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 same online yoga community and have reunited for this timely convo. In part one of a two-part dialogue, Sybil & I discuss her trauma-informed background and experience hosting yoga retreats, as well as a number of red flags we've both...
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 discuss the difference between teaching and performing... and take a critical look at how they are often confused.Then, the conversation goes all sorts of places: Charisma, culty hierarchies & the illusion of advancement "Are you in or are you out?" -...
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 sit down and hear from her. It was a jam-packed convo, so it's gonna roll out in two parts.Part 1: Transparency or TMI? - Healthy Boundaries in LeadershipMaria came to us with a burning 'cult'ure series question. When it comes to healthy leadership......
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 friend of the podcast. I keep inviting her back because she's so full of heart, and she continually finds ways to wrap words around the unspeakable; her hard-earned insights move me - deeply.In this follow-up convo, we ask ourselves a big question:...
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, & 10; stories and content created back in 2021.This chapter is chocked full of intimate, personal musings. As well as an exploration of trauma, triggers, and the nervous system.ACCESS pdf download via the link.
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 deconstruction of 'triple isolation' as defined by Alexandra Stein, who 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...
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 those who are interested. Pictured Here (in order): Walking through Komiža on the island of Vis One of the weathered books at the registrars office Three distant family members I located while on the island The cemetery where my Yugoslavian...
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 ‘friend’ but true friendship is suppressed as a diversion from, and a threat to, attachment to the cause, the leader and the group. In fact, far from finding true comradeship or companionship, followers face a triple isolation: from the outside world, from...
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 researcher, Robert Jay Lifton.We open things up with a discussion about the impact they have on folks who are experiencing grief - referencing an eye-opening conversation I had many moons ago on the podcast with Monica Welty. See Episode 29; it's a great...
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 download the pdf below.AND in this week's video, I break down each category and share more in depth about on a number of the resources I've recommend. Here's a quick breakdown, if you're looking for something in particular: 2:20 - Why I won't be...
