Practice You With Elena Brower

On our imperiled bodies of water, focusing on the majestic Great Salt Lake, and the urgency of divesting from harm. (0:00) - Introduction to Nan Seymour and Her Work (3:18) - The Great Salt Lake and Its Significance (6:06) - Human Impact and Environmental Concerns (9:07) - Efforts to Protect the Lake (13:58) - Hope and Future Actions (18:23) - Nan's Poetry and Personal Connection (26:01) - Community Engagement and Future Plans (31:27) - Closing Remarks and Resources Nan created River Writing in order to foster voice and authentic connection. Everyone is welcome in her circles. This community-held writing practice was designed for anyone willing to pick up a pen. A recent PBS documentary highlights River Writing as a method of repair for what is broken in our relationship with the natural world. Her debut poetry collection, prayers not meant for heaven, was published by Toad Hall Editions in the summer of 2021. Nan's story lake woman leaving, a modern myth, was awarded the 2022 Alfred Lambourne prize by Frie

On the finer practice of friendship, tending to ourselves in order to be present, and learning what it means to be a good friend.  (0:00) - Introduction and Author Background (2:48) - Discussion on the Book's Title and Theme (5:02) - Reflections on Meredith's Role in the Book (7:56) - Navigating Joy and Sorrow in Friendships (12:45) - Exploring Spirituality and Recovery (16:13) - Healing and Overcoming Envy (21:05) - Supporting a Friend Through Illness (26:39) - Maintaining Friendships After Loss Christie Tate is a Chicago-based writer and essayist. She has been published in The New York Times (Modern Love), The Rumpus, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Eastern Iowa Review and elsewhere. Kiese Laymon selected her essay, Promised Lands, as the winner of the New Ohio Review’s nonfiction contest, which was published Fall 2019. In this episode, we discuss B.F.F., her latest book, which strikes a deep chord of love and understanding.

On the ways in which we can respectfully learn from Indigenous cultures about creating instances of meaning, integrity, health and happiness. The Seven Circles encompass a series of interconnected, intersecting circles to help us all live well.  (0:00)- Introduction and Guest Introduction (2:54) - Overview of "The Seven Circles" (3:49) - Movement as an Antidote to Addiction (10:28) - Connection to Land and Environmentalism (16:46) - Spiritual Aspects of Land and Prayer (21:46) - Ceremony and Its Role in Wellness (38:11) - Resources for Allies and Cultural Revitalization (38:42) - Final Thoughts and Gratitude Chelsey Luger is a writer, multimedia journalist and wellness advocate whose work focuses largely on reclaiming healthy lifestyles and positive narratives in Indigenous communities. She is Anishinaabe, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa (maternal) and Lakota from Cheyenne River and Standing Rock (paternal). She holds a BA in history and Native American studies from Dartmouth Coll

On serving and shifting the narrative around death, dying and our transition to the other side. On entering into deep heart healing and becoming ourselves. (0:00) - Introduction (3:01) - Ash's Journey and Personal Background (7:04) - Ash's Work and Certification (13:13) - Ash's Approach to Death Coaching (14:57) - Stories of Helping Clients (29:25) - Ash's Retreats and Private Spiritual Coaching (39:05) - The Impact of Healing on Generations (43:25) - Final Thoughts and Gratitude Ash Canty is a wonderfully queer, Afro-Indigenous-made Psychic Medium and Death Walker, supporting others to consciously and gracefully face their death. Ash's work serves those actively dying as well as those wishing to feel more connected to their own spirit in everyday life. Ash also supports you in connecting with loved ones with mediumship readings, guiding you in transforming your grief into even deeper wells of meaning and aliveness. This work of walking with grief and death found Ash after being diagnosed and hospitalized w

On remembering our original state; the use of quantum energy to boost regenerative competency and overall health.   (0:00) - Introduction to Philip von Holtzendorf-Fehling (2:47) - Understanding Quantum Energy (4:21) - Practical Applications of Quantum Energy (10:55) - Impact of Quantum Energy on Water and Food (15:27) - Scientific Evidence and Research (21:04) - Personal Experiences and Practical Uses (23:01) - Accelerating Cell Recovery and Physical Benefits (29:19) - Spiritual and Consciousness Benefits Philipp Samor von Holtzendorff-Fehling is a coach, conscious entrepreneur, and energy healer. In parallel to a successful international business career, he constantly worked through blockages and barriers that had prevented him from fully connecting with his true self. With that, he also started to see energy fields and developed his unique skills as a healer, and he went through two decades of training in shamanic and other energy healing practices. During his business career, he's worked as an executive

On the six key steps to freeing ourselves from the inside out. (1:44) - Overview of "Free to Be" (4:02) - Heart Detox and Self-Care (6:21) - Body Detox and Self-Care (8:58) - The Role of Play in Neuroplasticity (13:28) - Finding Your True North (15:28) - Rewriting Your Story (20:01) - Conclusion and Closing Remarks A proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Shirin Etessam is an entrepreneur, producer, creator and founder. Shirin founded OML TV, a popular platform dedicated to streaming and curating quality, queer female content, and OML Originals, a female-led production company telling diverse female stories through a vast spectrum of film and television genres. Her book Free to Be leads us away from the prioritization of accomplishment toward a simple, structured, six-week reset for mind, heart and body. Shirin lives in Marin County with her wife and two children.

On our last best act, planning for the end of our lives and aligning our end-of-life choices with our values. Exploring new, sustainable practices such as green burial, aquamation, conservation cemeteries, home funerals and human composting.  (0:00) - Introduction and Background of Mallory McDuff (2:05) - Defining Green Burials and Their Importance (5:47) - Exploring Cremation and Aquamation (14:06) - Choosing a Green Burial Site (29:53) - Personal Stories and Final Wishes (36:28) - Practical Considerations and Resources (36:39) - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks In this second conversation with Mallory McDuff, environmental education professor, we discuss her book, Our Last Best Act. She is the author of four books, with essays featured in the New York Times, The Washington Post and more.

On the women who've designated themselves as voices for the Earth and prioritizing joy amidst the truths of our times.  (0:00) - Introduction to Mallory McDuff and the Podcast (1:52) - Hannah Herman's Connection to Mallory McDuff (4:49) - The Power of Climate Storytelling (6:20) - Colette Pichon Battle's Story (12:03) - Ayanna Elizabeth Johnson's Focus on Ocean Justice (24:50) - Mari Copeny's Activism in Flint, Michigan (36:11) - Kendra Pinto's Fight Against Fracking in New Mexico (44:55) - Conclusion and Call to Action Mallory McDuff discovered the field of Environmental Education as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Central African Republic, where she saw the critical importance of integrating local communities in conservation. She's the author of four books examining the intersection of spirituality and the climate crisis: Natural Saints (OUP, 2010), Sacred Acts (New Society Press, 2012), Our Last Best Act: Planning for the End of Our Lives to Protect the People and Places We Love (Broadleaf Books, 2021), a

On living your fullest life so you can meet the end with grace. (0:00) - Introduction and Book Reading (2:08) - Alua's Journey from Law School to Death Doula (3:57) - Meeting Jessica and Reflecting on Judgments (7:04)- Alua's Background and Going with Grace (9:23) - Alua's Childhood and Adaptability (12:47) - Life in Los Angeles and Death Doula Work (14:37) - Peter's Illness and Its Impact (18:11) - Reflecting on Peter's Death (20:02) - Alua's Family and Legacy (24:43) - Final Thoughts and Resources Author of BRIEFLY PERFECTLY HUMAN: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End, Alua Arthur is the most visible death doula in America today. A recovering attorney and the founder of Going with Grace, a death doula training and end-of-life planning organization, Alua has been featured on The Doctors and in Disney's Limitless docu-series with Chris Hemsworth, as well as Vogue, InStyle, the Los Angeles Times, The Cut, The New Yorker, and the New York Times. Her TED talk entitled “Why Thinking About Deat

On the gift of childlike faith, guarding your mind and the crucial connection between your well-being and your success. (0:00) - Introduction (2:50) - Chaz's Journey to Writing the Book (5:40) - Guard Your Mind and Meditation (12:09) - Self-Talk and Affirmations (16:13) - Work toward ascension and childlike faith (21:58) - Success and Self-Care (26:33) - Conclusion and Call to Action Chazz Scott is an author, speaker, mindset and resilience coach. He is the founder of Supra Mentem, a consulting firm specializing in training leaders in peak performance, well-being, and sustainable success. His clients include the D.C. Hospital Association, the Maryland Association of Election Officials, and the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce. Chazz is the Executive Director of Positively Caviar, Inc., a nonprofit focused on using optimism to build resilience and disrupt youth mental health stigmas. He lives with his wife in the Washington D.C. area. Chazz is the author of his latest book, Success Starts Within: Achieve You

On sonic gratitude, developing our deeper gifts, the peril of expectation, the potency of the present, and the beauty of self-acceptance. (0:00) - Musical Journey and Transformative Work (5:12) - Early Career Challenges and Breakthroughs (12:25) - Personal Transitions and Professional Growth (14:57) - The Power of Gratitude and Creative Process (15:38) - The Role of Meditation and Yoga in Creative Work (19:35) - The Impact of Friendship and Support (19:57) - Arlie's Musical Projects and Future Aspirations (20:21) - The Influence of Elena's Writing on Arlie's Music (20:42)- The Importance of Self-Acceptance and Present Moment Awareness Arli Liberman is an award-winning screen composer, producer and guitarist who creates vibrant, immersive music for film, TV, multimedia and live experiences. With an unwavering dedication to his craft, Arli's approach to music serves as a transformative force that resonates both on and off the screen. As a screen composer, Arli has worked on a wide range of films, including Sa

On rest as our birthright and the vital importance of remembering to pause. (0:00) - Rest and relaxation with a focus on honoring ancestral heritage and claiming birthright to rest. (5:09) - Rest and self-care, with a focus on yoga nidra and inner peace. (13:06) - Rest and self-care with a meditation course and 21-day program. Born in the Caribbean Dominican Republic and living now in Mianjin/Brisbane, Australia, Rocío is dedicated to finding inner resources of ease. Offering Restorative Yoga, Meditation and Nidra for almost 10 years, building bridges with community and world, Rocío is a woman of color, devoted to honoring the space her ancestors missed to pause. Claiming rest today, she nurtures the lineage before her. She encourages us to "Think less. Feel more." https://rociomarte.com

On growing up at fifty, practice as a modern-day chaplain and cultivating a domestic monastery. (1:48) - Parenting Practices and Transitions (3:51) - Addiction Recovery and Personal Experience (5:33) - Talking to Children About Addiction (10:02) - Living in a Domestic Monastery (15:24) - Marriage and Personal Growth (23:50) - Chaplaincy and Palliative Care (26:13) - End-of-Life Celebrations and Legacy (29:07) - Connecting with the Community and Future Plans Melissa Berry Appleton is a Buddhist Chaplain, lay ordained in the Soto Zen Prajna Mountain Order, by Roshi Joan Halifax of Upaya Zen Center. Currently serving as a Chaplain with the University of British Columbia Okanagan, British Columbia Interior Health Physicians and the clinical counselling and social work graduate intern practicum program, Melissa has worked as a front-line worker in geriatric cognitive impairments, palliative care, and residential treatment centers for addiction. Almost complete with her Masters of Clinical Counselling in Psycholo

On rest as the way to reclaim your brilliance, at the altar of now.   (0:00) - Octavia's Background and Introduction (2:16) - Losing Parents and Spiritual Connection (2:58) - Rest as a Healing Practice (16:03) - Reading from the Book "Rest is Sacred" (16:19) - Personal Reflections on Rest (16:38) - The Power of Rest and Collective Care (27:01) - Daily and Collective Rest Practices (27:19) - Protecting Energy through Rest (31:57) - Practicing Self-Care and Listening to Oneself Octavia Raheem is a mother, author, yoga teacher and practitioner, and activist. She has received national attention for her work training yoga teachers and diversifying the yoga and wellness industry. Her work as a yoga professional focuses on practical tools to teach individuals how to manage stress, anxiety, and fatigue through yoga and meditation in a way that is accessible to all levels/abilities, and restorative to the nervous system. Her work has been featured in Yoga Journal, Mantra magazine, Well+Good, CNN, WXIA, and Atlanta M

On the temple of your regular life, and the daily practices of attention, surrender and wonder. (0:00) - Introduction to Mirabai Starr and Her Work (2:16) - Discussion on "Ordinary Mysticism" (5:15) - Accessibility and Intended Audience of "Ordinary Mysticism" (7:18) - Personal Stories and Everyday Mysticism (11:34) - Mirabai's Identity and Role as a Young Elder (14:29) - Current Rituals and Spiritual Practices (19:03) - Memories from Taos and Early Influences (21:29) - Embodying Contemplative Practice (25:44) - The Practice of Wonder and Surrender (32:13) - Final Reflections and Mantra Practice Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author, internationally acclaimed speaker, and a leading teacher of interspiritual dialogue. In 2020, she was honored on Watkins’ list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People. Drawing from 20 years of teaching Philosophy and World Religions at the University of New Mexico-Taos, Mirabai now travels the world sharing her wisdom on contemplative living, writing as a spiri

On the soul of our work, the re-indigenizing of our minds and the vital force of sisterhood. (2:21) - Nisha's Background and Family Life (4:09) - Hiro Boga's Influence on Nisha's Work (7:55) - The Concept of Devotion and Partnership (10:43) - Civilization and Disconnection (15:26) - The Muse and Creative Practice (23:37) - Global Sisterhood Day and the Importance of Friendship (36:43) - Cultivating Friendship and Community (42:52)- Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts Nisha Moodley is an integrative leadership coach that holds her work – and our collective work – within devotional, animist relational ways. Nisha has 15 years of experience leading mastermind groups, online courses, and nearly 60 retreats. She was first trained to work with subtle energy nearly 30 years ago, and has since received in-depth Health Coach and Executive Coach training, become a Family Constellation facilitator, and deepened her practice through breathwork training, Ancestral healing, and archetypal studies. All of these t

On bringing joy to justice; learning how to bear witness to our oppressive patterns and tendencies; fierce compassion as a quality of mind, heart, body and spirit. (2:41) - Engagement with Music and Nature (4:23) - Application of Enlightened Mind (9:06) - Oppression and Human Revolution (17:41) - Emergent Strategies and Joyful Just Action (28:38) - Fierce Compassion and Self-Care (37:54) - Language and Terminology (46:32) - Conclusion and Resources Dr. Kamilah Majied is a mental health therapist, clinical educator, researcher, and consultant on advancing equity and inclusion using meditative practices. Drawing from her decades of contemplative practice and leadership, Dr. Majied engages people in experiencing wonder, humor, and insight through transforming oppressive patterns and deepening relationships toward ever-improving individual, familial, organizational, and communal wellness. Author of Joyfully Just: Black Wisdom and Buddhist Insights for Liberated Living

On the origins of our best behavior, managing undue shame and the price women pay to be good.

 On radical self-responsibility and reprocessing our childhood shame to empowerment and creativity. (2:42) – Sophie’s Personal Journey and Research on Highly Sensitive Children (5:17) – Understanding Rooted Rhythm Therapy and Parent Coaching (8:19) – The Nature of “Big Feelings” and Their Impact on Children (10:08) – Practical Tips for Parents of Highly Sensitive Children (15:36) – The Role of Authenticity and Congruency in Parenting (20:55) – The Role of EMDR in Therapy and Parenting Sophie Schauermann, LCSW is a licensed therapist and parent coach based in Denver, CO. Her passion and expertise lie in supporting highly sensitive children (and their parents) in harnessing their sensitivities into their superpowers. She is the founder of Rooted Rhythm Therapy and Parent Coaching, which was born out of the belief that children must get to know the beat of their own drum in order to confidently reach their potential…and that the best kind of parent is one that is Rooted in their own Rhythm. Sophie supports he

On resetting after betrayal and spiritual abuse, shifting self-loathing, and service as crucial to our healing. (1:00) - Reinventing oneself after doors close in life. (4:56) - Addiction, self-loathing, and recovery. (11:31) - Addiction recovery, self-discovery, and service. (17:25) - Healing from trauma and supporting others. (21:18) - Spiritual betrayal and abuse of power in a spiritual community. (27:24) - Healing from past traumas and finding freedom in one's 50s. Ryan Haddon is the Director of Programming at Sage + Sound’s dedicated space for mental and emotional fitness, called The Study. She is an old friend, a certified Life and Spiritual coach, a clinical Hypnotherapist and certified meditation teacher with over 18 years of experience with hundreds of clients around the world. A sought-after public speaker for corporate retreats such as the international talent agency CAA, for three Tapping Solution Summits, Visionary Women and more.