Research suggests that people who drink to cope — as opposed to drinking for pleasure — have a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder. And while every individual's reasons for drinking are different, studies have found that women are more likely to drink to cope than men. I loved this conversation about alcoholism.
Sky Above Earth Below
One of the most meaningful highlights of my year was to bring my podcast into a live environment with audience participation. My guest was renowned astrologer Carol Ferris, who has four decades of experience in cycles of time and human nature, and who has been a featured expert on my podcast four different times. We talked about the importance of the sun, moon, and rising signs. The difference between love and partnership. When provocation shows up in astrological charts. And the importance of the saturn - pluto conjunction. It was a great night!
Silver Disobedience Uncovered
Silver Disobedience is a rebellion of law-abiding citizens against ageism! Silver Disobedients know that their first 50 years of living made them stronger, smarter and wiser. The fact is: they are the World’s Most Powerful Population. Dian Griesel, Chief Influencer at Silver Disobedience is leading the way with her important message about waking up. In this fantastic conversation, we talk about her THREE plane crashes, and many other intense experiences that have led her to be one of the most inspiring leaders who has designed an approach to aging that anyone can incorporate for immediate benefits and results.
The Redemptive Power of Love
Hourglass, Dani Shapiro’s recent memoir, is a compelling inquiry into how marriage is transformed by time. In this book, Dani unfolds the shapes of a sustained relationship and beautifully describes what it’s like to walk down the road of life with another human being. In this podcast, Dani and I converse about long-term love and how this informs our individual selves, even if the relationship does not stand the test of time. We also talk about understanding personal identity through the inquiry of experience, as well as inhabiting consciousness through story. Additionally, we discuss being and becoming, doubt, faith, and memory. Dani also shares exciting information about her new book (pub date: 1/19’), self-love rituals, and what’s currently on her summer reading list.
Leadership Unplugged
Recently, I had the unforgettable experience of participating in a workshop led by David and Gayle Whyte about learning how to be "half a shade braver" in a magnified time of uncertainty. There were several discussions from this workshop that I wished had gone on forever. I am so excited to share this podcast conversation with Gayle! Gayle’s leadership spirit is infectious, she is the former Chief Talent and Culture Officer of the Wikimedia Foundation. We talk about: shaping a deeper more imaginative and more conversational leadership identity, the challenges that confront us with the rise of extreme stances and views taken by colleagues, customers and governments alike, and how to shape an identity that can find a way through these times, while striving for the highest humanitarian good.
Letting Go Of Outcomes
A beach, an airport, a rest stop, a graveyard, an outlet mall bathroom: These are a few of the places where the dancer Marlee Grace has filmed herself improvising during the past two years. Ms. Grace, 29, is the artist behind the Instagram account Personal Practice, a trove of short videos documenting her daily movement practice, and the author of a new self-published book about the project, “A Sacred Shift.” A scroll through the hundreds of posts reveals videos of her jamming out next to a post office; weathering the snow and rain; and, perhaps most often, dancing in her living room. Marlee is dedicated to: self-forgiveness and she uses dancing as a means of exploring and sharing this invaluable, vulnerable practice of letting go.
Unmedicated
Madisyn Taylor is the master writer behind the uber popular DailyOm. She is also the author of the newly released book: Unmedicated ~ The Four Pillars of Natural Wellness. Before Madisyn guided millions of people on the path towards a healthier life, she struggled under the physically, emotionally and financially draining diagnoses of chronic fatigue syndrome, clinical depression and anxiety. To be free of the impact these illnesses had on her life, Taylor came to a stunning realization - her wellbeing was up to her. Her first tentative steps on what would become a program that would end her reliance on medication, while gaining mental serenity after a lifetime of anxiety disorders and depression, is the subject of her new book.
Awaken Through Your Story
Meet best-selling author, teacher, and speaker ~ Mark Matousek ~ who believes that when you tell your truth, your story changes. And that when your story changes, your life is transformed. In this podcast, we talk about the accuracy of intuition, the true meaning of enlightenment, and the art of surrender. In the 1980's, Mark left his high-powered job working for Andy Warhol at Interview magazine in New York City to embark on a deeply personal journey, which led to the insights and awakenings that are included in his popular books and workshops. Mark's program Writing to Awaken: Memoir as a Path of Transformation is one of the most sought after workshops on the human-potential circuit.
From Victim to Heroine
What a great conversation with Anne Davin, phD ~ Anne helps people live, love and lead with purpose. Anne offers tools and practices that draw from the collective wisdom of somatic and Jungian principles. Anne’s approach includes myth and imagination, cognitive behavior therapy, and somatic psychotherapy techniques. Her work is focused on the unconscious and the cultivation of an inner wholeness, which creates a deeper connection with self, others and one’s deepest purpose. Anne’s background in depth psychology is based on a view that the world itself is ensouled, inclusive of the natural world, and the unseen forces beyond what is readily visible. Anne believes that the pervasive symptoms of dis-ease – depression, anxiety, and addictions – are an invitation to deeper inquiry and a re-membering of ourselves to who we really are.
Heal Your Life ~ Meet Melanie Phillips
Melanie Phillips is an author, speaker and healer who created The Madhuri Method, a program based in Ayurveda, yoga and energy work that heals the root cause of physical, and emotional imbalances. When I first heard about Melanie's story, I knew I wanted to share the conversation with her. Having walked through chronic illness and extraordinary loss, including the recent unexpected death of her life partner, Melanie stumbled and fell before finding the strength to rise back up again. In an effort to teach others how to effectively treat the symptoms and diseases of the mind, body, and emotions, she created The Madhuri Method, a system that leads others to a truer relationship with joy, acceptance and personal empowerment.
We Came To Dance Together
Emmy Award winning choreographers Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland joined forces 35 years and three dance companies ago. They co-founded BodyVox in 1997 in Portland, Oregon. BodyVox is known for its visual virtuosity, wit and unique ability to combine dance, theatre and film into breathtaking productions rich in imagery, athleticism and humor. BodyVox has toured to critical acclaim on stages around the world, developed award winning films, original shows and operas. The BodyVox Dance Center is a feast for the senses, offering the best performances and classes on the West Coast. Tune in to hear more about their union as choreographers, dancers, parents, life partners and soulmates.
Unmasking Narcissism
Narcissism is marked by an exaggerated self-importance and perceived superiority, abnormal levels of selfishness and entitlement, and extreme self-centeredness. Generally speaking, a narcissist is a person who thinks too highly of themselves and continuously feeds on egoic admiration from others, which is typically rooted in unresolved and magnified feelings of inferiority and shame. As a result, they often manipulate and exploit people to fuel their delusions and fend off the threat of depression. Narcissists live and breathe to confuse the people in their lives. Lisa A. Romano shares great tips on how to break free from narcissistic relationships and the consequences of such toxic dynamics.
Choosing A Creative Life
Sam Yamauchi grew up with an artist mother and brother, Sam was always encouraged to make things and draw, but only painted "by number". She took sculpture classes in high school, and secretly wanted to be a painter. Instead, Sam became an elementary school teacher where for 30 years the influence of the art and stories from all the children's picture books was absorbed deep in her subconscious; ultimately waiting for the right time to emerge. In 2013, after visiting the studio of artist Jesse Reno, Sam decided it was time to start painting. She has been painting almost every day since then, creating paintings that combine playfulness and honesty. Sam establish's a series of gestures, momentary thoughts and feelings that meet on a single surface and that accumulate into much more.
Radically Intimate With Zoë Kors
Zoë Kors is committed to transforming the way we individually and culturally hold our sexuality. Zoë is a writer, speaker, coach and sexologist. She is also the founder of The Big Libido: Find Your Feminine Fire, Badass Bootcamp and PussyProject.org. We will be talking about erotica, sexuality, pleasure and self-empowerment and her popular article -- with over 2.3 million views -- entitled: 6 Ways to Have Radically Intimate Sex. Zoë’s work reflects her extensive study of Tantra, Zen Buddhism, meditation, yoga, breathwork, and Eastern disciplines, which she blends with process-oriented modalities of Western Psychotherapy and Co-Active Coaching. Adult Content.
Being Your Own Best Friend
Learn the power of mindful self-compassion with Kristy Arbon, the founder and CEO of HeartWorks. Self-compassion is learning how to offer yourself the acceptance, love, and esteem you'd give to your best friend. Most people find this nearly impossible to do, especially when they fail, becoming their biggest enemy instead of their best supporter. Kristy will be talking about the difference between self-compassion and self-esteem, and how to offer yourself kindness instead of harsh self-judgement, even under the worst circumstances.
Dissolving Negative Patterns into Transparency
Transparency: Seeing Through to Our Expanded Human Capacity is the next book in Penney Peirce's award-winning, visionary series of books on personal and societal transformation. We will be talking about how to identify soul-blocking habits and let go of everything that gets in your way - the obstacles, defenses, and fear based “clutter” - in order to create space for greater authenticity, clarity of purpose, feelings of belonging and joy.
The Tango Between Dark and Light
The signatures of chaos and resolution come together over and over again ~ spread out over long periods of time during the duration of our life. Popular Astrologer Carol Ferris will be explaining how Pluto: the energy of the underworld, the soul beneath, the deepest layers of psyche (individually and collectively) is in a fierce tango with Uranus: the energy of lightning bolt revelations, risks, changes, upheaval, and new life.
Embracing The Unexpected with Priscilla Gilman
Priscilla Gilman is the author of The Anti-Romantic Child: A Memoir of Unexpected Joy (Harper), a beautiful exploration of one woman’s expectations and hopes for her children, her family, and herself, and of the ways in which we are all capable of reimagining our lives and finding joy in the most unexpected circumstances. Gilman writes regularly for publications including Daily Beast, the New York Times, and the Huffington Post. A prize-winning teacher with a background in the performing arts, Gilman is a captivating speaker whose warmth, dynamism, and accessibility make her highly sought-after by diverse audiences. She speaks frequently at schools, conferences, and organizations about parenting, education, and the arts, and is a Scholar/Facilitator for the New York Council for the Humanities.
Codependency Recovery
Codependency underlies all addictions. The core symptom of “dependency” manifests as reliance on a person, substance, or process (i.e, activity, such as gambling or sex addiction). Instead of having a healthy relationship with yourself, you make something or someone else more important. Over time, your thoughts, feelings, and actions revolve around that other person, activity, or substance, and you increasingly abandon your relationship with yourself. Codependents struggle with being who they think others want them to be. Through the healing of codependency, a human being finds the opportunity to become self-actualized in the purest form. This journey towards self-realization is as much neurological as it is spiritual and as much physical as it is meta-physical. Join me on the journey as I unpack Codependency with author and expert Lisa Romano, who has devoted her life's work to this topic.
Alone Awakened
In order to tune into her sacred longing, and to hear the cry of her true desire, Yogini Britt Steele went alone into the forest for several days with nothing more than a sheep skin, a feather, and her prayers. As Britt says on her website: “Each day you wake up and you either move through life consciously -- paying attention to the details, or unconsciously -- going through the motions. It isn’t what happens in your life that makes the greatest impact -- it’s the perspective through which you see your life and what you do with what you see.” Britt shares what she learned while in total isolation - how being at the mercy of the sun, sky, wind and rain expanded her world in a whole new way.
