabeth Moore and Ashley Brooke James left the corporate world to build their shared dream together for community and wellness in Nashville and beyond— and not everyone is cheering them on.

Ready to go down the rabbit hole with me? We just couldn't help ourselves in this conversation... and since I know my listeners are all ultra-curious minds, I think you're gonna LOVE it. This was one of my favorite WtFP conversations to date.

Vegan plant witch Sara Schuster shares her top few herbs for managing stress and staying grounded— along with lots of great conversation about animals, tarot, fat phobia, and more!

In this solo episode, I'm taking quite a different spin on a gratitude exercise, inspired by The Work That Reconnects — thanks to Joanna Macy for first creating that work, and to Ann Marie Davis for the exercise that I've modified to share with you here.

In this episode, I'm talking with with Ashlee Piper, author of the book "Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet." We chat about everything from the power of intention and alignment to how, as an "eco-evangelist," she holds onto hope in the scary state of the world.

In this solo episode, I'm riffing on how we can embody sacred fool energy (one of the core facets of wholeness) and challenge the reasons we're so f-ing afraid to dance in our culture.

In this organic and nourishing conversation with my badass business coach Amber Lilyestrom, we delve into topics including worthiness, belonging, business, navigating how to "play the game" well in some areas while maintaining authenticity and integrity— and a lot more.

My guest this episode is the lovely Erin Stutland, creator of The Movement and author of the book Mantras in Motion (and genius behind one of my absolute faborite ways to move, the Soul Stroll!)

In this episode, I share an unpopular opinion about how yoga is often practiced in the west that I think deserves more open and honest conversation.

It's not very often that you get to interview someone who's been a mentor for years. What a joy to share with you my interview with the one and only Jenny Blake!

I'm not gonna sugarcoat this, y'all — today's episode is a tough one. But it's also SO important and so incredibly worth the emotional energy.

Solo pod for when you're in a funk and need a lil pep talk

In her new album Ego, TRISHES navigates the complexity of our sense of self, and isn't afraid to declare the many ways in which that gets warped in modern society.

How does a person move forward when they master the art of illusion and no longer believe that anything can be trusted as real, genuine, and meaningful?

If you're into storytelling, the power of the natural world — or just compelling conversation in general— you're gonna dig this episode with Drew Hicks, co-principal of 4th, an experience design firm.

New month, new theme! The theme for May is "story." In this episode, I kick off the month with a solo episode exploring some of the most important ways stories show up in our lives.

This episode is fun, nerdy, and a little different. My guest Jonathan Berry and I get nerdy about systems — what works and doesn't work for us, and what helps keep us consistent with USING systems that help life and business run more smoothly.

In this episode, Nicole Boriski takes us for a journey into the ocean to better understand its mysteries and how TF we can do our part to preserve the biodiversity of our planet's very important waters.

Introducing a new brand, new format, and the theme for April: CONSISTENCY. These changes are super exciting for me to share with y'all!

**Travis Cooper is one of those people you can tell is a dancer just be seeing him walk down the street. **He carries himself with such presence, grace, and fierceness — and as I mention on the intro, has a truly magnetic (except LOL I said infectious because I couldn't think of the right word, but ehhh #getvaccinated 😜) personality to match.I was delighted to get to know Travis in this interview, and I know you'll feel the same way! We talk about his spiritual path from Christianity to atheism to seeking out what a more authentic spirituality, and how his emotional and spiritual growth have impacted the way he views his dharma as a dancer and choreographer.About Travis CooperTravis Cooper is a choreographer, dance educator, and lover of movement based in Nashville, TN. Dance is often the medium he uses to connect and empower the people around him. He believes that one of the best ways you can honor yourself and the world around you is by living authentically!

In this episode, psychotherapist Lisa Olivera takes us to life SCHOOL, y'all. You're gonna want your notebook and favorite pen for this one. 🤓

In this short and sweet solo episode, we're exploring sense of self, WTF "self as context" is and why it matters to you, and how to recognize if you are boxing yourself in.

Therapist, yogi, trainer, and author Tim Gordon (aka The Zen Social Worker) is too damn smart for his own good... but also humble, kind, and willing to define big words for me, so I'm okay with it.

Psychotherapist April Lang encourages us to follow our curiosity in all aspects of life — including curiosity about the experiences of the animals that we may eat, wear, experiment on, or otherwise use for our own purposes.

PaQuita Pullen gets real with us about what it's like being an African American within often-whitewashed western yoga, and why she's excited to educate the next generation of counselors around true cultural humility.

In one of my favorite conversations to date, content strategist and career girl Liz Talago helps us smash some patriarchy.

YOU GUYS. Y'all are not gonna want to miss episode with badass therapist, coach, author, and host of Failure Factor podcast, Megan Bruneau. We talk relationships, body image, parenting (and NON-parenting), privilege, and a lot more. Get your notebook and pen ready for this one!

A brief solo pod musing/ranting about biohacking, human doing vs. human being, productivity, and self-care.

My guest this week is Dr. Allison Devers, a conventional-turned-functional physician who is currently working on a book about the power of accessing the subconscious to expand the potential for healing. After spending the last 6 days straight with her, I can validate first-hand that Allison is a total badass, and I'm grateful to now call her a soul sister. For full show notes, head to www.wonderwelltherapy.com/blog/wtfp-13 .

If you've been listening to the show, you know that I'm getting increasingly interested in the tarot as a tool for self reflection and accessing intuitive guidance. I've touched on the tarot with guests in previous episodes, but this is the first all-out-tarot episode, and I couldn't have picked a better guest for it. Krystal of Power Femme Tarot (@powerfemmetarot on Instagram) is a New Orleans-based queer femme witch, professional tarot reader, and with a PhD in Gender Studies, is a college professor in her muggle life. Krystal is offering WTFP listeners 10% off tarot readings through the end of 2018, and she has so many unique spreads she has created — I will be doing my first reading with her soon and will be sure to report back! The discount code is in the episode, and be sure to check out the full show notes because this one is chock full of awesome resources.

Tierra B is a yoga teacher and boss babe entrepreneur hailing from District Heights, Maryland. I was fortunate to meet her recently when she came to Nashville for a Prison Yoga Project training here, and was immediately drawn to her presence. Tierra recently left a career in law enforcement to pursue her passion full-time, and in our conversation we talk about how that transition came about, the perks and struggles of entrepreneur life, and how easy it is to get sucked into the pressures in our consumer culture when what matters a lot more to her is spending time under the sun every day. You can find Tierra on Instagram at @yogi.tb — for show notes, visit www.wonderwelltherapy.com/blog/wtfp-10 .

A short-and-sweet solo episode talking about a handful of truth bombs, or as I'm calling them, "fucking miracles." Listen to find out what the hell a "spiritual helicopter" is!

Y’all are about to be shook when you hear that my guest for this episode is, wait for it… a YOGA TEACHER. Why yes, I *am* hilarious since 4 of my first 6 guests have been yoga teachers — but, hallooo, so much more than only that, and each one a gem in her own right. This week’s guest is Emmy Singer, founder of Inner Light Yoga studio and one of my biggest inspirations and teachers in the yoga world. Like a few of my other guests so far, Emmy is a fellow Nashvillian —and unbeknownst (isn't that a fucking great word? hah) to me until we recorded, originally hails from upstate New York very near last week’s guest, Sarah Jane Chapman (www.wonderwelltherapy.com/blog/wtfp-07). Hello, small world! In this episode, Emmy and I talk about: - the winding path that landed her in Nashville, where she and her husband Lee opened up the city’s first music-based yoga studio, Inner Light Yoga (where I am so fortunate to get to be a part of the team) - the importance of healers and teachers of all kinds being REAL as opposed to trying to seem like you have all the answers - our shared curiosity about astrology, tarot, past life regression, and dreams, with some tips for beginning your own dream analysis - how she views union of opposites as a framework for living — stillness and movement, connection and solitude, hustle and heart - simple practices for opening up a little more to kindness, compassion, and non-judgment - our musings on the law of attraction, the pieces that make most sense to us, and where we see its limitations For full show notes, head over to www.wonderwelltherapy.com/blog/wtfp-08 . And if you dig this episode, it would mean so much if you'd share it with a friend or on your socials, and rating/review on iTunes (www.bit.ly/WTFP-review) helps more people find it!

I recently had the privilege of interviewing Sarah Jane Chapman, a massage therapist, yoga teacher, and heart-of-gold human who I am lucky to call a friend. In the conversation, Sarah Jane and I delved into: \* why she believes “yoga always wins” and how her personal practice and teaching have evolved \* how getting diagnosed with diabetes further complicated her eating disorder \* the practice that was most transformational in healing her mindset from toxic diet culture \* spending time in nature, gardening, sustainable farming, and seasonal eating as ways of connecting with spirituality and honoring our interconnectedness with the earth \* making the tarot relevant and useful in day-to-day life And just an audio heads up — on the morning we were recording, Sarah Jane was having some laptop issues so used her phone for the recording, so there were a few vibrations in the second half of the interview, but not too bad. About Sarah Jane Chapman Sarah Jane Chapman was born in Upstate New York where she would spend her days climbing trees and laying in the grass. She started practicing yoga at age 14, which helped her through some of the most difficult times of her life. In 2012, she traveled to Rishikesh, India where she became certified in Hatha Yoga, and shortly thereafter moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Wanting to offer more to students and expand her knowledge of the body, Sarah Jane attended the Mind Body Institute in 2015 to begin her work as a massage therapist. She now offers a plethora of body work and Reiki, as well as astrology and tarot readings. Sarah Jane lives in east Nashville with her husband and pitbull, still climbing trees and laying in the grass. You can find her on instagram @ sarahjanechap. For full show notes including resources and other stuff we mention in the show, head to www.wonderwelltherapy.com/blog/wtfp-07 .

Y'ALL. Get ready to hold onto your f-ing hats, because my guest on the pod this week is the fiercely loving and vibrant Karen Kenney. I have so many things I want to say about Karen and what she shared on this episode, but rather than you sit here and read this, just listen and hear it for yourself! The time during our conversation FLEW by, and even though this is a longer episode, I think you'll feel the same way. Enjoy, and if you find value in it, please share with a friend who would benefit from hearing this, and/or on your socials! And to review the podcast so more peeps can find it, just head over to http://bit.ly/WTFP-review , and thank you so much for your support! For full show notes including resources referenced during the episode, visit www.wonderwelltherapy.com/blog/wtfp-06 . About Karen Kenney (www.karenkenney.com) Karen Kenney is a writer, speaker, and the founder of Fearless Flow Mentoring. She’s been a student & guide of A Course in Miracles for 25+ years and a certified yoga teacher since 2001. KK is known for her storytelling, her sense of humor and her “down-to-earth” approach to spirituality. Karen helps people let go of their old stories of suffering and victimization so they can write a new kick-ass story from that inner place of power, forgiveness and Spirit. She leads transformational retreats at the renowned Omega Institute in NY and in the New England area. Karen’s currently at work on her memoir and her podcast, Wicked Hard  is also in development.

You guys. Last weekend, I watched a movie that left my jaw on. the. FLOOR. Afterwards I said that watching it felt like someone had reached into my chest, ripped out my heart, and gave it a giant hug. So many tears, but not necessarily sad ones. My friend Annie watched the same film over the weekend, and we both felt so passionate about it that we got together and had a juicy conversation about feelings, unconditional worth, education, mindfulness, yoga, and more. The movie was the recently released documentary about Mr. Rogers, "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" directed by Morgan Neville. I urge you to listen to this episode whether you have seen the film yet or not (it's a documentary y'all, spoilers are not a thing), because the topics we get into (and a few clips we listen to) transcend the film itself or even Fred Rogers himself. (Though I do absolutely recommend that you go watch it as soon as you possibly can.) "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" is especially poignant right now, because our country really needs to ask ourselves what Fred Rogers (or Ghandi, or Jesus, or Mother Teresa) would do. And I guaran-damn-tee you, right now he'd be doing a LOT to put a stop to the insane separation and detention of immigrant families and children. And each of us can afford a little time and/or cash to do our part, too. So let this serve as yet another reminder of the need for your voice and your support right now, and visit https://togetherrising.org/ or http://bit.ly/RAICESbondfund and reach out to your representatives to let it be known that you will not stand for this completely unnecessary cruelty. "We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say, 'It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.' Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” -- Fred Rogers About Annie Diomedes (according to yours truly) My guest for this episode, Annie Diomedes, is a fellow Nashvillian hailing from the midwest who teaches yoga and piano to kids. She is also an all-around Renaissance woman who can make you a killer playlist, bake you a fluffy loaf of homemade bread, and crochet you a blanket to keep you warm. You can keep up with her on the gram at instagram.com/anniediomedes. Show notes for this this episode are available at http://wonderwelltherapy.com/blog/wtfp-04 , so head there to find a link to the film's trailer, and any of the other stuff we mention in the episode. If you enjoyed the episode, be a badass and share it with a friend, and don't forget to head to http://bit.ly/WTFP-review if you want to leave a review for the show so more peeps can find it!

If you enjoy that feeling of vacillating between laughing out loud and sinking into profound thoughts like 20 times within a single hour, episode 3 with Laura Long is for you.  Laura is a therapist for women and couples in the Greenville, SC area, and chief badass (my words, not hers) at Your Badass Therapy Practice, where she helps other therapists shine their lights even brighter.  On the episode, Laura and I get into: -how she developed a sense of radical authenticity -the lens through which she interprets her faith / spirituality -why things like tarot and astrology kiiind of frighten her -the 'x factor' of what makes feeling tiny/insignificant a positive experience rather than a nihilistic, depressing one -connection with the natural world -what fascinates her about relationships -...and how we're all still figuring this shit out as we go along -why we're both obsessed with the movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" -how she cultivated the culture and space to step back and watch her tribe thrive For full show notes on all the stuff we reference during the episode, head over to http://wonderwelltherapy.com/blog/wtfp-03 . Enjoy listening, and if you dig it, please share with a frand and leave a review on iTunes (http://bit.ly/WTFP-review ... ugh, one of these days Apple will update the cover art)! \

For episode 2 of the podcast, I had a wonderful free-flowing conversation with fellow Nashville psychotherapist Sarah Rodgers (MA, LMFT, RDT). I'm lucky to call Sarah a friend, and she's a kindred spirit in that she's unapologetically into all kinds of holistic (is "new age" still a thing?) stuff, with plenty of science and healthy skepticism to balance it out. In this episode, Sarah and I chat about: - some of our most important spiritual guides (hint: furry) - how we each think of and approach tarot and divination - what drama therapy is and the relationship to psychodrama and other expressive therapies - the magic of intuition, tele, and neuroception — how we know things to be true ...and lots of other fun random shit. You can learn about Sarah and her work at www.creativecounselingnashville and follow her on Instagram @creativecounselingnashville. For full show notes including various books and other resources we mention during the episode, visit http://wonderwelltherapy.com/blog/wtfp-02 . Thanks for listening, and if you dig, please share it with a friend!