LaidOPEN Podcast (Charna Cassell)

Our guest this week is Pleasure Advocate, Erotic Blueprint Coach, & Sex, Intimacy & Relationship Expert, Melissa Louise. Together we talk about the journey that led her to this field. We also speak about supporting women to reclaim their divine birthright of feeling aliveness, the ability to be orgasmic and turned on, no matter what their age or relationship status. 

Don’t worry, we also talk about the ways she helps men by supporting them to feel more attractive, powerful, trustworthy, make more money, and find freedom by lasting longer in bed. Plus, Melissa guides an exercise in genital breathing that helps with presence as well as more blood flow and turn-on. You’ll learn all this and more in this week’s episode of LaidOPEN Podcast.

Hey there! Have you ever thought about how we discover ourselves through the different voices we try on in life? I'm excited to share an amazing conversation in this episode where we explore exactly that.

I sit down with Adrienne Shamszad, a talented musician I got introduced to through my friend Ned Buskirk from You're Going To Die. Adrienne's story is truly inspiring—she found her true voice when she began losing it. That struggle led her on a journey to uncover the ways she'd been silenced, and it changed everything for her.

We dive deep into Adrienne's artistic process, how she channels her art, and the mind-body connection in her journey as an artist. But it's more than that; it's about growing up as an artist, finding paths by tapping into something higher, and letting that energy flow through her art.

One thing Adrienne said that stuck with me is, "Suffering can sometimes be this incredible portal in life, pushing us toward awakening or awareness." That hit hard, reflecting on how challenges can shape us in unexpected ways.

Join us as we uncover Adrienne Shamszad's story—a story of resilience, artistry, and the search for authenticity. We'll explore how she found her voice amid life's hurdles and how her journey might resonate deeply with your own.

Come along and let's discover together the transformative power of self-discovery through art and resilience.

Sexologist and ex-Jesuit, Joseph Kramer, Ph.D. is the founder of Body Electric School for Massage as well as Sexological Bodywork. Over the years, Joseph’s ushered in the next wave of Sexological Bodywork practitioners who offer sexual healing, such as Jaiya from Sex, Love, and Goop fame.

He also created a variety of educational videos with Annie Sprinkle that teaches the practice of erotic massage. It’s this technique that led him to create the Body Electric School burning the onset of the AIDS epidemic.

Plus, Joseph is a well of knowledge on the topic of mindful porn use and there’s so much to learn from him and his story this week on LadiOPEN Podcast.

Did you know that you can go in for any kind of surgery at a teaching hospital, and while under anesthesia receive pelvic exams, from multiple students, (yes this happens to men with anal or prostate exams) without your consent? 

Most people are shocked to discover that they could go in for a knee surgery and be given an anal or pelvic exam they did not consent to. However, let’s call it what it is, medical rape and 85% of medical students currently report having done this. 

On today’s episode I speak with activist, author, educator, speaker and filmmaker A’magine about her award winning documentary film that tackles this topic, At Your Cervix. 

These pervasive exams are still very much legal in 27 states in the US and continues to occur where it is illegal despite laws meant to prevent this practice. Together A’magine and Charna talk about when pelvic exams happen when you’re unconscious, medical rape, sexual assualt in Western medicine, and unlearning the dehumanization that causes sexual assault in the medical filed and society at large. 

The conversation is capped with an embodied mindfulness practice led by @Amagine.

In this episode of the Laid Open Podcast we welcome Dr. Susan Campbell PhD, an esteemed psychologist and relationship coach who delves deep into the essence of understanding and managing what triggers us in intimate relationships.

Dr. Susan provides practical steps for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and effective communication to foster healthier relationships. Plus, she emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, safety, and understanding attachment styles. Together, Charna and Dr. Susan discuss the profound impact of individual healing on a collective scale.

The episode wraps up with Dr. Susan guiding an exercise on recognizing one’s Trigger Signature and touches on approaches for relational freedom and repair.

00:00 Introduction and Course Announcement

01:18 Introducing Susan Campbell

02:26 Exploring Emotional Triggers and Healing

19:42 Understanding Attachment Styles

26:44 Practicing Self-Regulation and Pausing

37:05 Understanding Attachment Dynamics

37:20 Learning Through Experience

39:27 The Importance of Repair in Relationships

40:22 Compassionate Self-Inquiry

40:44 Addressing Core Fears and Triggers

42:17 Effective Communication and Repair Scripts

48:17 The Role of Radical Honesty

48:59 Creating Safety and Self-Awareness

50:07 Managing Triggers and Repair Timing

53:50 Unilateral Repair and Seeking Reassurance

58:45 When to Seek Third-Party Help

01:00:14 Workshops, Webinars, and Continued Learning

01:02:03 Relational Freedom and Trigger Signature Exercise

01:13:54 Conclusion and Resources

In this episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, I chat with the incredibly insightful Erica Wright, a codependency counselor who spends an hour with me breaking down complex relationship dynamics and sharing wisdom on healing and self-love. 

Erica delves into her journey, discussing the roots of codependency within societal frameworks and the transformative role of spirituality and sobriety. From understanding the true meaning of intimacy and interdependency in relationships to practical exercises for grounding yourself, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. 

Ready to reclaim your energy, set boundaries, and foster unconditional love in your relationships? Tune in as we decode codependency and discover the path to genuine connection and self-empowerment.

00:00 Introduction to Today's Guest: Erica Wright

02:07 Defining Codependency

03:53 Historical Context and Personal Journey

13:00 The Practice of Interdependency

17:58 The Radical Act of Self-Love

21:59 Sober Reflections and Reality Checks

26:20 The Power of Friendships

27:59 First Partnership Experience

28:43 Non-Codependency Moments

29:53 Healing Through Intimacy

30:29 Unspoken Understanding

31:31 The Power of Presence

34:26 True Intimacy and Vulnerability

35:52 Sex and Somatic Healing

39:49 Spiritual Practice and Healing

46:29 Grounding and Centering Practice

50:47 Offerings and Final Thoughts

When it comes to relationships, most of us have realized one size doesn’t fit all. My guest today is Kate Loree. She’s a sex-positive licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in the non-monogamous, kink, LGBTQ, and sex worker communities. Kate’s also the author of “Open Deeply: A Guide to Building Conscious, Compassionate Open Relationships,” which i think everyone should read regardless if they’re poly or not. 

Kate’s story is an interesting one. She spent a decade in the poly lifestyle and uses those experiences to contribute to her wisdom as a therapist. In this week’s episode, she explains how she guides people through the pitfalls of creating relationships tailored to their own specific needs. Additionally, Kate provides useful case studies to illustrate how to use her communication model to help couples manage their triggers.

Not only that, she breaks down how understanding different attachment styles or injuries, and historical trauma are valuable and relevant in successfully navigating an open relationship. There’s so much to gain from her story and knowledge and can’t wait to share it with the world tomorrow. 

Our guest this week is a dear friend of mine. Ned Buskirk is the founder of You’re Going to Die, which started as an open mic that offered a communal space to share stories about death, loss, and grieving. It progressed, as most things do, eventually becoming a nonprofit that brings music to the bedside of hospice patience, operates grief groups, delivers resources to help people in the prison system process their own grief and loss, and even a podcast of the same name, You’re Going To Die. 

I truly believe in Ned’s work and purpose, which is why I’ve repeatedly used these resources myself, as well as, referred my clients to them over the years. Together we discussed how You're Going to Die has evolved, reorienting to aliveness and life after tragedy, what he has learned over the years, what his own coping strategies around loss are, remaining humble, being a community resource, and the positive as well as the weighty impact of this work on all aspects Ned’s life. We even spend a good amount of time talking about, Alive Inside, a non-profit and runoff of You’re Going To Die, where Ned brings his work and experiences to the incarcerated. 

Dying, death, grief, and tragedy are all a part of this journey we call life and Ned brings a lot of necessary community and awareness to these topics. Join us this week in demystifying death by accepting it during our life.

Today I welcome two previous guests from earlier this season to share their unique experiences and expertise on the topic of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. Mark Walsh, an embodiment coach, trauma trainer & host of The Embodiment Podcast, and Christian Branscombe, a restorative justice facilitator and coach. Together we dive into the intricacies of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue, especially in the contexts of working in prisons and war-torn Ukraine. 

The two of them share experience to help us delve into the ways self-awareness, self-compassion, and structured self-care practices are crucial for managing compassion fatigue. The conversation also touches on the psychological impacts of trauma, the importance of maintaining boundaries, and the role of spirituality and humor in coping with intense and challenging work settings.

This conversation on managing the impacts of trauma in high-stress careers and situations may come as some comfort for you as the world around us changes.

00:00 Introduction to the Guests and Episode Overview

01:39 Discussing Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue

03:02 Personal Experiences and Coping Mechanisms

07:13 Training and Self-Regulation Practices

17:32 Spirituality and Self-Awareness in Trauma Work

23:27 Challenges and Strategies in Prison Environments

32:13 Exploring Somatic Models

32:44 Understanding Emotional Resonance

34:28 Challenges in the Prison System

35:10 Trauma and Re-traumatization

39:26 The Power of Ideas and Hope

47:09 Connection and Well-being

54:01 Self-Care and Boundaries

55:01 Conclusion and Contact Information

You may have heard of this week’s guest from her two podcasts, blog, or books. Kate Sloan is a writer and podcaster specializing in sex, kink, and relationships. We talk about her books '101 Kinky Things Even You Can Do' and '200 Words to Help You Talk About Sexuality & Gender,' the latter of which was recently released.  Plus, we do a round robbin covering her two podcasts (The Dildorks and Question Box), sex-ed, and the perks of the daddy-little girl dynamic. We also chat about the fine art of surrendering to pain, as well as, pain as a tool for healing. If you've ever wanted to know the ins and outs of being a sex columnist, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the LaidOPEN Podcast, I have an in-depth conversation with my friend Joseph Kramer, Ph.D about my journey into psychotherapy and sex education. Joseph is a sexologist and ex-Jesuit is the founder of Body Electric School for Massage as well as Sexological Bodywork and a past guest of LaidOPEN Podcast. He guided a conversation where I shared my experiences working at Good Vibrations, where I educated people about sexual health and became familiar with sexological bodywork and somatic therapy. 

We also discuss my education at the Strozzi Institute and the impact of my training with Stacey Haynes on dealing with sexual trauma and nervous system regulation. I highlight the importance of embodied freedom and liberation, personally and within my work. We touch on mindfulness, energy medicine, and the necessity of continuous practice to bring about lasting change. Plus, if you have been wondering what somatics is I define it in this episode and get into exactly what embodiment means.

Additionally, Joseph emphasizes the crucial role of being present in the body and the importance of being of service to others. I further explain the development and intent behind my course, Pathways to Peace: Mindful Practices for Transformative and Vibrant Living, aimed at providing accessible resources globally. The episode highlights the necessity of integrating the body into therapeutic practices and provides valuable resources for anyone interested in similar career paths.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction to the Episode
00:38 Meet Joseph Kramer
02:28 How Charna and Joseph Met
05:25 Charna's Journey into Sex Education
06:32 Good Vibrations and Early Training
11:16 The Strozzi Institute and Somatic Practices
15:52 Challenges in Psychotherapy Training
21:27 Pathways to Peace: Online Course
24:35 The Importance of Practice
29:27 Influences and Universal Truths
33:29 Integrating Somatics and Trauma
36:03 The Importance of Boundaries in Therapy
38:12 Surprising Client Experiences
41:59 Defining Liberation in Therapy
51:31 Resources for Somatic Practices
54:22 The Role of Somatics in Healing
01:02:48 Conclusion and Course Information

Lauren Dollie Duke is a yoga teacher and author of a compelling memoir, "Sh!thouse." It tells a story of healing from developmental trauma, PTSD, sexual trauma, and addiction.

Lauren and I have shared childhood experiences of growing up in an addicted household, with an incarcerated father and a mom who chose toxic relationships.

Her story is incredibly honest and human and she eventually finds liberation through somatic therapy, mind-body connection, and yoga. 

All that and Lauren also shares some practices for managing fear and anxiety in this episode of LaidOPEN Podcast.

Meet Paloma De La Hoz, aka “MoMa” @awaremoma, she’s a sex educator from the Dominican Republic, who uses her experiences to help people reconnect with their sexuality. Her passion is helping women have their first orgasms, whether it’s alone or with their partners. 

MoMa works internationally and sees clients from around the globe through intimate 1:1 coaching and group programs. Primarily, she helps her clients explore how to connect to their bodies, emotions, and desires, whether in or out of the bedroom. In this episode, we talk about her course on sexual healing she created, how her own sexuality evolved after being raised Catholic and what sexual freedom means to her at this juncture in her life. 

Matthew shares his journey to rediscover his love of crafting and how it helped him manage his anxiety, panic attacks and how he even uses it to self-soothe. 

Plus, we speak about how having a child helped him understand what had been lost when his family asked him to reject a core part of his identity. And how the experience led him to rediscover crafting and helped him embrace a part of himself that had been dormant.

In this episode of the LaidOPEN Podcast, I welcome my friend and guest Rachel Kaplan. Rachel hosts the “Healing Feeling Shit Show” podcast and is the author of “Feel, Heal, and Let That Sh*t Go: Your Guide to Emotional Resilience and Lasting Self-Love,” which explores the process and importance of reconnecting with and expressing emotions. 

The discussion delves into the emotional challenges many face, like avoiding uncomfortable feelings, and offers insights and tools on how to move emotions through the body. Rachel introduces her 'emotional potty training' method, emphasizing proactive and reactive emotional release techniques to facilitate healing from core emotional wounds. 

The conversation also explores the significance of nature and reparenting in developing emotional resilience and the nuances of navigating complex PTSD. The episode underscores the revolutionary potential of feeling emotions fully and skillfully as a form of personal activism.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:46 Healing Through Feeling: Rachel's Journey

03:46 The Importance of Emotional Expression

05:31 Avoidance and Its Consequences

09:54 Tools for Emotional Bandwidth

11:18 Nature and Connection

19:29 Reparenting and Self-Love

26:38 Understanding Reintegration Work

27:12 Exploring Childhood Shame

27:44 Building a Whole Self

28:57 Complex PTSD and Shame

29:59 Physical Manifestations of Emotions

33:08 Proactive vs. Reactive Emotional Release

34:21 Core Wounds and Emotional Healing

36:39 Practical Techniques for Emotional Release

41:03 Deep Practice and Commitment

45:43 Navigating Trauma and Trust

52:22 Final Thoughts and Resources

I am so happy to introduce you to Mark Tanaka, a teacher, and coach that specializes in helping people with nervous system regulation, somatic attachment/developmental trauma repair, and inner child work.

Mark is a beloved friend and colleague whom I met during a 2-year shamanic energy bodywork training. He has a background in teaching Qi Gong and Yoga, which he applies to his somatic attachment and development trauma repair practices.

Through his process of helping people unwind the physical body, he discovered that relationship trauma patterns left an imprint. This made him dive deeper into techniques that can help create more security and safety in relationships of all kinds. 

In this episode, Mark guides a beautiful exercise on how to return to and regulate yourself when confronted with a hard conversation. I highly recommend you try it out.

This episode of Laid Open Podcast features guest Dr. Joli Hamilton, Ph.D., a research psychologist, relationship coach and founder of 'The Year of Opening.' Together, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of non-monogamous relationships, the importance of creating custom relationship dynamics, and the primal value of jealousy… because jealousy isn’t always a bad thing. 

Dr. Joli also shares insights on the fluid nature of attachment styles, the complexity of jealousy, and her own experiences with non-monogamous relationships. Listeners can expect to learn about the importance of agreements, navigating jealousy, and the concept of internalized polyphobia. Our conversation provides a deep dive into conscious relationship building and the nuances of managing evolving relationship needs.

We also touch on the fluidity of attachment styles, the process of navigating differing desires between partners, and how cultural and personal backgrounds influence relationship dynamics. Dr. Hamilton also introduces her 'Jealousy Roadmap' as a tool for understanding and managing jealousy–a must for anyone who’s ever felt jealous and been made to feel bad about it.

00:00 Introduction to the Guest: Dr. Joli Hamilton

00:38 Exploring Jealousy and Eroticizing It

02:38 The Concept of Non-Monogamy

03:28 Creating Safety in Relationships

05:01 The Importance of Agreements

09:20 Attachment Styles and Relationship Dynamics

12:17 Navigating Non-Monogamy and Polyamory

18:43 Internalized Polyphobia and Cultural Norms

23:32 Seeking Validation and Understanding in Relationships

24:14 The Challenge of Conscious Awareness

24:57 Navigating Consent Violations and Unconscious Slips

25:37 The Complexity of Holding Deep Work in Relationships

26:01 Commitment to Loving and Creating Resonant Relationships

26:41 Sexual Trauma and Differing Needs in Relationships

27:34 Midlife Crises and Changing Relationship Dynamics

28:50 Exploring Sexual Autonomy and Freedom

29:59 The Importance of Slowing Down in Relationship Transitions

32:25 Desire Discrepancies and Non-Monogamy

34:01 Understanding and Embracing Jealousy

41:44 The Jealousy Roadmap and Relationship Customization

46:42 Conclusion and Resources for Further Learning

As a society, we are struggling with how to hold people accountable. The trend of cancel culture is public shaming with the hope that those who are canceled will lose their power and position. Often, they regroup anyway and do the same thing again in a new place and a new community. This is the cycle of abuse at play. This week, I welcome Bay Area sex educator Charlie Glickman on the podcast to talk about being canceled and the self-discovery that unfolded in the multi-year accountability process of healing himself, his relationships, and his place in his community. 

While speaking on his experience, Charlie explains how to set up an accountability team, how essential somatic therapy is in rewiring the ways in which we respond when under stress, and how he discovered his own trauma response.

We also talk about the ways that gender role conditioning impacted him, how the patriarchy sets up boys to be divorced from their emotions at a young age, and how this makes it impossible to have the men these boys grow into communicate responsibly until they unlearn the characteristics of toxic masculinity.

Charlie is a case study of how we can approach people whom we need to hold accountable. He also models what can be expected when someone addresses their own trauma. This is an important episode and an even more important topic that we will all need to address if we want to make changes in our society to move forward and end cycles of violence.

This week, I chat with Chelsea Coleman, a brilliant musician, and storyteller. I first met her at an event called, “You’re Going To Die” which creates room for people to talk about death, dying, and grieving. Together, Chelsea and I talk about her journey to healing Fibromyalgia and how having a baby helped her develop the embodied boundaries to do that. 

We also speak about growing up in Fundamentalist Christianity, the structure and safety found in the black and white thinking of the church, learning to suppress your own needs, sacrificing your own wellbeing, abusive relationships, and healing shame. Plus, Chelsea sings a beautiful song about joy. There’s something for everyone on this week’s episode of LaidOPEN Podcast.

This week I welcome Natalie Silva of God's Eye Oils and Made of Stars prayer circle group. She and I discuss the power of self-love, community, vulnerability, and the integration of prayer in daily life.

Natalie also shares how her relationship with former LaidOPEN Podcast guest, Erica Wright, has been integral to her healing journey. The episode highlights Natalie’s involvement in S Factor, a movement practice that helps women embody their sensuality and heal past traumas.

Throughout the conversation, we discuss the importance of community, self-acceptance, and slowing down to truly connect with oneself. The episode concludes with Natalie singing a song from the animated film Dumbo,  'Baby Mine,' a song imbued with the essence of motherly love, as an illustration and reinforcement of her self-love practices.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction to Pathways to Peace

01:18 Meet Our Guest: Natalie Silva

03:48 A Conversation on Vulnerability

07:26 The Role of Prayer in Life

22:07 Healing Through Sisterhood

29:25 Finding Support and Embracing Visibility

30:06 Discovering S Factor and Sensual Movement

32:02 Healing Through Dance and Community

33:50 Teaching and Creating New Movements

40:30 Self-Love Practices and Slowing Down

45:10 Asking for Help and Vulnerability

49:34 Embodied Freedom and Authenticity

51:14 A Heartfelt Song and Closing Thoughts

This week I want to acknowledge the wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles, which also happens to be home to this week’s guest, actress, drag king and comedian, Ruby Marez.

Ruby shares her incredible journey of using humor and play to heal trauma. She opens up about her clowning and drag king persona Ramón. We talk about how embodying this alter ego has transformed her life and inspired a stage show built to entertain and educate. She also opens up about the ways she uses this alter ego to address trauma, self-judgment, and emotional healing in her personal life as well. 

Ruby also discusses nervous system regulation techniques and offers supportive advice for those feeling stressed or dysregulated, especially about the wildfires. The episode also touches on Ruby's community initiatives and workshops aimed at educating people on wellness and housing rights.

Ruby also introduces practical exercises for nervous system regulation—perfect for anyone feeling the weight of the world right now. Tune in for an episode that's as enlightening as it is entertaining. 

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background

01:05 Trigger Warnings and Coping Strategies

02:37 Interview with Ruby Marez Begins

02:59 Experiencing the Fires in Los Angeles

05:09 Navigating Trauma and Nervous System Regulation

07:01 Personal Stories of Displacement and Resilience

16:27 Creating Art from Adversity

18:42 Developing the Ramón Character

19:23 Spiritual Cheerleading 101

25:50 Therapeutic Insights and Audience Engagement

28:47 Embracing Emotions: The Key to Joy and Peace

29:00 Connecting with Diverse Audiences

29:30 The Universal Need for Emotional Education

30:34 College Students and Emotional Awareness

31:53 The Power of Performance and Presence

32:23 Overcoming Stage Anxiety

32:55 The Role of Somatic Practices in Healing

34:24 Acting and Auditioning: A Journey of Self-Acceptance

35:13 Understanding Rejection in the Acting World

36:06 The Importance of Self-Compassion

38:43 Creating a Supportive Inner Voice

41:14 The Therapeutic Power of Alter Egos

47:58 Practical Exercises for Self-Kindness

53:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This week’s episode of LaidOPEN Podcast features former guest Jessica Graham. She returns to help me answer a listener's question on the topic of having our pleasure matter in the context of a sexual relationship.

This leads us into an extremely interesting conversation between two sex educators about what sex is, how to be an advocate for your own pleasure, what attunement and connection are, how we can freeze up in a sexual situation or hard conversations, how to become present, and how to practice speaking up on your own behalf when you want your sexual needs to be included.

There’s a lot to learn about ourselves, how do we relate to others and how we treat our own pleasure. A must-listen for anyone who struggles to communicate their sexual needs.

Hello! Happy Valentine’s Day. Today I am going to do something a little bit different. I’ll be doing this episode all by myself where I answer the questions you’ve sent in looking for advice. I love being able to connect with my listeners, especially on a day like today, Valentine’s Day, which can often put a lot of societally based pressure on people to feel like they should be coupled up, or simply feel like their relationship should be at a certain place.

We’re going to do a deep dive into questions like “How do I communicate to someone on a dating app that I want to feel safe” and “How to slide into someone’s DMs and not seem like a creep” and even “How to be single and date casually when you love intimacy.”

If you’re new here, don’t worry if you have something you want me to answer, I plan to do more of these episodes. Just head to my website CharnaCassell.com and click on the link in the header that says “Ask Charna” to submit your question. 

In this episode, Charna Cassell discusses the profound topic of silence, featuring an interview with Justin Talbot Zorn and Leigh Marz, authors of 'Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.' They delve into experiences and practices from their book that encourage finding clarity and peace amidst external and internal noise. The conversation covers the political and cultural relevance of silence, its role in addressing trauma, and techniques to incorporate it into daily life. The episode concludes with an invitation to listeners to reflect on their personal relationship with silence.

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction to the Concept and Need For Silence

00:22 Personal Experiences with Noise and Silence

03:39 Introducing the Justin Talbot Zorn and Leigh Marz

05:37 Exploring Noise and Silence

07:11 The Impact of Noise on Wellbeing

10:35 Navigating Noise in Relationships

13:18 The Role of Silence in Healing

17:06 Mindfulness and Meditation

23:35 Embodiment and Silence

29:13 Finding Personal Pathways to Silence

31:08 The Essence of Silence

32:13 Scientific Insights on Silence

33:00 Holy Uselessness and Capitalism

36:05 Silence and Healing from Trauma

37:49 An Invitation to Silence

41:10 Self-Acceptance and the True Self

42:37 Sphere of Control and Influence

45:45 Cultural Perspectives on Noise

49:26 Silence as a Tool for Justice

50:40 Practical Exercises for Silence

55:11 Final Reflections and Farewell

Welcome back to Laid OPEN, this week we’re continuing our conversation with David Chambers, a relationship coach and host of the podcast, The Authentic Man.  We finish our conversation by talking about a variety of interesting topics relevant to men looking to lead authentic lives. This includes, the nature of women to ask for and then recoil at when experiencing a man's vulnerability, sexual shame as it affects men and of course, we speak about sexual freedom and what it means to David.

He also speaks to his experience in the ISTA training, which he calls, “incredible.” You won’t want to miss the helpful breathing exercise I use to end this episode. There’s so much to be learned from the conversation I have with David, and I can't wait for you to experience it.

Our guest this week is sensual intelligence educator and author of The Lost IQ, Shawnrey Notto. She has created a set of sensuality archetypes for you to self-reflect and discover your own style of relating. We discuss a variety of topics centering around sensuality including how dance and embodiment have been a path of healing for us. 

Additionally, we cover everything from how to deepen sensual awareness, the gendered challenges implicit in our conditioning, healing sexual shame and abuse, and the importance of community in healing. As always, we end the episode with an exercise from me on attuning into our own sensuality. 

One of the best things about my podcast is all of the wonderful people doing incredible things that it’s brought into my life. People like this week’s guest, Jessica Graham who’s returning to speak with me about their latest creation.

Jessica is an author, actor and trauma resolution guide.  Together we discuss Jessica's latest book, 'Being (Sick) Enough,' and talk about their journey of writing, dealing with physical and emotional pain, and navigating trauma and healing. 

Jessica explains their methods for coping with pain and the importance of self-acceptance and flexibility. The episode dives deep into topics such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), neurodivergence, chronic illness, and the transformative power of both pharmaceuticals and meditation.

The conversation concludes with a guided exercise to manage physical pain and create a better relationship with one's body.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction 

02:05 Meet Jessica Graham: Author and Meditation Teacher

04:29 Writing Process and Challenges

12:53 The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)

23:38 Navigating Family Dynamics and Healing

30:54 Family Conversations Sparked by Jessica's Book

33:05 The Impact of Positive Childhood Experiences

39:53 Embracing Pain and Healing

45:12 The Journey of Self-Acceptance

48:09 Exploring the Role of Pharmaceuticals

56:53 Mindfulness and Pain Management Exercise

01:01:06 Conclusion and Contact Information

Please welcome this week’s guest, Dr. Walter Sipe. He’s a beloved colleague and friend of mine, who started his career as a pediatric gastroenterologist, before switching gears and becoming a psychiatrist. 

He has a private practice where he works with adolescents and adults. More importantly, he’s inherited the unusual legacy of being an expert witness around cases of institutional abuse of power and child sexual abuse. 

Walt was born to parents who met when they were both members of the Catholic clergy. His mother was a nun and his father was a priest who both eventually quit the cloth. Walt's father, A.W. Richard Sipe, became a psychiatrist whose specialty was testifying as an expert witness thanks to his experience in the church and his research and writing about celibacy.

In this week’s episode, we explore a variety of interesting topics, including cults and how to spot the difference between a cult and a spiritual community focused on personal evolution. This opens the door to conversation on many of the learning communities in the bay area that blur this line. 

Plus, we even talk about what makes a leader sociopathic and how to determine when one is. Walt’s story is an unusual and compelling one. I hope he decides to write a memoir one day. He ends his episode with a simple breathing and grounding practice that can help you reset.

After a decade of seeking, life coach Anton Wisbski found himself guiding small groups of friends through breathwork practices. Soon, a coaching career followed. A disinterested student growing up, Anton followed an entrepreneurial path and started his own successful social media business. After working closely with Dr. Joe Dispenza, Bob Proctor, and Tony Robbins–among other seminal teachers– Anton felt he was saturated in the wisdom needed to manifest and create the life of your dreams. In doing this, he healed his own chorionic anxiety and depression. 

However, much of his own self-work and growth was instigated by using break-ups as a repeated opportunity for self-reflection, change, accountability, and learning. This taught him the value of vulnerability versus positioning himself as the victim and attacking and blaming others.

We talk about acknowledging how disappointing mentors can be when their personal lives or actions aren't always in alignment with what they preach. Additionally, we discuss how to remain humble and avoid the pitfalls of public visibility and power. Anton leads a powerful guided meditation you won’t want to miss.

In this incredibly moving episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, Charna engages in a powerful discussion with Christian Branscombe, who, after being sentenced to life in prison for murder, transformed his life through meditation, reading, and community healing initiatives. This profound experience led him to become an advocate for transformative justice and healing initiatives in the prison system and beyond. 

Together they delve into Christian's transformative journey and his work developing prison programs to provide healing. Christian also recounts an emotional courtroom experience highlighting the power of forgiveness in healing from trauma. 

A key focus in this episode is on how self-compassion helps free us from our trauma and sham with Christian sharing his insights and experiences on the subject. Overall, the conversation explores the impacts of generational trauma, coping mechanisms, and the steps toward personal and communal transformation. Something we can all use in this highly polarized world we’re living in.

01:00 Guest Introduction: Christian Branscombe

01:43 Christian's Transformative Journey

04:00 The Power of Community and Healing

08:06 Facing Shame and Trauma

10:22 Generational Trauma and Coping Mechanisms

19:54 Buddhism and Finding Purpose in Prison

28:05 Transparency and Accountability in Healing

36:27 The Power of Embodied Wisdom

37:00 Rewiring the Brain Through Physical Practices

37:54 The Role of Somatic Experiences in Healing

38:32 Victim Offender Dialogue: A Transformative Experience

39:06 The Journey from Trauma to Compassion

40:47 The Importance of Self-Acceptance and Compassion

42:28 Balancing Life's Ecosystem

44:07 The Impact of Childhood Trauma

48:16 Forgiveness and Compassion in the Healing Process

55:25 The Role of Community in Healing

01:00:26 Embracing New Experiences for Growth

01:04:58 Defining Freedom Through Interconnection

On LaidOPEN podcast this week, we’re welcoming Layla London, better known by her podcast moniker, Curious Girl Diaries, a podcast dedicated to her sexual awakening and adventures. However, she wasn’t always a podcast host.

Layla started as a high-powered businesswoman married to her job. After a 3.5-year dry spell from sex, she decided to reprioritize sex by way of a sex bucket list. 

Layla documents all the cumming and going in her podcast. Together we talked about the unexpected benefits and openings her sex bucket list has delivered.

Plus, we talk about how her project became a 6-year podcast, how she offers her Sex Bucket List Challenge to listeners and the way she manages unwanted advances, and when men lie about their single status. 

You’ll find all this and more in this tantalizing conversation.

This week we welcome Media Midwife, Ahri Golden. She’s an award-winning artist, producer, podcast coach, professor, and mother of two. Ahri’s work is informed by a passion for making meaning through stories and creative responses to the world that is unfolding within and around us.

Together we talk about her journey of becoming the Media Mid-Wife and what that entails. Plus, she speaks about her anti-hustle perspective, the importance of listening to our bodies, and making embodied art.

Ahri ends the episode with an exercise she uses with her clients on how to use creativity to transmute and access their stories.

Charna Cassell, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Master Somatic Coach talks with her friend Amy McClain, a master facilitator, executive coach, and curriculum developer, about the ways in which her life story has informed her belief that all different kinds of trauma shapes sexuality. Charna also explains how she uses her somatic work to help people discover what sexual freedom means to them. Plus, she guides a pelvic floor practice for grounding and managing anxiety.

Amy MacClain is a social storyteller and healer, committed to building a more resilient, equitable, and accountable world. She trains, consults, and designs to help others create change that lasts and is relevant in real life – raising consciousness, building community, and bringing justice into unstoppable action. She does this by narrating the healing journey in song, coaching white folx to dismantle systemic oppression, and offering engaging interactive experiences within which we can heal and explore. 

Today’s guest, Gail Blair, is a remarkable being whom I am incredibly grateful to call my mentor. A near-death experience led to her seeing the energy fields of everything. She synthesizes what she’s discovered through her own awakening process and helps teach this to others.

She leads us in a grounding practice and discusses different kinds of love, celibacy, child sexual abuse, and evolution with Charna. We’re so lucky to have her share her story and gifts with us in this episode.

During our chat Carvell shared his journey navigating dissociation in a cis-male body, not feeling he had a right to say “No”, experiencing fear in anticipation of sex, and the lack of training around consent offered to men, and consent as an ongoing collaboration versus a contract. There is so much to learn from our conversation, which I hope inspires you on your journey until we meet again next season.

Please welcome, Mathew Boudreaux, also known as Mx Domestic to his millions of crafting fans from around the globe. During the pandemic, Mathew’s crafting projects left them with a wide following. However, the interaction they were sometimes having speaking their truth led to conflict on their social media channels. Mathew muses on this while also sharing their transformative healing journey, detailing the emotional and psychological challenges they faced, including childhood PTSD, ADHD, and CPTSD. 

They also discuss navigating corporate America while being authentic and the difficulties encountered due to their identity and social stance. Mathew opens up about the impact of trauma, uncovering neurodivergence, and the steps they took to heal. They share personal stories related to family struggles, social issues, and the power of vulnerability. 

The conversation also delves into coping strategies for mental health, managing triggers, and the role of art and crafting in their healing journey. The episode emphasizes the significance of self-love, setting boundaries, and creating community connections through shared experiences. Charna and Mathew wrap up by highlighting practical techniques for emotional regulation and the profound impact of parenting with a healed perspective. The episode offers a deep dive into the intersection of mental health, identity, and creativity.

00:00 Introduction to Pathways to Peace Course

01:11 Meet the Guest: Matthew Boudreaux

02:46 Matthew's Healing Journey

04:55 Navigating Corporate America with Authenticity

09:15 The Impact of Trauma and Healing

13:11 Discovering Neurodivergence

16:05 Family Struggles and Personal Growth

31:48 Standing Up for Social Issues

34:23 Navigating Personal Challenges

35:28 Sharing Personal Stories for Impact

35:53 Mental Health Strategies

36:33 Understanding and Managing Triggers

42:22 Sexual Identity and Trauma

46:51 Parenting and Healing

48:35 Practical Techniques for Regulation

01:02:08 The Power of Crafting

01:03:24 Conclusion and Resources

This week on LaidOpen Podcast I’m joined by renowned somatic expert Staci Haines. Together we delve into transformative methods to mend our fractured society, exploring the power of somatic practices in fostering unity and healing.

Staci and I talk about the journey from individual healing to collective transformation, and unraveling the intersections between somatics and spirituality. We also explore the pivotal shift from fragmentation to wholeness and how to navigate the path from polarization to love through somatic principles.

Listen in as Staci candidly reflects on her evolution as a leader, acknowledging personal limitations while embracing growth, and offering invaluable insights on becoming a more adept authority figure. Plus, we speak on the enigmatic process of healing the collective, activism, and the intricate task of disentangling societal beliefs from the body. 

Join us for an episode brimming with wisdom, guidance, and the promise of societal healing through the transformative lens of somatic practices. 

This week on LaidOPEN Podcast Charna welcomes ex-youth pastor, podcaster, and comedian Steve Hernandez. Steve takes us on a journey through his awakening from working in the church to finding the comedy community and the realization that he’s poly and queer. We also talk about being an artist, connected sober sex, emotionally connected gay sex, machismo in Mexican culture, and finding the humor in it all. Tune in to learn more about Steve and his hilarious stories about life, love, and sexual freedom.

Welcome back to LaidOPEN Podcast. This week we have renowned intimacy expert Susan Bratton, author and publisher of 34 books and programs, including “Relationship Magic,” “Revive Her Drive,” “The Steamy Sex Ed®️ Video Collection,” and her Amazon #1 International Bestseller, “Sexual Soulmates: The Six Essentials for Connected Sex, as well as, FemiWave.

Susan joins us this week to talk about her expanded orgasm practice, which can help you to have better and better big Os your entire life. She also speaks with Charna about female arousal, embracing ageless sexuality and how getting off is a learned skill any of us can accomplish if we put in the effort to learn.

Plus we end this episode with an exercise from Suaan about how to slowly warm up and turn on a vulva owner’s whole system and all aspects of their genitals. Find the visual component for this exercise here.

This week we welcome Licensed Therapist, Transformation Coach, and international speaker, Allison Guilbault from Notes From Your Therapist on the LaidOPEN Podcast. Allison and I explore the journey she took on her unique career path from working with the FBI and Rikers Island inmates to her current role as a therapist specializing in anxiety, trauma, and sex/intimacy in New Jersey. 

We discuss Allison's experiences in forensic psychology, her transition to private practice, and her passion for helping clients overcome shame and build confidence. The episode delves into the challenges of navigating significant career changes, personal relationships, and the importance of self-care and mindset work.

Allison discusses her recent media presence, including an interview in Time Magazine about loneliness, and highlights the challenges and successes of working in demanding environments. Themes of self-empowerment, navigating difficult transitions, and supportive relationships are explored. Allison also introduces a simple daily practice for fostering self-compassion and positive thinking. 

Join Charna and Allison as they explore the transformative power of inner work and resilience.

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction to Today's Guest: Allison Guilbault

01:36 Allison's Recent Achievements and Podcasting Journey

02:23 Discussing Loneliness and Post-COVID Isolation

03:54 Allison's Career Shift: From Forensic Psychology to Private Practice

04:48 Navigating Burnout and Major Life Changes

06:55 The Power of Self-Trust and Resilience

15:17 Exploring Shame and Its Impact on Mental Health

18:26 Relationships, Intuition, and Personal Growth

25:45 Shifting Career Focus

25:53 Attracting High-Functioning Clients

26:16 Personal Reflections and Client Work

27:35 Fascination with Forensics

30:19 Experiences at Rikers Island

35:29 Self-Care and Boundaries

45:57 Therapy and Coaching Services

48:37 Daily Practice for Self-Compassion

51:02 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

This week we welcome Christina Carlson, an embodiment and energetic coach, speaker, teacher, and the host of the podcast, “Bitches, Witches & Queers."

Christina and I talk about her experience of being raised as an Evangelical Fundamentalist Christian, leaving the church, and how dance helped free not only her body but her mind. 

Eventually, Christina discovers another church, and falls in love, but over time signals in her body help her to recognize that the church environment is not for her. We also talk about how this paved the way for what she currently does, working as an embodiment and energetic coach, and the ways she employs practical spirituality in all that she does especially her work. 

Christina ends this incredible conversation with an exercise that eases us into the practice of observing ourselves and staying inside our bodies.

Welcome back to LaidOPEN Podcast! More and more I feel like I am magnetizing potential lifelong friends and like-minded collaborators I feature on my podcast. People like this week’s guest, @yestantra better known as Dominique D’Vita, spent her life as a cardiovascular RN until she found tantra and found her calling as a trauma-informed tantra coach. 

Dominique has been a repeated guest on The Playboy Channel where she’s featured as a tantra expert. Together we chat about sex as a spiritual practice, the different kinds of tantra, what tantra is exactly, and how it can increase solo and partner-based pleasure. 

We all deserve pleasure and if reading that makes you feel weird or gives you anxiety, this episode will be especially poignant for you.

This week we welcome Nathaniel Hodder-Shipp, a drug and alcohol counselor, breathwork practitioner, and founder of the American Breath Work Association and Breathwork For Recovery, an 800-hour breathwork clinician that provides more intense training for teachers and practitioners.

We sit down and talk about Nathaniel’s journey of becoming involved with breathwork, his decision to help create Breathwork For Recovery, and the necessity of developing equity, ethics, and regulation in the field of breathwork. I also share my story about attempting to learn breathwork and that it was a traumatizing experience. Nathaniel offers a compassionate take on what I went through, which may have also happened to some of you.

We end the episode with two breathing practice options you can choose to do to reset and reframe yourself anywhere, and at any time. This episode is a must for anyone looking into breathwork who wants to know about it from a real expert.

If you haven't heard of Annie Brook before, you should have. She has a Ph.D. in perinatal psychology and is a seasoned somatic psychotherapist who works with birth trauma and developmental trauma. Her work is key to discovering why you repeat the same behaviors, resulting in the same disappointing outcomes over and over again. If you are curious about why you keep repeating the same patterns, and want to change but don’t know how--this is the episode for you.

Annie explains the different courses she offers so anyone can become ready for the relationship they’ve always wanted or heal their birth trauma. Additionally, she's trained therapists for decades in how to work with complex trauma in a sustainable and effective way. Plus, how to facilitate the unwinding and repatterning of patients on a cellular level.

We talk about all the ways birth trauma can imprint and show up in adults, how to detect it, and integrate it to fully heal, something most of us want, even if we can't admit it to ourselves. We also, both share our in-utero and birth experiences and Annie provides some case studies from her over 4 decades of experience. 

It is such an honor to welcome this week’s guest onto LaidOPEN Podcast. Dr. Lori Beth Bisbey (@drbisbey) is a clinical psychologist, acclaimed sex/intimacy coach, author, podcast host, and GSRD (gender, sexuality, relationship diversity) therapist with over 30 years of experience. She’s also the Specialist Relationship Therapist on the UK show “Open House: The Great Sex Experiment,” (you have to watch!) and host of the weekly podcast “The A to Z of Sex®.”  

In this episode, we talk about her journey moving from a trauma victim to a survivor and how she integrated her life into her work to help others step into joy and vibrancy in their own lives. Plus, we cover a variety of topics related to this including: the nuances of boundaries and consent inside powerplay BDSM relationships, learning to discern and listen to danger signals, healing PTSD and shame, and life after becoming a survivor.

The episode ends with Dr. Bisbey breaking down the Four Parts Of Consent so have your pens handy, you’ll want to take notes.

On this week’s episode, I’m excited to have the hosts of The Sex Reimagined Podcast joining me, Dr. Willow Brown, a Chinese medicine doctor and Taoist sexologist, and Leah Piper, a Tantra sex expert.

Together, we delve into the intricacies of shame-free, pleasure-forward sexuality by discussing the integration of Tantra and Taoist practices. Dr. Willow and Leah explain the differences between Tantra and Taoism, focusing on how both use sexual energy for healing and spiritual awakening. 

We also explore the concept of chakras, how trauma can get stored in the body, and practical methods for using breath, movement, and sound to clear these blockages. 

Leah shares her profound personal journey of healing from sexual trauma using Sacred Spot massage, emphasizing self-love and forgiveness techniques. The conversation also highlights the importance of micro-practices and how small, tangible steps can make a significant impact on one's sexual and overall well-being. 

Throughout the episode, Dr. Willow and Leah offer resources, courses, and practical advice for anyone looking to explore their sexuality more deeply, making this a must-listen for those interested in spiritual and sexual health. This episode, and the rest of Season 5, can be found on my YouTube channel. Please follow and like to help grow our community.

00:00 Introduction to the Guests and Episode Overview

01:49 Welcoming the Guests: Dr. Willow and Leah

02:55 Exploring Tantra and Taoism

09:19 The Power of Chakras in Healing

25:11 Sensuality and Presence Practices

35:06 Managing Nervous Energy and Stress

36:36 The Importance of Receptivity in Healing

37:02 Introduction to Sacred Spot Practice

37:39 Leah's Personal Journey with Tantra

40:12 Self-Love and Forgiveness Techniques

48:26 Exploring the Sacred Spot and G-Spot

01:00:40 Courses and Resources for Sexual Healing

01:06:11 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

This episode features royalty-free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com

In this episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, host Charna Cassell welcomes guest Mark Walsh an embodiment coach and host of The Embodiment Podcast, to discuss their shared history and Mark's extensive work in the field of embodiment and trauma education. He's also the author of Embodiment, Working with the Body in Training and Coaching, and Embodied Meditation. He led The Embodiment Conference (1000 teachers, 500,000 delegates) and has trained over 2000 embodiment coaches in over 40 countries.

Mark, situated near Stonehenge in England, shares insights from his extensive travels and training, including his work with trauma-affected communities in Ukraine. The conversation spans various topics, such as the global rise of social isolation, the impact of technology on mental health, the essential role of humor in trauma work, and the importance of cultural context in embodiment practices. 

Mark also shares his personal journey with embodiment, driven by his hyper-intellectual background and a traumatic childhood. The episode concludes with a practical centering exercise and reflections on embodied freedom, emphasizing the importance of awareness and choice in overcoming habitual behaviors.

00:00 Introduction and Reunion

02:10 Mark's Current Endeavors and Thoughts on Society

03:23 Impact of COVID and Technology on Mental Health

08:46 Mark's Work in Ukraine

21:37 The Role of Humor in Trauma Training

26:31 Navigating Cultural Sensitivities

29:08 Managing Vicarious Trauma

31:40 Personal Practices for Well-being

33:43 The Power of Social Media

35:16 Connecting with Mentors

45:30 Embodied Freedom and Choice

47:15 Conclusion and Resources

This is part 1 of a special two-part interview with David Chambers, who is a relationship coach and host of The Authentic Man Podcast. David and I engage in a fascinating conversation that explores how to find healthy models of masculinity when you grow up without a dad. he shares about the commitment issues and fear that held him back from not only fulfilling relationships but living a joyful, fulfilling authentic life. We also explore what it takes to grow beyond what your parents are capable of and partnership as a spiritual path. Plus, David ends this episode with a mindful masturbation practice he does with his clients. Stay tuned for part 2 of this important episode coming out next week.

Recently my friend Stephanie Ragazzo had a TikTok go viral where she was expressing grief and rage at having been cheated on. Join us for an exploratory conversation about why people cheat, what happens when you're cheated on, and what a holistic view of cheating might be.

Our conversation also covers what to do when lines get crossed, how to recover after your partner has had an affair, the experience of being the cheater and then being cheated on, and the emotions that arise and need to be processed afterward. We also explore complicated topics like how attachment styles play into creating relationship dynamics, gaining clarity after betrayal, and how to be discerning in your next relationship.

Plus, Charna guides us through an exercise in deepening intuition and responding to your gut. If you're working through having cheated or being cheated on, don't miss this eye-opening episode featuring TikTok's own @gorizzo90

Welcome back to LaidOPEN Podcast. Today, we're joined by Aline Ra M., a remarkable spiritual guide sharing her unique journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.

At the age of 12, Aline found herself attuned to voices from the other side, an experience that led her to an enigmatic island school off the Brazilian coast, a sanctuary where she began unraveling the mysteries of her gift.

In her late 30s, facing significant discontentment, Aline underwent a profound transformation. She ingeniously blended her mystical knowledge with the profound teachings of Buddhism, creating a practical and meaningful approach to spirituality.

Aline's approach is refreshingly down-to-earth. She doesn't deal in esotericism but offers a practical roadmap to connect individuals directly to their inner divine, integrating spirituality into their everyday lives. She facilitates healing, expansion, and purpose amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Join us as Aline Ra M. shares her journey, delves into the essence of inner magic, and illuminates the path to a deeper connection with the divine within ourselves. 

This season, we have been loosely exploring “cancelation” what it means for the canceled person if it works, and how we can integrate the canceled person back into society. This week’s episode continues with that theme and is an extension of our last episode featuring canceled sexuality coach Charlie Glickman.

This episode features Mischa Byruck, a sexual integrity coach who works to support people to live their sex lives in line with their values. He specializes in supporting subjects of public callouts and cancelations and assists over three dozen men to take accountability for sexual harm and return to their lives transformed. He also leads courses and workshops on sexual integrity, kink, and consent. Mischa is also part of Charlie’s accountability team.

Mischa and I explore how we can put preventative systems in place to avoid a power dynamic that prevents people in a passive position from approaching the more powerful person with feedback or notes on unintentional abuses of power. This all starts with an awareness that leaders in a power position (bosses, coaches, teachers) need to acknowledge the lack of power their audience has. Tools like these can help to avoid many harmful situations that result in leaders feeling scrutinized. 

We also talk about why, as a society, we wait for harm to occur to establish accountability systems. What if this became the norm? Of course, this takes understanding and acknowledging the power differentials built into our roles, socioeconomic, gender, and race.

We end with an exercise that briefly explains how to somatically navigate defensiveness as it arises and staying present when being called out.

I am so honored to have Julia Loken, a comedian, podcast host, and astrologer from Los Angeles, as my guest this week. I really enjoyed our conversation because Julia is one of those people who can talk about anything while making you feel like you’ve been friends forever. Because of this, we discuss a variety of topics including her astrology podcast @whatsyoursign, her discovery of astrology, and how astrology can be used to gain perspective in our own lives, as well as, how it can be used to look at cultural and political trends.

Plus, we talk about how it was for her to listen to her husband’s interview with me, being to another comedian, her bachelorette weekend at the notorious Madonna Inn, the merits of being flexible in an ever-evolving partnership with your best friend, and how therapy led her to develop more self-love and acceptance.

We end the episode with Julia guiding us through a brief grounding practice that she uses to reset anywhere, anytime.

This week we welcome, William Winters, Rebecca Ferrar, and Tyson Adams to talk about their various experiences with cults or cult-like communities with a special focus on the One Taste community. Tyson Adams is an integrated men’s work practitioner and happens to have done a lot of searches around cults after having his own experiences in different communities. You may also remember @tysonadams_ as a returning guest from Episode 55. William Winters is the founder of the Bonobo Tribe, @bonobotribe on IG, a sex-positive community that throws parties, teaches workshops, and offers general resources to poly people. And Rebecca Farrar is a well-known astrologer better known on IG as @wildwitchofthewest, who also participated in the One Taste courses. She is still integrating and understanding what she took away from her experience there. 

Together we spend an hour dissecting our own experiences, yes, even I have my own experiences with the One Taste community and chat about a variety of things related to One Taste and cults at large. This includes the differences between cults and communities, our natural desire to belong, how to spot a cult, the sense of language or jargon these communities often have, and what it means if you leave the group and ultimately are forced to abandon the community you’ve learned to lean on.

If cults, the brainwashing used by nefarious leaders, and how people become drawn to and eventually a part of cults is something that interests you, make sure you check out our episode when it comes out tomorrow.

On today’s episode, our guest is certified conscious executive and leadership and life coach Nick Palladino-King (@nickpalladinoking). In addition to coaching Nick’s spent his career training and teaching movement, breathwork, meditation, and entrepreneurship to clients. He brings these tools to his podcast Conscious Conversations with Nick and Nintin. Together with his co-host, Nick focuses on having conversations with guests that elevate the consciousness of the planet through conversations that change people's lives.

Nick brings his conscious conversations to LaidOPEN Podcast where we talk about the matrix of coaches, teachers, and therapists that have begun to emerge since the onset of the Pandemic. And how this community works together to support and refer clients in order to get people the help they need. 

We end this episode with Nick leading a short meditation that can help you learn to check in with yourself and regulate your system in a quick and easy way.

While I don’t know Logan Cohen personally his authenticity, the deep work he has done on himself, and his willingness to feel his feelings and allow his vulnerability to shine through. I’m moved by the vital offering Logan contributes to the world as an author, a psychotherapist, and a trauma professional. He is bringing quality content to TikTok and IG, as well as through his work with couples and individuals in private practice. 

Logan Cohen is a remarkable man driven by a purpose, being of service, helping men develop emotional intelligence, and educating people about the impacts of trauma.

In his book “How to Hu(Man) Up in Modern Society: Heal Yourself and Save the World,” he puts gender role conditioning into a historical and social context. We discuss the importance of healing within the community, his work with volatile couples, and dealing with narcissists.

Plus, we speak about how the suicide of his friend led him to write his book, the work he had to do in his personal and professional life to see his privilege as a man and unlearn his social and emotional conditioning, and his close relationship with his grandfather, who was holocaust survivor on Schindler’s List and how that has informed his commitment to building empathy in the world and being of service.

We wrap up the episode with Logan leading an exercise around developing more awareness and connection to what you are feeling. There’s so much essential content in this episode, which is why I’m starting the season with it. I hope you’re ready to be as impacted by Logan’s work as I am.

This week, we're welcoming Sara Reardon, a pelvic floor physical therapist who's also known as The Vagina Whisperer.  You may know her from her viral TedX talk on rethinking postpartum care.

One of the most important things we cover is that everyone has a pelvic floor (men/women/non-binary people) and that pelvic pain is not only a condition that impacts pergnant or postpartum women. That's because oftentimes, it isn’t until we experience pelvic floor pain or issues that we become aware of this part of our body.

Sara's mission includes normalizing conversations about the pelvic floor, helping people understand what this muscle is,  and how to know when it needs to relaxed or be strengthened.

We also chat about the different conditions that might bring you to a pelvic pain physical therapist and symptoms that are actually signals of pelvic pain. And that chronic stressors, conditioning and belief systems about sex or historical trauma can impact the tension in your pelvic floor.

We end with Sara guiding us through a ribcage breathing practice that is a precursor to any pelvic floor releasing.

In this episode of Laid Open Podcast, I welcome back Dr. Keesha Ewers, a specialist in integrative medicine and functional sexology. We discuss the critical yet often overlooked topic of menopause, highlighting how women's health issues, particularly post-childrearing, are neglected in society and underfunded in research. 

Dr. Keesha and I provide insights into hormone replacement therapy (HRT), discussing various options like pellets, patches, and creams and emphasizing the importance of bioidentical hormones. We explain why not everyone needs HRT and the significant role of lifestyle choices, diet, and exercise in managing menopause symptoms. 

Our conversation also delves into how the body communicates its needs through everyday signs like urine color, vaginal health, and bowel movements. Additionally, we explore the impact of trauma, stress, and genetic factors on hormone levels. 

Dr. Keesha and I encourage listeners to tune into their bodies and get curious about their symptoms, offering practical advice on how to start addressing menopausal issues holistically.

Every episode is now on YouTube, which you can watch via the link in my bio or by searching LaidOPEN. 

Additionally, the best way to support my work is by liking, sharing, and leaving a review for my podcast. 🧡

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:15 Understanding Menopause and Its Impact

02:26 Personal Experiences and Medical Insights

05:17 The Role of Hormones in Health

06:48 Addressing Hormonal Imbalances

10:42 The Connection Between Trauma and Hormones

21:49 Managing Stress and Hormonal Health

31:38 Understanding Embodied Sensations

32:54 The Role of Energy Systems

33:52 Exploring Water and Fire Elements

36:14 Hormone Replacement Therapy Options

37:25 Genetics and Migraines

38:55 Personalized Hormone Treatments

50:11 Lifestyle Choices and Hormone Health

54:43 Final Thoughts and Resources

This week I welcome, Alreen Haeggquist, a women's rights advocate, lawyer, and author of, “Fired Up: Fueling Triumph from Trauma.” Alreen discusses her journey to founding her own law firm, which specializes in cases of sexual abuse, harassment, and discrimination, with a focus on trauma-informed care. 

The conversation explores Alreen's personal story of surviving sexual abuse within her family and how it has shaped her professional and advocacy work. She shares insights on the role of a survivor advocate in her firm, the importance of trauma-informed lawyering, and her transformative gratitude and meditation practices. 

Alreen also touches on the impacts of the Me Too movement and the challenges of addressing sexual misconduct in male-dominated fields like medicine and the military. The episode concludes with Alreen providing advice for those considering legal action and emphasizing the importance of taking immediate steps toward healing.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction 

01:51 Meet Alreen Haeggquist: Advocate and Lawyer

02:30 Founding a Female-Centric Law Firm

04:08 The Role of a Survivor Advocate

05:11 Trauma-Informed Lawyering

07:16 Alreen's Memoir: Fired Up, Fueling Triumph from Trauma

09:14 The Healing Journey and Empowerment

18:48 Impact of the Me Too Movement

24:35 Challenges in the Legal System

26:55 Supporting Survivors Through Legal Battles

28:47 Understanding Statute of Limitations for Abuse Cases

29:20 Challenges in Workplace Harassment Cases

30:34 The Impact of High-Profile Cases: Weinstein and Cosby

31:54 Power Dynamics in Medical and Military Fields

34:45 Unveiling Medical Field Abuses: 'At Your Cervix' Documentary

37:39 Writing and Family Reactions During Quarantine

42:22 The Power of Gratitude and Meditation Practices

47:44 Embracing Personal Power and Taking Action

51:10 Conclusion and Staying Connected

I was thrilled to have Lucy Wallace, the founder of Dance to be Free, as a guest. I strongly support her mission of bringing dance to incarcerated women to help heal trauma. I share a little about my own experience growing up with a father who was in prison and my own volunteer work teaching kids in an orphanage in Nepal so they could teach their peers. This coincides with Lucy’s program, as she identifies the importance of the teacher training program for the prisoners rather so they can continue to help people instead of going in to “save” them. 

In addition, we talk about how this mission found her and unfolded with dedication despite all of the bureaucracy inside the prison system and how this transformative program has grown into over 15 prisons nationally. We also explore a variety of other topics that align with Lucy’s work and her program including how trust is earned, holding space versus preaching, and how freedom is a perception and state of mind.  

We end the episode with a practice Lucy uses with her students that you can also use.

This week’s guest wants to help men unlock their soul force. Tyson Adams is an integrated men’s work practitioner. His leadership program for accelerated self-awareness is aimed at giving men the tools to lead better lives. 

With over 2 years of celibacy, Tyson developed a self-practice to release himself from and heal himself from an addiction to porn. He uses this work to help men in this same way, but also in their relationship with their cock, and claiming their cock. 

In the time we were together, we talked about how certain ailments can be related to ancestral trauma or past lives, as well as, mindful masturbation, mirror masturbation, and being your own lover. Tyson also speaks on the importance of connecting to yourself rather than objecting yourself and how that simple practice can shift men’s relationships with women and the earth.

He also lets us in on the ways in which healing from a chronic physical ailment that forced him to relate to his cock differently. We end the episode with Tyson leading a breathing practice that helps shift attention away from compulsive behavior.

In this episode, I welcome Atlanta-based musician Kennedy Ryon. We discuss Kennedy's journey in the music industry, her experiences with self-doubt, the significance of accepting imperfections, and her creative process.  

Kennedy shares insights from working on the soundtrack for the Amazon show 'Expats,' the challenges of managing artistic blocks, and the healing powers of music and creativity. The episode also highlights the importance of emotional expression, versatility in songwriting, and the impact of supportive mentors like Kennedy's fifth-grade teacher. 

The episode ends with Kennedy's thoughts on gratitude and connection, a musical sample, and the importance of believing in yourself. Overall, this episode provides a candid look into the life of a dedicated artist navigating the complexities of her life and craft.

00:00 Introduction 

02:27 Welcome, Kennedy Ryon!

02:39 Kennedy's Recent Projects and Reflections

03:52 The Challenge of Self-Critique

04:55 Letting Go of Perfectionism

08:24 The Healing Power of Music

13:02 Kennedy's Creative Process

26:24 Themes in Kennedy's Music

28:39 Breaking Out of the Box: Embracing Musical Diversity

29:48 The Challenges and Joys of Being an Independent Artist

31:07 Overcoming Creative Blocks and Self-Doubt

31:25 Navigating Audience Reactions and Staying True to Your Art

34:18 The Importance of Rest and Authenticity in Creativity

37:39 Finding Inspiration and Overcoming Doubt

41:11 Childhood Influences and the Power of Music

43:15 The Impact of Teachers and the Love for Reading

49:33 Concluding Thoughts and Evergreen Performance

53:31 Final Words and Gratitude

Join us on LaidOPEN Podcast as we dive into the world of transformational theatre and healing practices with my sometimes co-host Amy MacClain and her creative partner Molly Kittle. Discover the magic of the collaborative work that’s resulted in their highly anticipated mid-life musical “After The Rainbow,” which will be debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer.

Together Molly and Amy discuss their transformational musical about overcoming trauma and finding purpose while detailing their unique backgrounds in experimental theater, social-emotional learning, and music. 

Molly and Amy share their journey of finding each other, emphasizing the importance of transformation, play, and collective healing in the work they’ve done, both separately and together, to create their musical. 

They also talk about their upcoming participation in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which you can see them at if you live in the UK and includes a performance of the single from “After The Rainbow,”, 'You Are the Light,' highlighting the themes of mutual support and self-recognition.

Tune in for an inspiring discussion on trauma, transformation, and the healing power of art.

00:00 Introduction and Course Announcement
01:00 Introducing Today's Guests: Amy MacLain and Molly Kittle
02:18 Amy and Molly's Journey and Collaboration
03:21 Molly's Background and Path to Transformation
04:58 Amy and Molly's Creative Process
06:56 The Birth of 'After the Rainbow'
07:30 Themes of Transformation and Healing
10:38 The Role of Music in Healing
13:44 Preparing for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
16:12 The Power of Play and Collaboration
21:30 Performing and Sharing the Message
32:37 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell

Today’s episode is a special one. I’m joined by my friend and birthday twin, Carrie Katz, on our birthday, February 7th. Carrie’s a fellow somatic psychotherapist and as you’ve probably surmised, my birthday twin extraordinaire. Together we celebrate our birthday and discuss ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and answer listeners' questions about the ins and outs of determining whether you could benefit from ketamine. 

I candidly share how I’ve benefited from ketamine-assisted journeys to reboot my nervous system. While Carrie shares about her client work, using her knowledge to answer all your questions. We discuss the recent large transitions Carrie has gone through with the loss of her dad, her son going to college, and the disbanding of Rosen Coven, a band she’s traveled the world with for over two decades.

If you’ve ever considered doing a Ketamine journey with a professional to help you with your anxiety, depression, PSTD, complex PTSD, ODC and more–this is the episode for you. We do a deep dive into people who are potentially good candidates for ketamine therapy and circumstances when it’s inappropriate. We also talk at length about the difference between social use, versus therapeutic use, especially since so many people self-medicate.

Carrie ends the episode with a beautiful rose in the heart meditation sometimes used in the ketamine space.

Welcome back to LaidOPEN Podcast! This week we welcome Catherine Drysdale, a pleasure activator and sex & relationship coach. She’s also the host of Your Pleasure Path Podcast, which went viral on TikTok earning over 16 million monthly listens. 

It’s easy to see that helping bring joy and vibrancy into people’s lives is Catherine’s calling. We chat about life as a sex educator and all the roads that can lead to healing–even though not all healing roads are meant for everyone. We also talk about her success as a coach, finding a sex-positive audience at Cosmopolitan Magazine, and her sex magic master class Multi Orgasmic, featured in the magazine.

We end this episode with an EFT Tapping exercise designed to help people incorporate self-love and acceptance into their lives, and most importantly, feeling worthy of pleasure. You’re not gonna want to miss this episode Catherine is a true delight.

Welcome back to Season 2 of LaidOPEN Podcast. I am elated to kick off the season with sex and relationship coach, Janel Vitale. Janel specializes in relationship design, which is the concept that you and whoever you're with can build a mutually-fulfilling intimate life around your authentic needs and desires, even if unconventional. She leads an exercise on core erotic themes, that I participate in and you can too. We explore Janel’s journey to helping people discover a relationship design that works for them, plus so much more including somatics, sexual healing, and living authentically.

On the season opener of LaidOPEN Podcast, we welcome LaidOPEN Podcast producer Sabrina Cognata as our guest. When Charna receives a message from a listener who wants to potentially work with her and then sends a sexually explicit message, Charna reaches out to producer Sabrina who says, “Make art, not war.

In addition to being a producer of a variety of podcasts and projects, @sabrinasee is the creator of The Dickoupage Project aka @thedickoupageproject, which you can find on IG. Initially, the dick pic art project was available online, but you can sign up to read it via her Patreon, to get a better idea of her work and how it influenced and informed the conversation she has with Charna.

Together the two talk about consent, vulnerability, boundary crossing, the motivation behind sending unsolicited dick pics, fight, flight, and freeze responses, anger, manipulation, and of course, the bait and switch. The episode ends with a fantastic exercise from Charna to help address a variety of reactions when you find yourself in a situation where someone you trust or attempted to trust has set out to manipulate you.

For our Season 2 finale, please welcome Amanda Yates Garcia aka the Oracle of Los Angeles. In one of my most enchanting conversations, we speak about her book “Initiated,” being born into witchcraft, the trauma of colonization, surviving a legacy of trauma, and using witchcraft as a tool for healing. 

Amanda also talks about her own excellent podcast (which I can’t recommend enough) “Between the Worlds,” where she interviews new guests each week on the topic of divination, tarot, and magic. I don’t like to play favorites, so I won’t, but there’s so much good stuff packed into the hour we’re together that you don’t want to miss.

Plus, it ends with an exercise from Amanda about the ways we can incorporate sex magic into our sex lives. Learn more about witches and how any of us can use witchcraft to create the lives we want, in this week’s episode of LaidOPEN Podcast.

Please welcome activist Jessica Pin as our guest on this week’s episode of LaidOPEN Podcast. She’s an activist and a biomedical engineer, whose life work is advocating for the inclusion of detailed clitoral anatomy in medical literature and curricula, training standards for vulvar procedures, and correction of medical misinformation about vulvas.

Together we discuss what contributes to the shame women feel about their larger vulva and the misinformation distributed by the medical field about the reality of how 50% of the population has “outties”.

Jessica came to this cause because of her personal experience with a labiaplasty gone wrong, which resulted in her clitoral hood and entire inner lips being removed, and total loss of sensation in her clitoris.

Charna leads an exercise in becoming familiar with your vulva to reduce genital shame and lead to more ease and embracing of your body.

Happy New Years Eve! In this episode of the LaidOPEN Podcast, I’m joined by Jessica Lindsey, a trauma-informed energy healer, animal communicator, and clairvoyant pet psychic. Jessica shares her journey of discovering her ability to communicate with animals and plants and offers tools to attune to these beings.

We explore topics including different species' forms of communication, end-of-life support for animals, and the nuances of intuitive abilities. The conversation also touches on respecting the intelligence and interconnectedness of all living beings, along with a meditative practice for tuning into animal and plant communication. 

Jessica emphasizes the power within everyone to connect deeply with the natural world and urges us all to start refining this relationship today. If you’ve ever loved a pet and wished to be able to communicate with them clearly, this episode is for you.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction to Animal Communication

00:25 Meet Jessica Lindsey: Trauma-Informed Healer

02:14 Discovering the Gift of Telepathy

06:56 Understanding the Different Clairs

12:04 The Intelligence of Animals and Birds

16:23 Communicating with Insects

21:49 Gardening and Animal Communication

28:56 Adopting and Understanding Rescue Animals

33:50 Understanding Animal Behavior and Coping Mechanisms

36:30 Supporting Animals Through Grief and Loss

39:13 Clearing Energies After a Loved One Passes

43:59 Animal Reincarnation and Soul Journeys

48:15 Guided Meditation for Connecting with Animals and Plants

01:04:02 Sharing Personal Experiences and Reflections

01:06:08 How to Connect with Jessica Lindsey

01:09:46 Course Information and Closing Remarks

Get ready for Valentine's Day with Celeste Moore, a personal image and dating consultant in the latest pre-Valentine's Day episode of LaidOpen Podcast.

In this episode, Celeste offers invaluable guidance for those navigating new beginnings, particularly men who are navigating the complexities of dating post-long-term relationships or marriages. She also explores the importance of communication and authenticity in relationships, strategies for building confidence, and the art of crafting effective digital dating profiles. 

Discover how Celeste's experience as a sole parent informs her approach and the invaluable insights she offers for single parents dipping their toes back into the dating pool. From debunking common profile pitfalls to unveiling the top lies men tell online, this episode is packed with wisdom and inspiration for anyone seeking love in the modern world.

Charna wraps up the episode with a powerful visualization exercise, enhancing focus and attention skills for a more mindful dating experience by pulling one's energies back from the past or future and directing them towards the present moment.

Show Notes

This week our guest is Aaron Quinn, an Oakland Firefighter for over 20 years, a yoga teacher as well as an advanced Wim Hof method instructor.  We speak about his journey as a firefighter, which led him to develop a whole-body wellness program, including meditation, physical fitness, and nutrition for new firefighters. This program also helps recruits learn tools to aid in the parts of the job that can be psychologically taxing. 

Additionally, we touch on a variety of topics and stories that have impacted Aaron’s life. This includes his participation in brain research done on the impact of practicing Wim Hof, the role spirituality plays in his life, his ability to receive in his personal life outside of supporting others, as well as, the epidemic proportion of PTSD and suicidal ideation amongst firefighters. We end this incredible episode with a wonderful guided meditation led by Aaron to help us envision ourselves whole. 

You can learn more about Aaron and his work at @live.serve.thrive on Instagram and at his website Live Serve Thrive.

If Mark Tanaka sounds familiar to you that’s because he’s a past guest of LaidOPEN Podcast and featured on Episode 28. Untying the Knot.

Mark’s a Qi gong and Yoga teacher, who specializes in nervous system regulation, parts-work, attachment coaching and one of my absolute favorite people. This week he returns as an expert to help answer your anonymous questions.

The question this week is about the discomfort we can feel in being vulnerable. Especially, in relation to our significant other and the decision to have children and why we want them. An important conversation for anyone considering having children with reservations based on their own childhood.

Plus, as always, we end the episode with an amazing exercise. Mark guides us through one that helps teach us to be with our vulnerable parts

Additionally, if you have a problem or even question you need help with, please write in! I welcome listeners to write in any questions so a qualified expert and I can discuss how to navigate your questions and concerns. 

In this episode of LaidOPEN Podcast Charna is joined by holistic sex educator and Yoni Mapping therapist, Freya Graf to discuss Freya's approach to dismantling shame and taboos around sexuality. She also explains the practice of Yoni Mapping Therapy, a method she uses to help people with vulvas and vaginas understand their bodies, relationships, and the impacts of trauma. 

Additionally, Freya opens up about her personal journey with sexuality, offering a unique perspective on holistic sexual practices. The discussion delves into the realm of sex education, focusing on reconnecting individuals with their bodies, enhancing pleasure, and challenging societal narratives surrounding sex.

The conversation culminates with Graf explaining her exercise, The Seven Gates of Female Arousal, and sharing about her online course 'Queen Out', a guide to Yoni self-massage, de-armoring, multiple orgasms, and the release of trauma and tension.

00:38 Guest Introduction: Freya Graff
02:40 Understanding Yoni Mapping
03:44 The Process of Yoni Mapping Therapy
04:40 The Impact of Yoni Mapping on the Nervous System
08:42 The Importance of Sex Education and Body Reconnection
19:58 The Role of Neurofeedback in Healing
25:21 Personal Journey Towards Sexual Healing
31:32 Acknowledging the Courage to Change
32:24 Healing Ancestral Trauma
34:14 Breaking the Cycle: A Personal Journey
35:33 Family Reactions to Unconventional Career Choices
43:50 Finding a Calling in Yoni Mapping
49:14 The Seven Gates of Female Arousal
55:48 Freya's Online Course "Queen Out" use code LAIDOPENPODCAST to get $100 off.
58:28 Conclusion: The Journey Continues

These days, lots of us are being forced to see how the ways we exist in the world both help and harm. Today’s guest is queer, Bangledeshy author and artist, Fariha Róisín aka @fariha_roisin. Her latest book “Who Is Wellness For?” does a tremendous job of tackling this topic through the narration of her own life. She uses her story of surviving childhood sexual abuse and a mentally ill mother to guide us through the resources that aided in her healing. While also, attributing all of our traumas to the lack of wellness within society and how that’s all reflected in the larger systems we live within.

Fariha’s vulnerability on her journey with wellness and dis-eased history and the way it mirrors the global systems of capitalism, colonialism, and white supremacy speak on the ways oppression is designed to repeat itself. Part of this has been done through the destruction of ancient ways of knowing, better known as epistemicide. This includes a near wipeout of magical women with witch hunts executed globally, which is really an attack on the knowingness of womanhood. 

Although there is much to learn from Fariha, this remains one of my most tender episodes to date, as it speaks on a variety of topics including selective wellness and how that sends ripples globally. We end with an energetic composting exercise on how to clear everything from the energy we collect throughout our day to the energy that’s been attached to us for generations. 

In the season 4 finale of LaidOPEN Podcast, Charna welcomes Dr. Keesha Ewers, an expert in integrative medicine, functional sexology, and a survivor of autoimmunity induced by trauma. And shares her personal journey from starting as a conventional nurse to exploring alternative healing modalities like Ayurveda, hypnotherapy, and EMDR after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. 

She illuminates the profound connection between unresolved trauma and physical health, including autoimmune disorders and sexual vitality. The discussion delves deep into the science of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), highlighting the impact of trauma on long-term health and well-being. 

Dr. Keesha also discusses the concept of 'libido' as life force vitality and emphasizes the importance of healing and digesting trauma for reclaiming one's full vitality and sexual freedom. The episode encourages personal reflection and offers insights on how to embark on a healing journey with an exercise from Dr. Keesha that teaches how to embrace your inner 'eagle' and live a more embodied and liberated life.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to LaidOPEN Podcast with Dr. Keesha Ewers

01:06 Embarking on a Journey of Healing and Transformation

01:23 Dr. Keesha's Personal Battle with Autoimmune Disease

04:55 Discovering the Power of Ayurveda and Yoga

07:34 The Profound Connection Between Trauma and Health

13:57 Exploring the ACE Study and Its Implications

21:56 Navigating Trauma and Its Impact on Health

25:34 Personal Stories of Overcoming and Healing

27:21 The Importance of Self-Care and Boundary Setting

32:39 Embracing Vulnerability and Overcoming Shame

34:12 The Power of Plant Medicine in Healing

35:01 Navigating Life's Developmental Milestones and Achieving Unity Consciousness

35:43 Understanding the Human Condition: From Victim to Perpetrator

36:42 The Journey to Self-Compassion and Liberation

42:26 Exploring Sexual Liberation and Vitality

52:17 The Importance of Play and Embracing Different Perspectives

59:40 Concluding Thoughts on Community, Healing, and Empowerment

This week we welcome Sarah Strong. She is a star seed coach, divine feminine activation coach, medium empath, telepath, and psychic. She also channels star beings, beings from other dimensions, and many other beings of the light, including the ascended masters angels, and fairies.

Together we speak about how trauma can be a gateway to spiritual awakening, paranormal phenomenon, how trauma is associated with spiritual awakening and what can happen when you push a young person well beyond what they’re capable of handling, and how a reaction to that manifests in a variety of ways. 

She also guides us in a lovely meditation that’s sure to help you clear space as you start 2023.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction 

00:03 Meet Zach Beach: A Life of Love

02:47 Exploring Love and Life's Purpose

04:06 The Journey from Head to Heart

04:22 Modeling Love and Compassion

05:35 The Body as an Access Point to Love

05:45 Understanding Love and Trauma

19:28 The Practice of Forgiveness

27:43 The Role of Animals and Deities in Healing

31:59 Creating Meaningful Experiences

33:08 The Power of Senses

35:35 Attachment and Warmth

37:26 The Role of Love and Gratitude

38:46 Healing and Trauma

43:50 Micro Practices for Love

47:51 Trauma-Informed Practices

54:12 Guided Breathing Exercise

58:43 Final Thoughts and Resources

For our penultimate episode of Season 3, we welcome author, actress, comedian, and mental health advocate, Sara Benincasa. She’s the author of four books, "Agorafabulous!: Dispatches From My Bedroom," which explores her journey with anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia. You may also have seen her on the hit drama “Law & Order: SVU.” Sara and I sit down to talk about the importance of therapy and all the different ways we heal. Plush, we explore generational trauma, substance abuse, and watching your parents do their own work. We end this episode with a great little exercise led by Sara.

Join us this week on LaidOPEN Podcast, for an insightful conversation with certified Human Design expert, Evelyn Levenson. 

In this episode, Evelyn shares her journey of discovering Human Design and its profound impact on her life. She recounts how understanding herself as a Projector within Human Design redirected her path from a successful yet unfulfilling business career to a deeper exploration of Human Design's transformative possibilities.

She also sheds light on how uncovering her Human Design type propelled her towards a fulfilling pursuit of assisting others in navigating their unique paths.

Throughout the episode, Evelyn and Charna eloquently break down the fundamental principles of Human Design, using it to illuminate how this system serves as a valuable tool for self-discovery, providing a roadmap for individuals to optimize their choices and live fulfilled, authentic lives. 

Dr. Avgi Saketopoulou is a New York-based psychoanalyst and therapist with extensive experience with trauma, queerness, gender diversity, and the nuances of consent. In her latest book, “Sexuality Beyond Consent: Risk, Race, Traumatophilia,” Dr. Saketopoulou argues that we have become culturally obsessed with healing trauma and points to the ways traumatized people synthesize their pain.

In her book, she also makes an important distinction between limit and affirmative consent, which we dissect as concepts through art and creative expression at large. This leads to an enriching conversation about the evolution of self, coming out whole after trauma, how trauma brings us into a new awareness and chances who we are fundamentally, and the ever-important question… is trauma ever healed? 

We also pull apart the crossover between eroticism and consent, the erotics of racism,  and how through traumatic experiences we can unlock our potential as these encounters are not about guarding the self but about risking experience.

In this episode, I have a truly fascinating conversation with Dr. Saketopoulou that begs us each to look at the traumas we’ve experienced, how we can relate to these events, not pathologize them and use them not to master trauma but to rub up against it so it opens us up to encounters with opacity.

In this latest episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, Charna Cassell speaks with Mariah Freya, a sex coach and founder of Beducated, an online platform for sex education that offers a vast library of resources for pleasure-focused sex education. 

Mariah delves into the innovative role of AI technology in revolutionizing sex education, making it more accessible and tailored to individual needs. Highlighting how Beducated’s AI sex coach aids users in navigating their expansive library and provides personalized sex education resources. She also shares the challenges and experiments involved in developing their AI-powered tool. 

She also speaks on the challenges of balancing parenthood with entrepreneurship to the transformative power of embracing one's sexuality, this conversation explores the intersections of personal growth, intimacy, and empowerment. 

We end this episode with Mariah sharing a mindful shower practice. Join us as we delve into the importance of self-discovery, boundary-setting, and cultivating a sex-positive mindset at any stage of life.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation

01:48 Exploring Sexuality and Motherhood

06:25 The Impact of Parenthood on Business

12:55 The Journey of Sexual Empowerment

31:04 The Role of AI in Sex Education

40:09 The Vision for BBeducated

50:20 Closing Thoughts and Farewell