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Gender Essentialism: A Critical (& Perimenopausal) Perspective
It’s no accident that gender essentialism is a (sometimes vitriolic) obsession on the right, with folks clinging to the idea that gender is fixed and immutable. Strict enforcement of gender norms...
‘Follow The Leader’: Cultural Myth or Inevitability? (A Critical Look at Leadership)
In today's release, I lay the foundation for a series of episodes that'll be rolling out on the main feed in the coming weeks. Because as life would have it, 'cult'ure series content is syncing-up...
The Dark Side of Emotional Intelligence & the ‘cult’ure series backstory
Some of you may be relieved to hear that today's release will turn our attention away from current events, circling back to a 'cult'ure series topic that is yet-unfinished. I recorded the bookend...
Togethering – A New Series for Sanity’s Sake
Hi friends. My apologies for the long lag time between episodes. I've been laid out with Covid for two weeks, and I'm just now coming up for air. 🥴 AND I'm finally sharing this convo that Monica...
Ready Or Not: Inauguration Day, ‘Meta’ Madness, & Social Psych 101
Ready or not, it's Inauguration Day / MLK Jr. Day here in the U.S. and I'm doing my best to stay grounded and connected in the ways that matter. Here's what's on my mind. January 20, 2025 | Ready Or...
The Self-Help Grift: Who It’s Really Benefiting & Why It Can’t Save Us
Welcome to the first Patreon release of 2025. January 4, 2025 | The Self-Help Grift: Who It’s Really Benefiting & Why It Can’t Save Us In this episode, I share: How the transition into 2025...
Welcome to The Next Chapter: I share where this work is headed in 2025
I'm back with another solo episode to share what's next with this work & why I hope you'll stick around as we take this work to whole new depths in 2025. December 13, 2024 >>...
Coming Out In The Pentecostal Church: A Story of Cultural Heritage, Hope, & Faith in What Matters | David Gallegos-Roybal
This week's drop is a very special 'cult'ure series bonus convo with friend of the pod, David Gallegos-Roybal. David is a Mestizo Native of New Mexico who some loyal listeners of the pod...
The Science of ‘Hope’ & How to Hold Onto It in the Face of Anxiety
It's only six days until the U.S. Presidential Election and I don't know about y'all, but this week I've been nibbling at my nails quite a bit. So I decided to share what's in my heart + offer up...
MAGA-Cult Mentality & The Fascist Playbook that Shapes It
This Patreon-exclusive drop was born out of my current preoccupation with the upcoming election here in the United States. I share my growing understanding of the MAGA-cult dynamics at work in the...
Losing My Religion + Is Social Media Colonizing Us?
I recorded this episode on a whim over the weekend. This one is for all of my fellow new-age apostates + anyone who catches themselves checking their smartphone WAY too often. September 23, 2024...
Goldilocks Complex: High Arousal or Electoral Sobriety? | Solo Episode
In the latest episode of Subject To Change, I'm incorporating listener contributions and taking a closer look at high-arousal states and groupthink landmines. September 6, 2024 - Goldilocks Complex:...
Criticism Without Cruelty: Democrats ‘Poke The Bear’ | Solo Episode
I recorded this unscripted episode after Day 3 of the DNC. It's a reflection on how Democratic leaders are 'clapping back' and why I feel it's critical to be critical during these challenging...
Jumping Back In: Dialogue vs. Discourse & The Upcoming U.S. Election | Solo Episode
In this episode I talk U.S. Politics - sharing why I'm going there & where I'm willing to draw hard lines when it comes to discussing 'the issues'. I tell you about my red-state neighborhood...
DD#63 – Meet The Author of ‘The Secret Practice: Eighteen Years on The Dark Side of Yoga’ | Joelle Tamraz
This week, I sit down with Joelle Tamraz to discuss her award-winning memoir, The Secret Practice: Eighteen Years on The Dark Side of Yoga. Here's a quick summary: "Joelle Tamraz was barely past...
DD#62 – ‘Good Girl’ Intervention & Group Discussion w/ Guest Contributors
Over in our After The Org recovery group, the topic of 'good-girl conditioning' has come up on several occasions, and it inspired Maria Skinner to suggest we chat it out! I loved the idea, and today...
DD#61 – The Empty Husk: Belief, Indoctrination, & Healthy Alternatives
Hey friends. Once again, I'm coming to you solo with a new episode of Deconstructing Dogma, because our examination of how to make meaning without making a gd-mess is far from over. And in this...
DD#60 – Safety & Belonging: How Our Definitions & Experiences Vary
In this week's episode of Deconstructing Dogma was inspired by an offline discussion with Adi & Tracy, and I immediately felt we needed to take things deeper. It's a convo that focuses on...
DD#59 – Buzzkill: Dogma, Magical Thinking, & ‘Cult’ Vibes – How They Make or Break Us
In this week's episode of Deconstructing Dogma, I'm coming to you solo with a metaphysical buzzkill - as I dissect dogma, magical thinking, and how they shape our perceptions of the world and of one...
TDP Encore & An Update on ‘Brain Yoga’ (aka My First Cult)
This week's release features an excerpt from the episode that I recorded but didn't release last November; you might remember is as the one that was supposed to wrap the 'cult'ure series. I pulled it...
DD#58 – Beyond The Org: Servant Leadership & No More Bangs! | Aimee Van Ausdall – Part 2 of 2
"You saved my life... don't give anybody that power. Anybody who lets you say that without correcting you, that's highly problematic." - Aimee Van Ausdall Welcome to Part 2 with Aimee Van Ausdall....
DD#57 – Leaving Loudly: Bullies, Paper Tigers, & A Size-Stigma Reality Check | Aimee Van Ausdall – Part 1 of 2
"It is not, and it has never been disloyal to question things." - Aimee Van Ausdall Please help me welcome Aimee Van Ausdall to the pod! A few weeks ago, Aimee and I sat down for a candid,...
DD#56 – What My Body Is For: Self-Acceptance & Embodied Activism w/ Sara Avery
In this week's episode of Deconstructing Dogma, I sit down with new friend of the pod, Sara Avery, to discuss how she's discovered body acceptance and how a lifetime of being marginalized as a fat...
Patreon 7-Day Free Trial – How to gain access!
It's come to my attention that a Patreon sign-up glitch (that I have since fixed!) has led to some understandable confusion re: access to the 7-day free trial. If your attempt to access a free trial...
DD#55 – ‘Spiritual’ Self-Sacrifice: A Cautionary Tale & Cult-Hopping Heads Up! w/ Noa Kadman
You won't want to miss this week's bonus conversation! Noa Kadman spent years investing time & money in the 'Org' brand, but eventually stopped teaching to go all-in on a new practice; one...
STC | The Bully Pulpit: A Whistleblower Reality Check + Naomi Klein’s ‘Mirror World’
I'm back with another episode of Subject To Change. And this week, I'm riffing on some recent ah-has I've had around what it really means to blow the whistle, stand up to bullies, and take on...
DD#54 – Turning The Tables: Money, Meaningful Work, & A New Value Paradigm – Monica Welty interviews Candice
Monica Welty steps in as our guest host in this one-of-a-kind episode of Deconstructing Dogma where Candice is the one in the hot seat - for a discussion about money! 💸🔥 Earlier this week,...
TDP Encore | ‘Right On Time’ (7/27/2021)
A couple of days ago, I was talking with some friends/patrons of the pod about how much I love doing this work. AND ALSO about how my anxiety levels ebb and flow - in part due to the real and...
DD#53 – Surviving Anti-Fat Bias & Discovering Intuitive Wellness w/ Dr. Melissa Durfey
"We're all supposed to love ourselves. But where is that supposed to come from when our entire lives we've been told that our bodies are wrong?" - Dr. Melissa Durfey This week, I'm delighted to be...
STC | Spiritual Capitalism: The Trouble w/ Turning Meaning Into Money
It's been one helluva week. Despite how I've been feeling (the tenderhearted impulse to cut-and-run) yesterday I recorded another unscripted solo episode. In the first few minutes, I share why it is...
DD#52 | The Flying Monkey ‘High Road’ & Sugar-Coated Shame
Welcome to a conversation that we haven't been ready to have until now; but on a topic that we've been VERY actively navigating behind the scenes since the launch of the 'cult'ure series. PUSHBACK....
DD#51 – Humility & Heartgasms: What Does ‘Healing’ Really Mean?
Disclaimer: In this episode, we speak about 'healing' as a psychospiritual construct (as opposed to the healing of physical conditions). All opinions shared here are based on personal experience...
STC | Misogyny Much? Emotional Labor & ‘What’s It Worth?’
I hadn't planned to drop another one of these so soon, but something came up that I really wanted to deconstruct in real time (yesterday afternoon), so here goes... January 21, 2024 - Misogyny Much?...
Subject To Change | NEW Patreon-Exclusive Series
It's a new year & I'll be rolling out a slew of new extras to patrons of the pod, including a brand new *unscripted* solo series that I'm calling: Subject To Change. I'll be dropping...
DD#50 – Origin Stories: Healing From Complex Trauma & Living Out Loud w/ Stacy Parish
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain... my whole life was that way. How dare you... how dare you question." - Stacy Parish It's time for another episode of Deconstructing Dogma &...
DD#49 – Recovery Recap: Contemplating How Far We’ve Come
QUICK & IMPORTANT UPDATE >> After taking six weeks off from the main feed of the pod, I've come to realize two things: 1) sometimes when I want to cut&run, all I really need is an...
DD#48 – ‘Cult’ure Series Crucible: How Doing This Work Has Changed Us
Hi y'all. I'd initially planned on saving this two-part conversation until after the 'cult'ure series wraps. But I've since decided to go ahead and roll it out now, because friendship and belly...
DD#47 – Disturbing The ‘Peace’: Sharing Stories That Impact Others (How We Walk The Line)
Next week, we'll be featuring another guest convo here. It's an insightful two-parter & we really can't wait to share it with you! In the meantime... Have you been wondering what happened with...
DD#46 – Myths & Misconceptions: Debunking Media-Hype Misinformation About Cults
First I just want to say to ALL of you out there... whether you tune into DD bonus episodes or not... without your support, I simply would not have been able to carry this work forward. I want to...
DD#45 – The Science of Compliance: 7 Principles of Persuasion
Tracy & I are back with another episode of Deconstructing Dogma. This week, we dig into the research of Dr. Robert Cialdini and his book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. Some consider it...
DD#44 – ‘Off Ramp’ (Cognitive Dissonance: What is it, REALLY?)
As promised, we going to keep dropping extras here on Patreon. And if you're new to the platform, be sure to circle back & check out the DD episode line-up pinned to the top of the Patreon main...
DD#43 – The Queen & The Pyramid (Bonus convo w/ Adi Goren)
"But when the economy is based on many women who are willing to do it for nothing, that becomes standard... And if I'm going to invest my energy, I want to get an income from it." - Adi Gorendd #43...
DD#42 – The Tired Goose: Re-imagining The Future of ATO & Community Support
UPDATE >>> 11/6/23. Apologies. The original video link accompanying this post was incorrect & it has since been updated!! ✨ 🎬 HERE'S A PRIVATE LINK to the VIDEOdd #42 - The Tired...
DD#41 – Betrayal, Belonging, & The Grace to ‘Move On’ w/ Anita Stark – Part 2 of 2
"I have this visual of my suitcase is packed for the last time. And... I have not been living in the Org for a long time. But this time, for sure, my suitcase is packed. And they're packed with all...
DD#40 – The Early Years & The Rising Pyramid @ ‘the Org’ w/ Anita Stark – Part 1 of 2
"And yet suddenly it was like, no, this is what we're going to do. You're going to move, and I'm going to be the voice. And maybe her intentions were pure, but it didn't come out that way.... I...
VIDEO BONUS | Ep.69 – Intersectional Advocacy w/ Priscilla Eyles
This week's early release of Ep.69 is available to patrons of the pod in audio AND video format. You can listen in early via Buzzsprout, or watch the entire interview on YouTube! Just click on the...
On The Road & In Production
Apologies if this email lands like a hot-mess in your inbox... it's a formatting issue with Patreon, one that I hope they'll soon fix. Click the "View on Patreon" button if you wanna read the full...
DD#39 – The Cult of Gender: A Panel Discussion w/ Maxx Boyd, Troy McCall, & Lainie Magidsohn
Welcome to an extra-special episode of Deconstructing Dogma & our first ever panel discussion. Maxx Boyd, Troy McCall, & Lainie Magidsohn join me for an informative (and entertaining!)...
DD#38 – Intimacy vs. Intensity – Connection & Resilience
Inspired by recent events, Tracy & I sit down for a timely deconstruction of how wellness purity culture gets in the way of connection and lasting social change.dd #38 - Intimacy vs. Intensity:...
DD#37 – The Law of Attraction (continued), New Age Prosperity Gospel, & Channeling
We're picking up where we left off last week, with the second half of our conversation with Maria Skinner on The Law of Attraction (LoA).dd #37 - The Law of Attraction (continued), New Age Prosperity...
DD#36 – Are We ‘Culting’ Again? + The Law of Attraction w/ Maria Skinner (Part 1 of 2)
Welcome back to Deconstructing Dogma & another jam-packed, two-part convo with Maria Skinner!dd #36 - Are We 'Culting' Again? + The Law of Attraction (a critical look)Maria joins Tracy & I...
DD#35 – ‘Spirit Barbie’ & The Performance of Wellness
I had plans for a main feed release today, but I'm still putting the final touches on Ep.66 so it's not gonna drop until next week. (It's a goodie on a doozy of a topic; it'll be worth the wait.) And...
DD#34 – Frenemies, ‘Cult’ure Wars, & The Not-So-Fringe Reality
dd #34 - Frenemies, 'Cult'ure Wars, & The Not-So-Fringe Reality We're back with another long-form deconstruction that opens up with an in-the-moment realization for Tracy & I. We had no idea...
DD#33 (BONUS BRIEF) | ‘Not My Circus’: Keeping Our Focus on Cult Recovery
dd #33 (BONUS BRIEF) - 'Not My Circus': Keeping Our Focus on Cult RecoveryHere's a spur of the moment Deconstructing Dogma BONUS BRIEF that Tracy & I recorded yesterday on the fly! We didn't want...
DD#32 – Lost Years, Honest Expression, & A Call To Action | Jill Pagano – Part 2 of 2
dd #32 - Lost Years, Honest Expression, & A Call To Action | Jill Pagano - Part 2 of 2"Education is definitely the start of it. For not only the people who are using these manipulative tools....
DD#31 | ‘Org’ Training ‘Cult’ure w/ Jill Pagano – Part 1 of 2
dd #31 | 'Org' Training 'Cult'ure: Deconstructing The Damage w/ Jill Pagano - Part 1 of 2" hey can just stop brushing it off, because you have intelligent, articulate, emotionally educated women -...
DD#30 | Razzle Dazzle & Red Flags @ ‘Org’ HQ w/ Valerie Branch
dd #30 | Razzle Dazzle & Red Flags @ 'Org' HQ w/ Valerie Branch"We still have the connection with each other. No matter if we are 'in' or 'out.' It transcends." - Valerie BranchValerie Branch...
DD#29 | Shame & Self-Care
dd #29 | Grappling w/ Shame & Prioritizing Self-Care | Candice SchutterI'm coming to you solo this week to share a few resources that are helping me to navigate all the feels of late. I know that...
TDP #63 w/ Patreon-Exclusive Video Access 🎬 ✨
It's been a very wild week and so first things first... I want to offer a self-care reminder to everyone there. Please take care of your mental health. There is a sudden groundswell surrounding this...
TDP #62 w/ Patreon-Exclusive Video Access 🎬 ✨
This week's episode was originally recorded for Patreon, but it felt destined for the main feed. This week and next, patrons of the pod will have exclusive access to the entire two-part main feed...
DD#28 | Integrity & Leaving ‘the Org’ w/ Fiona Winter
dd #28 | Integrity & Leaving 'the Org': A Veteran Teacher Chimes In (From The UK) | Fiona Winter"My integrity is about not supporting an organization that I no longer felt was worthy. Not the...
DD#27 | Narcissists No More w/ Lucy Page – Part 2 of 2
"It's not my job to protect people who are doing harm." - Lucy Pagedd #27 | Narcissists No More - kid gloves, codependency, & divorcing cult dynamics | Lucy Page - Part 2 of 2This week, we're...
DD#26 – Power & Accountability w/ Lucy Page – Part 1 of 2
dd #26 | Power & Accountability - the 'Org', Tony Robbins, & the no-victims narrative | Lucy Page - Part 1 of 2This week's convo is dropping one day later than scheduled.... but it just so...
DD#25 – Spirituality vs. Pseudoscience w/ Barb Wesson – Part 2 of 2
dd #25 | Spirituality vs. Pseudoscience & how do we tell the diff? | Barb Wesson - Part 2 of 2I really loved this conversation!If you're a life-long seeker like me, you won't want to miss the...
DD#24 | Railing Against Reverence – Barb Wesson, Part 1 of 2
dd #24 | Railing Against Reverence: Spirituality (w/o the dogma), Barb Wesson - Part 1 of 2This week, Barb Wesson joins the pod to help us separate spirituality from culty dogmatics. It's a timely...
DD#23 – Running Without Running (dissociation)
dd #23 | Running w/o Running: Memory Gaps, Dissociation, & Submissive StatesThis week's drop is a longer-than-usual episode that comes with a content warning. If you find open discussion of...
DD#22 – Healthy vs. Ideal: The ‘Joy’ of (unfiltered) self-expression
dd #22 | Healthy vs. Ideal: The 'Joy' of (unfiltered) self-expressionIn this convo, Monica & I keep the conversation going (see dd #21) and end up laughing our asses off... while posing an...
DD#21 – Humble Pie Reminder re: Scope of Practice
dd #21 | A Humble-Pie Reminder re: Scope of PracticeMonica Welty & I exchange text messages from time to time, and a couple of weeks ago we were on fire... sending audio messages back and forth...
DD#20 – Making Room: Inclusivity & True Belonging w/ Susan McCulley
Part 2 | Making Room: Inclusivity & True Belonging w/ Susan McCulleyHere's the second half of our two-part conversation with Susan McCulley where we continue with an inquiry into how we might do...
DD#19 – Moving On: Alternatives to ‘Cult’ Fitness w/ Susan McCulley
Part 1 | Moving On: Alternatives to 'Cult' Fitness w/ Susan McCulleyThis week and next, former Org instructor Susan McCulley joins Tracy & I for a deconstruction of cult fitness norms. Our...
DD#18 – Regret, Repair, & Healthy Alternatives w/ Sybil Nance
Part 2: Regret, Repair, & Healthy AlternativesWelcome to Part 2 of my conversation with Sybil Nance where we continue examining red flags in yoga 'cult'ure + take a deep dive into the harm we...
Ep.54 – P.S. Magical Thinking, TMI vs. Transparency, & Yoga ‘Cult’ure | Deconstructing Dogma w/ Special Guests
The ‘cult’ure series continues with a Patreon Sampler, a carefully-curated sneak peek at what’s been happening in the deconstructing dogma series - streaming exclusively over on Patreon. Every...
DD#17 – Yoga & Retreat ‘Cult’ure w/ Sybil Nance
Part 1: Yoga & Retreat 'Cult'ure Red FlagsThis week I'm joined by Sybil Nance to discuss the ins and outs of yoga wellness 'cult'ure. Sybil and I met back in 2019 when we were both active in the...
DD#16 – Charisma, Kool-Aid, & Going ‘All-In’ w/ Maria Skinner
Part 2: Charisma, Kool-Aid, & Going 'All-In'We're back with Part 2 of our convo with Maria Skinner!In this episode, we're challenging what the wellness world taught us about leadership. We...
DD#15 – Transparency & TMI (Boundaries) w/ Maria Skinner
In this week's bonus episode, Tracy & I are deconstructing dogma with our dear friend Maria Skinner! Maria is a former teacher and trainer with 'the Org', and were more than a little excited to...
DD#14 – Extended Interview w/ Monica Welty (Ep.53 continued)
If you listened to this week's release on the main feed (Ep.53), you'll understand why I'm so excited to have Monica back for a Patreon bonus episode. Monica is a former Org teacher and a long-time...
7 Keys eBook | Ch.3 | VULNERABILITY
This week's bonus is another eBook chapter.This 21-page, full-color pdf is an exploration of 'the third key' of courageous self-expression, vulnerability. The ebook pulls content from TDP Ep. 8, 9,...
DD#13 – Triple Isolation – Part 2 of 2
IF you missed part 1 of this convo, we highly recommend you circle back to it before diving into this one, because we pick up right where we left off. In this episode, Tracy & I continue our...
Behind The Scenes – Intro to TDP Ep.51
In the intro to this week's episode, I share a little bit about my 2019 trip to the island of Vis, just off the coast of the Croatian mainland. I thought I'd drop in a few pics to offer a visual for...
DD#12 – Triple Isolation – Part 1
Alexandra Stein writes: "People in totalist organisations are pressed so tightly together that their individuality is erased – as are any trusting interactions among them. Everyone is a...
DD#11 – Thought-Terminating Cliches – Language Part 3
We're back with another episode in the Deconstructing Dogma series!This week we're finishing up a three-part language series with a focus on 'thought-terminating cliches' as defined by cult...
DD#10 – ‘Cult’ure Series Resources w/ Candice
This week, I'm coming to you solo! I've compiled a list of 50+ helpful and informative 'cult'ure series resources; books, podcasts, and documentaries that have helped to shape the series. You can...
DD#9 – Critical Thinking vs. Loaded Language – Language Part 2
Okey doke. Here's another installment of Deconstructing Dogma... and part two in a three-part series on Language & 'Cult'ure.Reminder (and I'm gonna keep saying it)... we're not here to pick on...
DD#8 – Word Salad & Trance States – Language Part 1
We are incorporating your requests!!Next up... a three-part series where Tracy & I are taking a closer look at the power of language as it relates to cultic indoctrination.In Part 1, we explore...
7 Keys eBook | Ch.2 | HUMILITY
This week's drop?... Chapter 2 of the 7 Keys eBook. It's a 22-page, full-color pdf that focuses on the second key of courageous self-expression, humility. The ebook pulls content from TDP Ep. 4, 5,...
DD#7 – “Cosmic Salary”
"Cosmic Salary" is a term often used in 'Org' training to remind teachers - and especially trainers - that the rewards of 'sharing the work' extend far beyond making money. At face value, it's a...
DD#6 – ‘Drama’ & Disobedience
This week, our Patreon bonus episode is also streaming on the main feed! And so you, dear patron, can watch the uncut/unedited version via video (above)... or... explore it as TDP #46... wherever you...
Ep.46 – Patreon Bonus | Deconstructing Dogma: ‘Drama’ & Disobedience
Surprise! This week's Patreon bonus episode is dropping here, too! It's a sample from the Deconstructing Dogma series that's been rolling out over on Patreon. We're sharing it publicly because this...
Addendum to the ‘4 Allies’ | The 5th Agreement!
One of our community members in the After The Org FB group posted about Don Miguel Ruiz's follow-up book - The Fifth Agreement (published in 2011) - where he doubles down on his message that "the...
DD#5 – The ‘4 Allies’ – Part 3 of 3
>> There was a tiny tech snafu... so here's the reboot with new links! >>Here it is... (finally)... part 3 in a three-part series where Tracy & I deconstruct The '4 Allies' as they...
7 Keys eBook | Ch.1 | AUTHORITY
It's a new year, and sometimes you've gotta look back in order to move forward. This week's drop is Chapter 1 of the 7 Keys eBook. This 20-page full color pdf focuses on the first key of courageous...
DD#4 – The ‘4 Allies’ – Part 2 of 3
Here's part 2 in a three-part series where Tracy & I deconstruct The '4 Allies' as they were presented at 'the Org'.In Part 2, we take a peek at the second ally/agreement: "Don't Take Anything...
DD#3 – The ‘4 Allies’ – Part 1 of 3
I'm pretty darn excited to share this conversation with you, because it's one that I found truly transformative. 🙌🏽Here's part 1 in a three-part series where Tracy & I deconstruct 'The 4...
DD#2 – To Name or Not To Name – Part 2
Here's Part 2 of Tracy & I unpacking the question of whether or not to name 'the Org'... AND we reveal what's coming up next week. Spoiler... I can't wait to share it with you! Also, I'm running...
DD#1 – To Name or Not To Name? – Part 1
As a follow-up to the 'cult'ure series rollout, Candice & Tracy sit down for the first in a series of bonus episodes called 'Deconstructing Dogma' where we're sorting out the helpful from the...
7 Keys eBook | INTRODUCTION
Access the opening chapter of the 7 Keys of Courageous Self-Expression. This pdf excerpt pulls from TDP Episode #1 and lays the foundation for the content that follows.What is the deeper pulse...