Human Amplified

In this episode of Human Amplified, we welcome Pat Embry, a longtime Nashville journalist who has held roles as an editor at the Nashville Banner and The Tennessean, director of the John Siegenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies at MTSU, and communications director for the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. With nearly 50 years in journalism, Pat has witnessed the industry evolve from print to digital, seen media ownership impact editorial stances, and observed the growing difficulty in distinguishing truth from propaganda.Pat reflects on his career and emphasizes the significance of responsible reporting and critical thinking in navigating today's polarized media. Our conversation underscores the vital importance of a free press in shaping informed citizens and a resilient democracy.****Support this podcastRATE AND REVIEW THE SHOWApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/human-amplified/id1454166035Google Review: https://g.page/r/CYfJvrqcOtz2EB0/reviewFacebook Review: https://www.facebook.com/HumanAmplified/Be a guest on the show: https://humanamplified.com/be-our-guestShop my merch! https://humanamplified.com/shopSupport for this podcast comes from Bed of Nails:

Today, we're talking to guest Katie Jensen, of Franklin, TN. She's first and foremost a mom and wife, but she's also a NASM certified personal trainer, nutrition coach, and travel planner. With everything she does, she loves empowering people to find happiness and confidence through healthy lifestyles that feel good.She's here today to help us wind up Human Amplified season 5 with ways to incorporate more fun, laughter, and play into your life. Spoiler alert: a lot of this involves how you prioritize, approach, and look at your relationships with other people. We talk about the importance of laughter and fun, changing what you can while accepting what you can't, the importance of knowing you're not alone, giving yourself permission to play, even when life is hard, how to create authentic bonds instead of trauma bonds, processing hard emotions while trying to remain positive, and staying motivated to keep moving forward. This episode is really about finding the silver linings, purposefully changing your attitude no matter what your situation is, and being resilient. Katie is not only great at this professionally, but she gets really honest with us about the realities of living with her daughter who was born with a traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy, among other life-long diagnoses. Katie has five children all together.So the conversation today comes from the lens of how much Katie loves and dedicates herself to her family and the lessons she's learned from those experiences that translate into how she approaches happiness, joy, and having fun.I'm so excited for the perspective-changing tips you'll get from this episode — and hope that after you've listened, you can take life a little less seriously. Just what we need to end the season that has traversed the depths of identity and self realization.Thanks for listening all season. Thanks for listening today. And, we'll see you back in the podcast apps soon.Now, let's dive in.****Support this podcastRATE AND REVIEW THE SHOWApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/human-amplified/id1454166035Google Review: https://g.page/r/CYfJvrqcOtz2EB0/reviewFacebook Review: https://www.facebook.com/HumanAmplified/Be a guest on the show: https://humanamplified.com/be-our-guestShop my merch! https://humanamplified.com/shopSupport for this podcast comes from Bed of Nails:

So, you guys probably know by now that I'm a firm believer in finding your own custom mix of healing modalities when you're focusing on healing your trauma. There's not one silver bullet at any given time, but many modalities, when combined, can create a winning strategy. Some modalities work for you while some won't, and depending on where you are in healing and what you need to process and integrate, different modalities may be better suited at different times too. All that to say, I love trying and learning about different healing modalities and introducing them to you. Now, PSYCH-K® isn't necessarily new in the world, but it was new to me when today's guest, Adelajda Child, came on the show. And it's so interesting how it leverages different parts of the brain to create change in your life. It reminds me somewhat of the Two Mind Method that we featured in last weeks episode 123. So it'll be interesting for you to hear the differences and decide if you want to try it.Today's guest, Adelajda Child, is a PSYCH-K® instructor, conducting workshops globally, helping individuals recognize and overcome their subconscious barriers to peace and success.During our discussion, we really get into the technicalities about the difference between our subconscious mind and conscious mind, how to align them, and why beliefs — subconscious or conscious — are so powerful in our lives. We not only go in depth about what PSYCH-K® aims to do, but we talk about how to access the subconscious mind, what's available to us when we do, how cognitive dissonance can set in, and where the struggle comes from. Then, we pivot into how to know what to consciously believe, in the era of misinformation that we're living in and when to know if you should change your beliefs.While we talk a lot about the hemispheres of the brain, getting them to work together, and how the subconscious mind creates our realities, ultimately, when you dig deeper, this episode is about decision making. Do you want to make decisions that impact your life with some of the information, or all of the information that could possibly be available to you — and also making sure you can trust that information before making decisions, leading to more peace in your life.This is a really interesting topic and I know there are a lot of opinions out there about what goes into creating our realities, so let's dive in. And let us know in the comments (of the show notes or on YouTube) what comes up for you as you listen.****Support this podcastRATE AND REVIEW THE SHOWApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/human-amplified/id1454166035Google Review: https://g.page/r/CYfJvrqcOtz2EB0/reviewFacebook Review: https://www.facebook.com/HumanAmplified/Be a guest on the show: https://humanamplified.com/be-our-guest

Today, we're talking to Kirby Fling. He's a computer science guy turned trauma-informed relationship coach and Founder of his signature program, the Two Mind Method. He focuses on healing attachment wounds and preventing them in the first place. And while the topic at hand may seem heavy, this was such a fun conversation. You'll walk away from it knowing how to approach relationships in healthier ways and how to take responsibility for your own emotions, beliefs, and actions in a way that's healing and safe to your inner child and therefore, your external relationships as well.In today's episode, we talk about how hypervigilance and intuition are connected, how to know if you can trust your intuition, the predictability of attachment wounds, how attachment impacts everything in life, how sleep and trauma play in, the five pillars of attachment, the enemies of healing, changing attachment styles, green and red flags in a relationship, and so much more. Kirby is currently in Bali, Indonesia teaching what we'll be talking about in today's episode. He'll be hosting a retreat on the beach in Bali in November — omg, doesn't that sound amazing— and he also does 1 on 1 coaching in person and virtually.I love the interviews, and I mean love, that turn into real conversations where the guest pauses to think and digs deep within themselves to find the real answer, and then we're both thinking deeply and philosophically about the topic at hand. That's when ish gets really real. Genuine. Authentic. Honest. This is one of those episodes. So, get ready to do some thinking and digging with us.And a quick heads up: there was a tiny bit of lag on our call, so we do talk over one another a few times, which doesn't normally happen here on Human Amplified — but its minimal. So, let's dive in.****Support this podcastRATE AND REVIEW THE SHOWApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/human-amplified/id1454166035Google Review: https://g.page/r/CYfJvrqcOtz2EB0/review Facebook Review: https://www.facebook.com/HumanAmplified/Be a guest on the show: https://humanamplified.com/be-our-guest

Today, we're talking to Nashville-based yoga instructor, doula, and activist, Renee Watkins, about reconnecting to your body to make a real difference. And what does that actually mean? It means using breath work, which is the common thread among all of Renee's passions and pursuits, so you can find not only emotional healing for yourself, but also for your community.It's evident that Renee cares deeply about helping people and she starts with her local community here in Nashville. Through Renee's yoga practice, she's breaking down stereotypes and creating safe, inclusive spaces for Black and brown women. We get into all of that in this episode, plus we also talk about:Why its important to be in tune with your body, what your body can tell you, how to start making a difference while protecting your peace, releasing anger, and breathing the correct way. And you might be surprised about what the right way is.Then, we get into the topic of high birth mortality rates, especially for Black women, in the United States, what to do to minimize birth trauma and how it all fits together with Yoga, human advocacy, and teaching our kids what they really need to know so they can avoid some of the pitfalls we're seeing in our time. We finish up the episode talking about sexuality and sensuality and dealing with repression of it. It's all connected.Throughout the episode, Renee gives us awesome expert advice and she mixes in personal stories too, so you'll love getting to know her and her bright personality. Her Yoga practice, which is her primary focus right now, is called RW Yoga. She's trained extensively in Vinyasa, Rocket, and Prenatal Yoga.This episode does come with a trigger warning: About half way through, maybe a little before, we start talking about sex education with several hard truths and then move into the topic of birth trauma with real life examples. These are very important, critical conversations to have, but proceed with caution if these topics are triggering for you.Now, let's dive in.***Support for this podcast comes from Bed of Nails.

In the span of the six years I've known Courtenay, she's completely transformed. She's absolutely glowing, but it wasn't an overnight, easy kind of change. It was a deep, healing journey, where she had to go within, choose to let go of many things, like alcohol for example, that had had a steady presence in her life up until the make or break moment. And not only did she have to learn how to feel her emotions again, but she decided to start listening to them.With this episode, the hope is that if you're on a healing or awakening journey yourself, that you take comfort in knowing you're not alone and that you're also inspired that it can be done. You can absolutely heal, find yourself, and live in a way that's in complete alignment with that. But who is Courtenay Rogers? She's such a presence in the community of Franklin, TN not only from her previous political campaigns to her longstanding career in operations and logistics, but simply because she befriends and connects people. She's also a Navy veteran who loves her family, friends, and now, herself too. Her life motto is “love always wins.”We cover topics like making healing decisions in critical life moments, what healing is like, the difference between ego and self love, toxic positivity, letting go of desperation and control, trusting your intuition, and how to start loving yourself. And at the end, we have a quick little bonus discussion on what it's been like for Courtenay to leave behind her political career as a result of embracing more authenticity in her life.The amount of honesty and vulnerability Courtenay brings in this conversation is refreshing and can help us look within ourselves with the same intensity of love that she's found. Let's hear from her now.***Register for my FREE Self Healing the Root workshop to learn about your trauma responses and how to start changing them.

If you're familiar with the Enneagram through pop culture, you might be using it as a personality test to gain more insight into what makes you tick and how you act. However, what's so cool about what our guest, Micky ScottBey Jones, will share with us today is that it's not just a personality test. In fact, your personality is not fixed and the strategies you use to cope and interact in the world can be expanded upon and changed, if you want them to be.So, today we're talking all things Enneagram. Guest Micky ScottBey Jones is an Enneagram expert, coach, and facilitator. In today's episode, we're covering topics like what the Enneagram actually is, the impact it can have, why people love it so much and it's rise in popularity, how it helps you feel seen and see others, how bias fits in, practical ways you can apply Enneagram to your real life, and what to do with fear as it arises. Now, of course, we get philosophical in this conversation and while discussing Enneagram, which can help you be in relationship to self and others better, we also dive deep into identifying what our responsibility to other human beings is. What are we really responsible for when we see another human being in their wholeness?And, one of the most powerful parts of this episode, among the many, is when Micky shares part of her personal journey with Enneagram. She says, “The Enneagram helped me not hate myself.” That's huge — there's so much there.It's all packed into the next hour, so let's get to it. And if you know your Enneagram type and your'e watching on YouTube, go ahead and tell us what it is in the comments.***Register for my FREE Self Healing the Root workshop to learn about your trauma responses and how to start changing them.

Today, we're talking to Kourtney Brownlow who is a business mentor and gym owner here in Franklin, TN, right outside of Nashville. This episode is for you if you're looking for ways to change your mindset, build resilience, and stay motivated toward your goals, whatever they may be, while still embracing the fact that you're a human and sometimes have what we generally consider negative emotions.Kourtney is personally and professionally equipped to talk about these topics because she practices what she preaches — she's had to delve deep into mindset work when her journey into entrepreneurship began unexpectedly in 2014 when she opened a gym. The first 5 years she had no idea how to run a business and succeeded on sheer will and relationships.In 2019, Kourtney made a pivotal decision to invest in her professional development by hiring her first business mentor. This decision transformed her business and led her to buy a second gym in 2021. In 2022 due to some life changes Kourtney sold her original gym but continues to run her personal training studio in Franklin, TN. Inspired by her own journey, Kourtney now pays it forward by mentoring other business owners, helping them unlock their full potential and achieve the life they envisioned when they first embarked on their entrepreneurial ventures.Personally, Kourtney is a wife and mom to four beautiful children — one of whom is Deaf, and you'll hear part of her personal story around learning this, how her mindset evolved, and what she's done to grow with her son.We also cover topics like the importance of mindset, how grief impacts mindset, the spectrum of mindsets available to you, healthy positivity versus toxic positivity, the point of negativity and what to do with it (and yes, it does have a point!), getting unstuck from negative cycles or patterns, where resilience fits in, welcoming challenges, and holding yourself accountable for achieving your real goals.The next hour is packed with personal development and growth gems, so let's dive in to get you moving.***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/119***Shop my Bed of Nails affiliate link to get yours: https://bedofnails.org/?ref=BRANDIFLECKUse code BON15BRANDI at checkout to get 15% off!

Today, we're talking to Stephanie Dunn. She's a United Methodist minister who served for about 15 years before transitioning careers to become a certified life coach. She opened her private coaching practice, Stephanie B. Dunn Coaching, a little over a year ago. Now, before we go further in this introduction, here's some context for our discussion that you'll hear today.We recorded this conversation in April of 2024, so it happened right as the United Methodist church opened it's general conference to cover topics, yet again, like same-sex marriage and LGBTQIA+ clergy.The Methodist church has had well-known internal fissures around these issues and NPR reports that up to 7600 congregations disaffiliated because they disliked that many of the churches didn't enforce the ban on LGBTQIA+ marriage and clergy.In a landslide vote at the end of April/beginning of May 2024, the Methodist church reversed it's ban.That's a sure win for recognizing the humanity of others.All this is to say, that what you'll hear Stephanie and I talk about today - primarily burnt out clergy - is another symptom of a larger problem that's been going on for a while now. That is, institutionally, things are changing for the church. Not only are congregations leaving, but attendance numbers have been down for ages (in many churches, not just the methodist church), and clergy women are leaving too.That's where Stephanie comes in. Once clergy herself, she now coaches clergy women and other helpers who are burnt out and looking for support, rest, self esteem, and ways to fit into an institution that wasn't designed with them in mind. Stephanie has a unique perspective as an insider who left her traditional role but took on an adjacent support role that's very much needed. So, whether you're clergy, a church goer, or are simply interested in how society is changing in all the various ways with human will behind the change, this is an honest inside look at where clergy is going, what they're doing, and what's next for the church as an institution and fabric of communities, plus, how you can heal from burnout.Let's dive in.***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/118***Sign up for my FREE workshop on healing your triggers at https://www.brandifleckcoaching.com/self-healing-the-root-workshop

You'll want to tune in today because we're talking all things being seen, especially if you've ever felt like an outcast or like society just wasn't built with you in mind. You have so many different parts of your identity that intersect, sometimes you may have to prioritize one over the other to feel safe, but that doesn't mean that the other parts go away. And this is exactly what today's guest is an expert in navigating — in her own life and with clients — among many other things. I'm pleased to introduce you to fellow Nashvillian, Aimee Sadler. She has a Masters in Social Work, is currently a masters candidate at Lipscomb University specializing in conflict management. She currently works as the manager of Community and Collective Impact at the Center for Nonprofit Management. She provides nonprofit consulting in DEI, cultural competency, cultural humility, and cultural understanding. She's also a private practice clinician focusing on therapy for women of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. She's also a mom, partner, and loves all things Disney. She's won a plethora of awards, including but not limited to being recognized as one of Nashville Business Journal's 40 Under 40, and serves as Vice President on the board of Nashville LAUNCH PAD, an organization offering safe and LGBTQIA+ affirming shelters and housing accommodations to unhoused young adults.In this episode, we're covering things like what it means to be seen, why it's important for people to feel seen, why people struggle with being seen, dealing with the fear that sometimes comes with the vulnerability of being seen, listening to your intuition, and confidently navigating the intersectionality you experience, even while breaking social norms safely. Amiee also get's personal and tells us about her own experience with intersectionality.***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/117***FREE Workshop:https://www.brandifleckcoaching.com/self-healing-the-root-workshop

Now, y'all know this isn't a political podcast. It's a podcast about humanity. This podcast serves to unify each other and unify you with your own authenticity. We've always sought to humanize one another and therefore understand each other and ourselves better. And with that sometimes comes difficult and necessary conversations regarding the political arena, where policies shape our society and how we interact with it. No one is immune from it.With that in mind, I'm extremely honored to be bringing you a conversation with local Nashville activist, blogger, commentator, columnist, community organizer, civic educator, and human rights advocate, Timothy Hughes. He oftentimes finds himself working at the intersection of public policy and social justice. He comes from a line of activists, community organizers, and educators who have sought to change the world. As Timothy and I convened for our conversation, neo-nazis were protesting at the city council meeting in Nashville. This has become a somewhat common sight in the last several years here, where white supremacy has been allowed to flourish in our most basic levels of government —the tip of the spear — as Nashville representative Justin Jones has called it. There has been an ever increasing and louder presence as we're leading up to presidential elections in 2024.Speaking of, Timothy and I had decided to do this podcast episode together before the attempted assassination on former president Trump, but the conversation seems to have a special punctuation on it now — what is behind this type of political violence? It's bigger and older than you might think.Timothy shares insight into how our systems have evolved from a lens of exclusion and also a lens of prioritized inclusion — something which the neo-nazis of our day, just like the one's in our grandparents' day, want to extinguish.So where do we want to go from here? Stay tuned for not only a quick big-picture education and context, but also tactical advice for what you can do in your everyday life to change our political trajectory, which is really our human trajectory, even if you're not a front lines activist.***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/116***FREE Workshop: https://www.brandifleckcoaching.com/self-healing-the-root-workshop

I love Hannah Bethel, today's guest. She's a singer-songwriter based in Nashville, TN, but she's also a board certified hypnotherapist with the International Association of Counselors and Therapists, an Usui Tibetan Reiki Master, and Member of the International Association of Reiki Professionals. She's a healer and owner of Hifi Healing, and y'all, she's returning to the show in this episode to talk about BIG spiritual practices. If you haven't heard her first interview on the show, check out episode 93 where we talk about her journey with Lyme disease and how that impacted her music career. But today, we traverse the topics of consciousness, accessing the subconscious, duality of the Universe, channeling, creativity, trance, the importance of embodiment to truly know something, reincarnation, transcendence and more. We start out by talking about when's the right time for someone to try hypnotherapy as part of their healing journey, what it means to process experiences, and the difference between pain and suffering. While we're at it, what is the purpose of suffering anyways? Hannah pontificates on this and how it's linked to the nature of the Universe. We then dive into different types of spiritual guidance and how spiritual teams tend to show up for clients in sessions with Hannah; what the common thread is between healing, spirituality, and even songwriting; and the importance of evolving in this life, and how past life regression can help with that. Hannah tells us about her process, what past life regression is, and the importance of using past life regression responsibly to show up as our best selves in our present life, in our present families and communities.She then gives us a really cool story about a memorable client past life regression and also one that she had herself. We wrap up with the topic of when Christians come in for past life regressions and how they deal with any cognitive dissonance or fear that may arise around this type of therapeutic yet mystical work.Now, this is a really cool conversation, and you're in for a treat. After we talked, we decided that Hannah would do a past life regression for me — I'd never had one before — and we recorded the entire thing. From her intake process to the entire 2 and a half hours of me being under. She took me through some current life regression, then we dipped into a past life, and then we finished by talking with my spirit guides. We'll be bringing you a video of that from my perspective on Human Amplified's YouTube channel next week. We also have a version of it from Hannah's perspective in the works as well. The release date on that is TBD for now. I'll let you know more on that when we know. But, the video from my perspective that's coming out next week won't be on the audio version of this podcast. It will only be on the Human Amplified YouTube channel. So, if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it. And without further ado, let's talk to Hannah.***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/115***Shop my Bed of Nails affiliate link to get yours: https://bedofnails.org/?ref=BRANDIFLECKUse code BON15BRANDI at checkout to get 15% off!

Second-guessing your intuition is normal, especially in the south where there's culturally a lot of fear around trusting your intuition… and we'll go so far as to say trusting psychic hits that you get. Yes, you. In this episode, we're talking to Laura Stendel. She's a licensed massage therapist here in Franklin, TN offering various forms of body work and energy work in her sessions. She owns Intuitive Bodywork TN, and she's known for incorporating her own intuition into her sessions and so today, we're diving deep into that topic. We cover things like how body work is inextricably linked to intuition for Laura, how this manifests in massage therapy sessions for her and her clients. She even gives us specific examples, which are really helpful. Trigger Warning: As Laura shares one particular client story that she has permission to share, the topic of kidnapping and negative entities does come up for a few minutes around 15 or 20 minutes or so in. Listener discretion is advised. But then we get into really tangible tips for how you can start to listen to your intuition and release fear around it so you can start trusting it again. Maybe you've been culturally conditioned to fear it or maybe you trusted it at one point but lost that connection to self through trauma. We address it all. Laura also talks about psychic and intuitive experiences she had right around the time of the interview and she even dives in on one little hit that she got with me. Throughout the conversation, we use my own spiritual journey and experience of strengthening my intuitive abilities as an example for you. Side note: If you haven't subscribed to my YouTube channel, Human Amplified, and this is a really interesting topic to you, feel free to go do that now. In addition to this podcast, you can follow my spiritual journey. Check out the “Going Woo with Brandi” playlist. I just started it, so the name might change eventually. But I've linked that for you here, in this video and in the description box if you're watching and it's linked in the show notes if you're listening. Now, for the last quarter of the interview, we focus on everything you need to know about chakras and tie that back into strengthening your own abilities to work with intuition and energy. And last but not least, we end on Laura telling you what she thinks is the most important thing to remember when you're growing, healing, taking care of yourself, and leaning into your own powerful abilities — I won't spoil it, but I'll give you a hint — it has to do with letting go of something you might be holding onto so tightly. After we stopped recording, we talked on for almost an hour and both of us wished we had just kept recording. So, have no fear, I definitely think we'll get Laura back on the show at some point to keep diving deep into these important, empowering, and life changing practices. ***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/114***Shop my Bed of Nails affiliate link to get yours: https://bedofnails.org/?ref=BRANDIFLECKUse code BON15BRANDI at checkout to get 15% off!

Second-guessing your intuition is normal, especially in the south where there's culturally a lot of fear around trusting your intuition… and we'll go so far as to say trusting psychic hits that you get. Yes, you. In this episode, we're talking to Laura Stendel. She's a licensed massage therapist here in Franklin, TN offering various forms of body work and energy work in her sessions. She owns Intuitive Bodywork TN, and she's known for incorporating her own intuition into her sessions and so today, we're diving deep into that topic. We cover things like how body work is inextricably linked to intuition for Laura, how this manifests in massage therapy sessions for her and her clients. She even gives us specific examples, which are really helpful. Trigger Warning: As Laura shares one particular client story that she has permission to share, the topic of kidnapping and negative entities does come up for a few minutes around 15 or 20 minutes or so in. Listener discretion is advised. But then we get into really tangible tips for how you can start to listen to your intuition and release fear around it so you can start trusting it again. Maybe you've been culturally conditioned to fear it or maybe you trusted it at one point but lost that connection to self through trauma. We address it all. Laura also talks about psychic and intuitive experiences she had right around the time of the interview and she even dives in on one little hit that she got with me. Throughout the conversation, we use my own spiritual journey and experience of strengthening my intuitive abilities as an example for you. Side note: If you haven't subscribed to my YouTube channel, Human Amplified, and this is a really interesting topic to you, feel free to go do that now. In addition to this podcast, you can follow my spiritual journey. Check out the “Going Woo with Brandi” playlist. I just started it, so the name might change eventually. But I've linked that for you here, in this video and in the description box if you're watching and it's linked in the show notes if you're listening. Now, for the last quarter of the interview, we focus on everything you need to know about chakras and tie that back into strengthening your own abilities to work with intuition and energy. And last but not least, we end on Laura telling you what she thinks is the most important thing to remember when you're growing, healing, taking care of yourself, and leaning into your own powerful abilities — I won't spoil it, but I'll give you a hint — it has to do with letting go of something you might be holding onto so tightly. After we stopped recording, we talked on for almost an hour and both of us wished we had just kept recording. So, have no fear, I definitely think we'll get Laura back on the show at some point to keep diving deep into these important, empowering, and life changing practices. ***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/114***Shop my Bed of Nails affiliate link to get yours: https://bedofnails.org/?ref=BRANDIFLECKUse code BON15BRANDI at checkout to get 15% off!

Today, we're talking to Nashvillian John M. DeMarco. There are certain themes that have been flowing through John's life and career lately: AI, Impermanence, making meaning, and business and career sustainability. And by all areas, I mean he explores these themes as a fiction writer, non-fiction writer, speaker, and coach. By the way, John is a professional certified coach, and he's been coaching executives for 19 years. But the discussion we have is less about being an executive, and more about being a human in our ever-changing world.What's important to point out here is that our personal and professional lives aren't really separate. We're whole humans, and what goes on in one area of our life touches all other areas of our life. Throughout this episode, we dive deeper into most of the themes that John and his client's are experiencing, starting with managing expectations around impermanence — that is, the fact that nothing ever stays the same, and one day, we're all going to die — and how that impacts our satisfaction and what that even means for how we're separate from and connected to each other. We talk about how greed, selfishness, and delusions come about but also how we can choose a healthier way of being amid constant change to experience more joy and meaning instead. Then, we explore what legacy is, why it's important, and how we influence it. Then, the episode takes a turn into considering mindfulness and tapping into a greater good.And by “takes a turn,” I mean, the conversation starts out pretty cerebral and then morphs into what felt like an unprepared, real-time experience of mindfulness, presence, and spirituality. In the last third of the interview, I didn't edit out long pauses as I normally would because I wanted you to experience what John was experiencing as he traversed the emotions that came with learning about himself as he answered big questions about why making meaning is important and what meaning even is. The emotion, on the surface, was subtle, but if you're really paying attention, you'll see there was nothing surface-level about this conversation. The emotion and thoughtfulness is palpable.So let's dive in!***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/113***Shop my Bed of Nails affiliate link to get yours: https://bedofnails.org/?ref=BRANDIFLECKUse code BON15BRANDI at checkout to get 15% off!

Amanda JP Brown is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing psychotherapy to individuals and couples. In addition to her work as a psychotherapist, Amanda is a Reiki Healer, bestselling Author and has been featured on several podcasts discussing the courage it takes to rebuild your life confidently, free from shame and self judgment.Amanda is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing psychotherapy to individuals and couples. She understands how terrifying it can be to shine a light on your darkness as you journey toward healing and just how messy it can get as you begin to uncover the human you want to be. In addition to her work as a psychotherapist and author, Amanda is a Reiki Healer and has been featured on several other podcasts discussing the courage it takes to rebuild your life confidently, free from shame and self judgment. In her free time, Amanda loves spending time with her dog, Leroy, being creative, spending time with family/friends, listening to music and attending the ballet. As a side note: I met Amanda through a mutual friend not too long ago, so I know her and how wonderful she is, and I know that she also loves to participate in ballet and makes a killer Brussels sprout dish, among other creative and adventurous pursuits. So it's no surprise to me that looking at ourselves and our romantic partnerships through a lens of curiosity rather than criticism is the defining undercurrent of this discussion, while specifically, we're talking about marriage and divorce. We're answering the big questions like how does early childhood impact the outcome of relationships, what generational trauma looks like in relationship, what's at the root of compromising identity in relationships, and how do we even define marriage today — is it okay to make your own rules around it, how has society dictated the trajectory of the institution of marriage, and is it even still a valid institution in our modern society. Plus Amanda tells you what you need to know if you're questioning your relationship.In addition to her expertise in attachment, childhood and generational trauma, and shame and self worthiness issues, Amanda shares her own journey with marriage and divorce and what she did herself to heal. I absolutely love this conversation and hope you do too. Let us know in the comments what resonates with you and how you define marriage. Now, let's dive in.***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/112***Sign up for my FREE workshop on healing your triggers at https://www.brandifleckcoaching.com/self-healing-the-root-workshop

Up to this point in season 5, we've talked quite a bit about theory and big-picture ideas around self realization and identity. In today's episode, the same theme carries through, but we're getting more practical and hands on to spark your creativity to put those self-love based concepts into action in your own life in a way that's authentic to you. Guest Christy Pruitt-Haynes is telling us all about her action-based approach to getting to know herself now after major relationships in her life have changed and she's entering a new phase of what it means to be her.She's telling us all about her adventures with ABC solo dating. We'll get into what that is in the episode, but first…She embarked on the adventure of solo dating after she'd lost her best friend, went through a divorce, and her daughter and niece flew the nest. She realized that so much of her life revolved around others, and now that they'd made their exits in different ways, she was left with herself. So this discussion is all about what Christy chose to do with that realization.In addition to talking about what ABC solo dating is and how Christy does it, we dive deep into the emotions involved with doing activities by yourself, especially if you're a people person;, the beauty of being present with yourself; the importance of preference and knowing it's okay to do what you like and what brings you joy without feeling guilty; absolving guilt; trusting the creative process; moving through grief that comes with change; and letting go.Christy says “after a lot of hard work, personal reflection, and self-discovery… the only person I'm going to spend the rest of my life with is me so I better get to know and fall in love with her.” That's her focus now. And she's sharing part of that story with you today.At the end of the day, we have to be able to be alone with ourselves. I know it took me a long time to love my self enough to be able to do that — it can be a fun yet difficult task. As you listen, I encourage you to think about what might work for you to grow your relationship with yourself. Are you able to be alone with yourself and what might be fun in that process? Let us know in the comments what you think.Now, let's dive in.***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/111***Share your story on Human Amplified!

Today we're talking to Tian Yuming. She's a yoga teacher and trauma-informed certified life coach who immigrated to Singapore from China at an early age with her family. This immigration and the generational impact of the Chinese cultural revolution set the stage for the healing journey and expertise Yuming shares with us in this episode. The most prominent thing I noticed about Yuming when we first met is the presence she brings to her interactions. It was so comforting and interesting to experience. This was what inspired us to collaborate on today's discussion.We talk about how self discovery is healing, how to create more space by anchoring into the present moment, what it means to hold space, how to hold space, the difference between holding space as a professional versus in a dynamic relationship, when to prioritize holding space for yourself versus another person, when and how to draw boundaries, how to extend grace to yourself even if you aren't present, when it's okay to think about the past and future, and letting go and moving on. This discussion is a spiritual exploration based on a foundation of trauma and somatic training, so you're in for a treat where science meets spirituality. Yuming focuses on connecting mind, body, and spirit, and this discussion is an extension of that focus.There are many fantastic take aways from today's episode, but my absolute favorite is when Yuming says “Compassionate witnessing is where the healing takes place.” Be sure to let me know in the comments (on YouTube) what your favorite take away is too. Now, let's dive in.***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/110***Support for this podcast comes from Bed of Nails!Shop my Bed of Nails affiliate link to get yours: https://bedofnails.org/?ref=BRANDIFLECKUse code BON15BRANDI at checkout to get 15% off!

This episode is all about using spirituality as a practical tool in your life, thanks to today's guest, Ashley B. Jones. Ashley is a Transformation Coach and Healer based in Denver, Colorado who supports feelers and dreamers as they learn to embrace change and build inner security to transform their lives into one where anything is possible. She is known for her unique holistic approach that merges modern understandings of the mind and energy with ancient practices that remind us of the power of our inner knowing.Not only is Ashley an intuitive healer, but she also has a degree in behavioral neuroscience.We start out discussing how important intuition and discernment are, and you'll find this is a theme throughout, combined with self worth and nurturing the relationship with all of your selves — and you heard that right — there's more than one. This episode is absolutely packed with good information — and the information is dense — we throw a lot of information at you in a short amount of time, so you may want to listen to this episode more than once. I'm still processing things we talked about. We discuss topics throughout like: making sense of where science and spirituality meet, what intuition is, what neuroscience is, how they work together, how to trust your intuition — from using your imagination to knowing when distortions are creeping in. We then dig into how to use your intuition when you rely heavily on logic, and how to address your own skepticism. Ashley also details her personal healing journey, gives us the run down on the 6 Clairs of psychic ability, what spirituality does to our brain, what's in the unconscious, and the ethics to consider when relying on your intuition. Then, for the grand finale of the episode, Ashley does a collective tarot reading. And to be honest with you, after the reading, she really dug in with me on how it applied to my own life. I loved doing that. At the time of the interview, not all of the reading sunk in or resonated while some of it did. But as I listened back to it while producing this episode, it hit me like a ton of feathers and I had even more insight into my fears around my creative projects now than I did then. I love it, and it's so helpful.So, when you get to that part, as Ashley says, take what resonates and leave what doesn't. And whenever you listen to this episode, whether it's your first or third time, is when you're meant to hear it. Trust the process. Trust your intuition. And, in the time since I interviewed Ashley and now, she's put together a free workshop all about trusting yourself and listening to your intuition, so I've linked that down below in the show notes. Be sure to check it out.And Here we go.***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/109***Support for this podcast comes from Bed of Nails!Shop my Bed of Nails affiliate link to get yours: https://bedofnails.org/?ref=BRANDIFLECKUse code BON15BRANDI at checkout to get 15% off!

Y'all, go ahead and grab your tissues now. Today we're talking to Cheyenne England about her miraculous healing journey. In late October 2020, at 38 years old, Cheyenne was diagnosed with stage 4b high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer. Cheyenne is not only a cancer survivor, but she's a mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and teacher. She's been a teacher for 16 years in Tennessee, and she comes from a long line of strong women who have bravely fought cancer. I'll go ahead and tell you now that she is considered cancer free after six months which included debulking surgery and 6 rounds of chemo, followed by two years of a maintenance chemo pill. But with how her cancer had spread and her family history of cancer, the odds seemed stacked against her. As you listen to Cheyenne's story, you'll travel the ups and downs of emotions right there with her as she details what she experienced, from having to trust and advocate for herself when she thought something may be wrong, to a quick movement through the healthcare system, surgery, chemo, and at the same time healing pieces of herself from her sister's death from breast cancer in 2012. After Cheyenne tells her story, she details for us the mental and emotional aspects of the journey, how she handled them, and what the absolute most important things were that helped with the healing process. This episode is as much about mindset as it is about what actually happened. And as you listen, you'll see how tiny things aligned in the right time to ensure Cheyenne is here with us today. When you think about everything that had to come together in the way it did, it's nothing short of a miracle.Then and now, her greatest joy is her son, whom she has been blessed to travel with this year, celebrating life, and going on adventures before he starts school.Heads up, you'll hear Cheyenne's dogs barking through some of this interview — they also totally wanted in on this inspiring episode! Let's dive in.***Register for my FREE Self Healing the Root workshop to learn about your trauma responses and how to start changing them.

Do you ever just sit and listen to someone tell stories from their life? What a gift it is to be able to listen to such intimate memories that helped shape a person into who they are in this exact moment, with wisdom unmatched.If you love doing that as much as I do, you're in for a treat today — this is one of our ultimate storytelling episodes from a special person who has a rich tapestry of experience that can touch us all.We're talking to Clif Doyal. He's a Nashville music industry veteran who manages and promotes artists, he's a musician himself, and he's a returning guest from season 4. Last time we met for the show, he talked about using music as a unifier during intense political times. But now, we're taking an even more personal approach to his life's experience — you get to see a different side of Clif. I say that, because we're talking paranormal experiences, but actually, you see that it's not such a different side. Clif brings his personality, love for entertainment through storytelling, and ability to make meaning and purpose to everything he does, and this is no different. Today, you get to hear at least three different stories of Clif's true, verified, and real experiences with ghosts and what we think was a demon, and then several more stories about the gentle spirits of passed on loved ones. We talk about the differences between those various types of entities as well. You Might Also Like: Life After Death: The Difference Between Spirits and Ghosts and How They're Tied to Our HumanityAs Clif says, the veil between worlds is thin.So, grab a cozy blanket, your favorite drink, and settle in while Clif takes us with him to being on the farm with his mom as a kid, a prophetic recurring dream, a Franklin, TN civil war cemetery at the historic Carnton plantation, a creepy cow path in an Ozarks holler, a bedroom in a shotgun house haunted by an old miner, and the moments his mom and late wife came to him in spirit form.You Might Also Like: True Ghost Stories Around the Fire***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/107***Brandi here. Did you know besides hosting this podcast that I'm also a Tennessee-based, original fine artist? You can shop my original paintings and sign up for first dibs at new original art at brandifleck.com. Your support would mean so much!

Today we're talking to Emerson Wright. They go by Em. And y'all, this episode is worth a listen. Through the lens of being a transgender law professor in Florida, we look at how bringing our whole selves to how we show up is healing and empowering, whether we do it individually or systemically. And staying connected to our humanness is how we make life and systems better. That's huge, and that's how we'll change the justice system, which Em is part of, or any other system that you may be part of. As we evolve, the systems we've created must also evolve to integrate who we really are. So we talk social, medical, and career transition, complete with failures and progresses, which if you look deeply here, is a microcosm of the bigger shift the justice system is experiencing. We talk how the public's relationship with the law is strained, if law even still matters, and having hope in the face of fear.But now, let me tell you about Em Wright. They're a law professor, fisherman, dog dad, and nerd. Their professional life has spanned from the dishwashing room at a Pizza Hut to conference rooms in city skyscrapers and everywhere between. A die-hard legal realist, Em finds hope and inspiration from their students and the members of our society who show up to make the hard decisions and do the hard work. Full disclosure, Em and I were the best of friends for many years, starting in high school, through college, and for some time after. But this interview is the first time we've caught up in at least, I'd say, 15 years. And it was so good to reconnect.Oh, and be sure to get to the end of this interview for a surprise paranormal story from Em.Let's dive in.***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/106***REGISTER for my FREE Self Healing the Root workshop here: https://www.brandifleckcoaching.com/self-healing-the-root-workshop

You're in for a treat with this interview. We start out by talking what it looks like when a man has healthy levels of testosterone and what it looks like if testosterone is low. You'll see that the role testosterone plays is way bigger than we typically give it credit for. Then, Justin squashes the stigma around testosterone usage and what healthy masculinity really is.Justin opens up about his own journey with low testosterone as well and how he went from a bunch of medications that didn't feel right to actually addressing the root cause of his symptoms. We discuss what the multifaceted root of low t actually can be, most common symptoms, the role of support systems, how hard it is for men to make friends, what to do about it, proactive and preventative strategies to balance your hormones in the first place, and even what to know about lab numbers and their lack of standardization.On the surface, you'll walk away from this episode equipped to know if you should test for low T or not. If you go deeper into the more subtle themes presented, you'll start to wonder about why you and I have evolved the way we have, if we're going in the right direction, and then hopefully you'll start to question if getting to the root is a better route than treating symptoms. If we want to change our story, Justin and I agree that it's a great idea to advocate for yourself, get to the root of what ails you, and go back to the basics when taking care of yourself so that your body can go back to balance and therefore change the trajectory of your evolution.So, from the mind-blowing little known symptoms of low testosterone that are scattered throughout the entire discussion to the other end of spectrum where I feel like we're all trying to figure out how to get access to the right types of holistic healthcare, let's dig in. ***Visit the complete show notes at https://humanamplified.com/episodes/105***Visit Queen of the Thrones and get your castor oil liver pack kit today, complete with 100% organic, cold pressed castor oil and an organic cotton compress — no external heat required. When you use the below link to purchase, I make a small commission at NO additional cost to you, which helps me continue to bring you top-notch content like today's episode.Shop my link: https://shop.queenofthethrones.com/brandifleckcoachingUse my discount code at check out for select products: BRANDIFLECKCOACHING10

Stories...the stories we tell ourselves shape who we've been, who we are, and what we become. What you choose to do next either reinforces or changes your story. You have the power to choose where we go from here, as humans. So, welcome to the evolving story of what it means to be human through one beautiful and messy person at a time. We're back after a two-year break and we're gonna dig deeper than ever into who we are, our place in the world, how to make it better, and what it all means. I'm your host, Brandi Fleck. And this is Human Amplified.So subscribe and I'll see you soon.Learn more at https://humanamplified.com/

We're talking to Yemi Penn. She's an engineer, author, documentary producer, speaker, and is currently pursuing her PhD around how trauma can be transformative. She's a survivor herself who's self awareness and growth is ongoing. She's in the midst of transformation and change. So, it was the perfect time to dig really deep into topics like why life doesn't have to be a struggle, what trauma is, how the aftermath of traumatic events can lead to struggle, and the huge question of what is the point of trauma?Yemi then boldly and openly tells us about her own traumatic experience with specific examples of how it's rippled out into her life. A loss of power and consent led to a minimization of her voice.We explore how this became intertwined with personality, how she uses her voice now, the power of acknowledgement and awareness, some of the healing modalities Yemi has used in her own healing journey, and we even breach the topic of restorative justice and how punishment just isn't working to stop perpetrators. This episode may be hard to listen to for some of you, but I hope it inspires you to face any discomfort you may feel when you're ready in order to embrace the sometimes messy inner work required to heal your own trauma.We end the episode by considering the question, what would life look like without trauma. Yemi says she searched the depths of her soul to answer this question and the others throughout this vulnerable and informative interview. I invite you now to imagine for yourself a life and a world without trauma. If we can do that, we can get there.TRIGGER WARNING: We discuss child sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.******************************Let us know how the season has impacted you by leaving a rating and review on Google, Apple Podcasts, or Facebook.******************************For more resources from Human Amplified while the podcast is off season, follow us on socials, @humanamplified and explore humanamplified.com. There, you'll find past podcast episodes, our blog, free downloads, merch and artwork in our shop, and you can sign up for emails from me, Brandi, so you don't miss a thing.******************************When I look back at season 4, I see an evolution that parallels the evolution of the human spirit. We don't have to be what we've always been. We can change. We can move forward. We can create a life, and by extension, a society, that works better for us. And that, my friend, is what it's all about. We can't change the past, but we can change the here, now, and future. When you're ready, I'm here as a trauma-informed coach to hold space for you as you build awareness and heal trauma. Post-traumatic growth is possible. The inner work looks different for everybody, but together over time, we can practice regulating your nervous system, rerouting neural pathways, and reconnecting your body, mind, and spirit, so that you feel more peace and freedom to be your authentic and beautiful self. To get started, book your free discovery call with me now.

Today we're talking to Sara Skillen. She's a Certified Organizer Coach®, Certified Professional Organizer®, and is the founder of SkillSet Coaching & Organizing based in Nashville, TN.You might remember Sara from her Human Amplified blog post that came out right before season 4 started. It's called Embracing Life Order: Past, Present, and Future. Definitely check that out as she takes you through a fun little exercise for cleaning out your junk drawer. In today's episode, we dive deep into how setting up your space to work for you ripples out into how your time flows. We learn a bit about how Sara found her calling in organizing in the first place, which is an interesting winding journey through music, the legal field, and then into coaching, where the need to create safe spaces for those diagnosed with ADHD became clear. That's where ditching conventional methods of organizing came in for Sara and she leaves us with some tangible tips for how to take the first steps in organizing your space without becoming overwhelmed. We discuss how to facilitate action, even when it's tricky and dealing with clearing clutter in families or groups where individuals each have their own needs.Spirituality and intuition is a big part of who Sara is, so we end by exploring how that ties in to the structure of life order.Side Note: Guys — this is the second to last episode of season 4. Be sure to tune in next week for the season 4 finale of the Human Amplified podcast.

I first learned of Steve Davis in 2020 when he decided to do the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge for the first time. Two years ago, I documented his ride on socials because it was such an interesting journey. There's more behind it than just getting on a motorcycle and going. As you'll hear today from Steve, there weren't only physical and navigational challenges to overcome across 10,000 miles of American back roads, but by the end of his journey, he'd had a complete perspective shift about the importance of time and risk taking.We start out the episode by digging deep into spirituality and faith quite a bit, but Steve admits this isn't a topic that comes up in his everyday life often. But there's an important wink from Steve's late mom that ties into his faith that assists with taking on the Hoka Hey.Then we shift into finding the fun in challenges and some of Steve's personal story, including how he and his wife, Dawn Davis, fell in love and embarked on a dream of motorcycling together as recently as 2016.Steve and Dawn Davis will be riding in the 2022 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge starting on June 26. They'll be launching and finishing from Sturgis, South Dakota.Steve is returning rider #954. He completed the 2020 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in an impressive 12 days. His wife, Dawn Davis is new rider #1064. She's the shortest person to ever attempt a Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. If they successfully complete the challenge, they'll be only the second couple to have ever completed the challenge on two separate bikes.Steve is riding to raise money for the veteran non-profit called Angels Alive. They support veterans in integrating back into society and regaining their sense of community and purpose. We even reflect a bit on what veterans go through when they come home after deployment and why supporting them during that time matters.Dawn is riding to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Hospital to honor, as she puts it, “two very special angels who will be guiding their parents through this challenge.” So what do you say? Let's help these riders meet their fundraising goals for these amazing charities.DONATE: Angels Alive Donation LinkDawn's St. Jude Donation Portal

Today we're talking to entrepreneur, author, and public speaker, Octavian Pantis and his friend Captain Emil Dobrovolschi, who is a pilot, pilot instructor, and pilot examiner. They're both based in Bucharest Romania in Europe. Octavian and Emil are co-authors of their book, Dark Cockpit.In his spare time, Octavian loves to collect and study old maps. Emil spends time with his family and rides his Harley Davidson all over Romania with his wife. We start out by connecting these interests to their leadership approaches and how it's all related to keeping a big picture view of life as a way to manage change, no matter how big or small. This episode is for you if you're looking for creative ways to have a smoother life, even in times of loss or post trauma. Octavian and Emil explain techniques in being prepared (or being in control, as these leaders would call it); leadership, whether in your personal or professional life; and excellent communication. Not only do they explain how each area works to create more ease and peace of mind, but they give us personal stories and examples from aviation to help illustrate the points.At most, you'll walk away from this episode thinking about what leadership means to you and how you can leverage techniques used by pilots to handle crises that are coming up at this late point in the pandemic — whatever that may look like for you. Perhaps that means making better informed decisions or educating yourself in an area you feel unsure about. Or maybe, it looks like perspective shifts to find what's working amid the change.At least, if you're afraid to fly, you'll realize how many safety preparations go into keeping a flight smooth and perhaps gain some confidence in air travel.It was such a pleasure talking to these genuinely kind, caring, and insightful guys. Enjoy!********You are whole and capable no matter where you're at and what you're going through. Need help accessing that capability and the answers already within you? I've now opened several one on one trauma-informed coaching spots to do just that. Visit humanamplified.com/episodes/101 to schedule your free discovery call and learn if trauma-informed coaching with me (your host, Brandi), is for you.

Brandi and Ryan team up for a special episode reflecting on the journey creating the Human Amplified podcast has taken them on. Covering everything from personal growth resulting from guest stories to the benefits of artistic collaboration, it becomes apparent that connection and relationships are at the heart of Human Amplified. Listen to this episode to celebrate 100 episodes with us. Then, visit the show notes at humanamplified.com/episodes/100 to comment and let us know how you've grown since first tuning in.

Today we're talking to Alyssa Couture (also pronounced Couture, which is a french word for fashionable, custom clothing). Her name is only fitting as she's a multi-faceted fashion designer and energy worker who now focuses on being an advocate for healthy fashion.She says healthy fashion not only therapeutically supports the body, but it's clothing that awakens the soul and spirit.Alyssa is author of the book Healthy Fashion: The Deeper Truths, where she explains how we can go deeper into fashion as a holistic health practice that's not only good for us, but is also good for the planet.In today's episode, we talk why humans are drawn to fashion, its many roles in our lives, and how, as an industry insider, Alyssa has observed humanity heading toward a healthier fashion already.She breaks down for us all the ways in which fashion is connected to our holistic health, including our physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, and energetic bodies. Then, we shift into learning about Alyssa's background and life story, exploring everything from the influence of working on monasteries to how her spiritual awakening ties into the creation of her book.If you love a little bit of mysticism combined with Jungian psychology, this episode is definitely for you.We wrap up with advice for how you can start consuming healthier fashion, even while on a budget, and how as consumers, we can actively help shift the fashion industry to the healthier end of the spectrum.While there's plenty of tangible advice, you also get plenty of philosophical food for thought. The overarching take away you'll leave this episode with is: all areas of our lives impact all other areas of our lives. Something as enjoyable as fashion (or perhaps as stressful as fashion, depending on who you are) is connected to what it means to be a human with and on planet Earth.

Your humanity isn't up for debate. So as friends and family members are falling away from your life, triggered by a heated social media interaction or a toxic holiday gathering, what can you do?That's been the question for a while now in the age of political divide. So today, we're talking to Clif Doyal, because lessons from his impressive life experience can apply to how we handle the discomfort, the sadness, the anger, and the grief that comes with the territory.Our guest today, Clif Doyal, is a music industry veteran here in Nashville, TN with over 50 year's experience. He does publicity for and manages recording and performance artists with his companies, CDA Publicity & Marketing and the Clif Doyal Agency. He also represents fashion brands in his new boutique agency, ClifX Fashions.Clif is uniquely qualified to share his experiences on the topic because his curiosity and love for music has taken him through seemingly contradictory experiences where he's relied on shared humanity and common ground to connect. We're talking performing at Nixon's inauguration as a young teenager while Viet Nam war protests were raging beside him; joining a racially diverse band in the late 70s and playing in rock n roll clubs where the racial tension was palpable; tour-managing artists at Trump's welcome party in 2017; and then marching in the women's march during the same trip.We dive into the foundation his parents built that set him up to have these types of experiences, why he'd want to interact with people on both political “sides,” how his life is enriched from the experiences, but also what he does to deal with the social fall out. Through it all, he doesn't compromise his ethics.Aside from Clif's engaging storytelling, if you take away anything from this episode, let it be these points: -A strong understanding of shared humanity helps you be a compassionate and kind person.-You're not alone in these experiences of relationships changing or dissipating over a disagreement about human rights.-Misinformation, toxic politics, and cancel culture do exist and impact our relationships through social media and news outlets.-Music is a unifier. You can use it as such in your life.-Common ground is the basis for relating to other humans.-That's how we start to heal the divide.********Want the world to change? Let's go back to basics so you can have a strong foundation for being part of the change. To do this, download my free ebook, What It Means to Be Human. Visit humanamplified.com/episodes/098 to claim your copy now. ********Get premium content and support the show on Patreon.

Today on the podcast, we're hearing from Kass Thomas. She's a communication expert, empowerment coach, and best-selling author. Her most recent book is called Dancing with Riches. We had so much fun during this interview. Our hearts connected and a true philosophical exploration took place as Kass applied what she teaches and coaches to my questions. This episode is all about accessing the limitless potential of who you are and the limitless potential of the experiences you can have if you're open to them and even other people. Doing that is a major contribution to society and the world.In other words, we talk about what your limitations really are, getting beyond them, how feeling good is a major contribution you make to those around you, and how inclusivity and exclusivity tie in to overcoming limitations so you can feel good. We then go deep into how the universe works, with personal stories from Kass's life about when the universe seemed to intervene because she included herself and others. You'll come away from this episode with an expanded perspective on:-Connection-Why it's important to let your walls down-What happens when you do-And how the very nature of communication at it's root fits inAt a minimum, this episode will get you thinking. At a maximum, you'll come away from it encouraged to be more open in your life and start taking steps to reach the next level of your potential. ********Want the world to change? Let's go back to basics so you can have a strong foundation for being part of the change. To do this, download my free ebook, What It Means to Be Human. Visit humanamplified.com/episodes/097 to claim your copy now.

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and it's safe to do so, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Or you can text START to 88788.********This week on the show, we're welcoming guest Shonda Pence. She's a social worker, educator, devoted human advocate, and founder of the sober living program in Charleston, WV called Mending Fences. Today though, we're focusing on her personal experience of surviving and thriving after domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence and domestic abuse. I've known Shonda and pieces of her story for a while now and asked her to come on the podcast all the way back in season 1. She didn't feel comfortable then, and that was absolutely okay. I bring this up because here we are in season 4, and Shonda reached out to say she was ready. So, it is an absolute honor to have her on the show and just goes to show that healing can happen after an abusive marriage or any trauma you've been through. There is light at the other end of this tunnel.Eventually, you'll be able to talk about it. And when you do, it'll help other people as it continues to help you.So, listen on to hear Shonda bravely explain why it used to be hard to tell her story, why it's important to speak out now, and what her life is like now in a healthy and loving marriage.We then dive into how she even got into an abusive marriage in the first place and what it was like living in it. Shonda describes actual examples of physical and emotional abuse she endured and the complicated dynamics of trying to get help in a small town, the isolation she experienced, and how she finally got out.We go into the emotions she experienced once the abusive relationship was over, ranging from peace to grief, which is important to to know is normal. And we explore how long it has taken her to recover.We wrap up by talking about what we, as a society, should be asking instead of “why didn't you leave?”Oftentimes, close friends and family don't realize what's going on in these types of intimate partner abuse situations. If you suspect someone you love is going through a similar experience, this episode can help you recognize some of the signs and understand why your loved one may feel unsafe to talk or leave. If you are in the situation yourself, our hope is this will help you safely choose yourself when you can, whether that's before, during, or after being abused.TRIGGER WARNING: We discuss intimate partner abuse in detail, including gun violence and other specific instances of domestic violence. Listener discretion is advised.********Keep going in the direction of lasting, healing practice in your life with my online mini-course Momentum Restored. Enroll now: humanamplified.com/momentumrestoredcourse********Support the show on Patreon.

Today, we're talking to Dr. John Demartini. He's a human behavior expert, educator, international best-selling author, and founder of the Demartini Institute. And get this, he's a man who was born on Thanksgiving day and he works in gratitude to transform lives.Dr. John Demartini is a returning guest to Human Amplified. He was featured on the blog this past summer. For a more foundational understanding of the gratitude topics discussed in today's podcast episode, you may find it helpful to read his blog interview titled, “On the Way, Not in the Way.”Today, however, we get straight to the point in answering the question: how can you love every experience you've had in life even when you've experienced trauma? Dr. Demartini immediately and vividly details examples of how this is possible and what his (unidentified) clients have done to implement his advice in their specific difficult scenarios. The answers involve big mindset shifts, understanding how deep gratitude works, and then being able to find gratitude in all of life, regardless of if you deem the experience to be, in Dr. Demartini's words, terrible or terrific.Dr. Demartini's gratitude work seems to be taking people out of a victim mentality.In this episode, we discuss topics like perception, the impact of becoming aware of the unconscious, why you may not see the benefit of a trauma, the benefits of gratitude, Dr. Demartini's own personal gratitude journaling practice that he's had for over 39 years, and cultural feelings around death and grief.You'll leave this episode with inspiration and empowerment. Specifically, you'll get a lot of food for thought, actionable advice to explore your own perceptions around past trauma you've experienced, and tips for finding gratitude to help you move forward and rewrite your story.TRIGGER WARNING: Real stories of healing from violent abductions and rape are discussed in detail. Listener discretion is advised.********Stay motivated, relax more, and strengthen your spirituality, all to keep going in the direction of authentic, lasting healing practices in your life. Enroll today in my online mini-course momentum restored at humanamplified.com/momentumrestoredcourse.********Listeners, if you'd like to see excerpts from Dr. John Demartini's personal gratitude journal, where he scrolls through a volume of pages detailing a couple week's worth of events and happenings he's so grateful for, plus see other cuts we made two his interview, subscribe to The Good Seats on Human Amplified's Patreon. There, you'll receive a completely ad-free and unedited video of this interview that lasts about an hour and five minutes. Plus, you'll get behind the scenes commentary for this week and each week of the podcast season when new episodes come out. To get The Good Seats, go to patreon.com/humanamplified.

Happy April listeners! This month on the podcast, we're shifting from a theme of self care and body to the power of choice. And we have several guests lined up on this topic all month. First of which, I'm incredibly excited to introduce you to, Taylor Rochestie. He's a professional basketball player, husband, dad, world traveler, best-selling author of the book A New 20/20 Vision, and today he's talking to us all about choosing happiness and trusting the process of your life.He appeared on our blog this past summer with some other amazing insight, so if you're interested in hearing more about authenticity, embracing being the underdog, and gratitude read his blog interview titled, “Reprogramming Adversity.”In this episode, Taylor really dives deep into how happiness is a choice, what he personally does to choose happiness, and how you can incorporate some of the same type of actions into your own life, from noticing the little details and finding the good to placing bets with your friends and family to add some excitement to a personal growth goal you may have. We begin the conversation by following up with what Taylor's been up to since we last spoke, move into a bit about Taylor's book, and then he really gives you some actionable take aways with tips around gratitude and creating habits to build confidence. We finish up by talking about celebrating wins, the importance of accountability, and the roles of trust and even addiction when choosing a positive life path.You'll come away from this episode empowered, inspired, and will have next steps you can take to start choosing happiness more in your own life, even when bad things are happening in the world around you. Quick note: We recorded this episode before the Winter Olympics took place and before Taylor started his latest basketball season in China. So, this will make sense after you listen, but just know, Taylor did make it to China.************Become a Human Amplified VIP by subscribing to one of our foundational Patreon tiers: https://www.patreon.com/humanamplified

This week, we're continuing with our focus on the human body by talking to Nashville singer-songwriter, Reiki master, and hypnotherapist, Hannah Bethel, about her journey with Lyme disease, adventures in nature, and her latest music.First, we dig deep into Hannah's adventurous spirit, specifics of solo hikes she took in Alaska and Sedona, AZ, challenging limiting beliefs, and later we circle back around to how that love for adventure carries over into what she loves about touring.In between, we learn how Lyme disease set the stage for Hannah's current music career, which was just taking off when she first became unwell. After a couple years of healing, Hannah was able to get back into making music coupled with her passion to help others come into health holistically. I've oftentimes said music has healed me and held me together in some of the hardest times in my life, so it's really interesting to look at how music and healing have intertwined in Hannah's life. Yes, we discuss the specifics of symptoms and getting a Lyme diagnosis to what test to take and what practitioners Hannah went to. She tells us how she learned to listen to her body. But, the bigger lessons here are all about how every part of being human impacts every other part and that mindset and attitude are (no pun intended) instrumental in making progress.So relax for the next hour as Hannah makes the connection for us between listening to your own body in healing and in making music — using the subtle queues to navigate decision making and the joys of vulnerability.At the end of the episode, we also jump in with some details about Hannah's newly released EP, a particularly vulnerable album, Until the Sun Comes Back Around, which you'll definitely want to check out. And guys, Hannah is having a record release show at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville on Wed. April 6th, 2022. Get your tickets and go listen. It'll be an amazing night out.********This episode is brought to you by my free Healing Priorities Workbook. Get it at: https://mailchi.mp/dbbcd037309e/healing-priorities-workbook. I personally created this workbook to help you intentionally decide on and prioritize which part of your holistic health you need or want to work on first and then I give you tools to take action in the area you choose. ********Access premium content and support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/humanamplified

This month, we've been focusing on themes of listening to your body, taking care of your body, and healing holistically. Several guests so far have even talked about how body dysmorphia, food restriction, and eating disorder fueled by traditional wellness activities have played into their lives. That's why I'm excited to introduce you to this week's guest, Samantha Lander, or Sam for short. Not only does she have similar experiences, but she's a St. Louis, MO-based single mom, personal trainer, and functional diagnostic nutritionist who DJs on the side. I don't know if she would say this, but I would definitely say she's not your traditional nutritionist.Sam used functional nutrition to heal herself from allergies, food sensitivities, hormonal imbalances, and parasites. She's also founder of See Fit where she coaches people back to optimal health when they just can't quite put their finger on why they feel bad.In this episode, we really explore Sam's life and the events that contributed to her feeling so sick before she got into functional health. We talk about everything from drinking lake water as a kiddo to a meth addiction and doing time in a federal prison. However, Sam mainly packs in actionable advice for how you can clean up your eating habits, heal your gut, and make healthier choices.She gets deep into why most people feel bad regularly, what leaky gut is and how it happens, and what it actually feels like to feel good — something you may not even know you're missing, even if you're not sick.You'll come away from this episode knowing: -How food sensitivities form-How people get parasites and some ways to avoid them-Tips for how to start healing your gut-Tips for how to start eating clean at home and in restaurants - Sam lists the most common foods to avoid that cause inflammation-And you'll even find out how many times a day you should be pooping********This episode is brought to you by my free Healing Priorities Workbook. Get it at: https://mailchi.mp/dbbcd037309e/healing-priorities-workbook. I personally created this workbook to help you intentionally decide on and prioritize which part of your holistic health you need or want to work on first and then I give you tools to take action in the area you choose. ********Access premium content and support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/humanamplified

Today's guest, Rebbecca Hulse, is a New Zealand-based professional dancer turned author, speaker, and creative business coach.She's all about embracing your inner rebel as fuel to move forward in a way that works for you. Once she started doing this in her own life, she says she ended up being 10-years a head of schedule in terms of achieving her dreams and she had to answer the question, “now what?” Well that's possible for you too. I just love how personal Rebecca gets on today's episode. By the end of the interview, she creates a space for you to truly let go of anything bothering you from the day, and gives you actionable steps for how to move forward after that.Essentially, from this episode, you'll be inspired and empowered to live on your own terms, strengthen you peace, listen to your body and own knowing, and to make space in your day for creativity.How awesome is that!*********Show our sponsor some love by shopping Bed of Nails using this link: https://bedofnails.org/?ref=BRANDIFLECKUse code BON15BRANDI for 15% off your purchase.*********Visit the show notes at: https://humanamplified.com/episodes/091

A huge part of our human condition is going to work. Let's face it — for most of us, we spend more time with our colleagues and co-workers than our families. But, what if we imagined a better way?A non-traditional wellness company based in Nashville, Tenn. called TRILUNA, is doing just that. Co-founders and Co-CEOs Elizabeth Moore and Ashley Brooke James started TRILUNA after hustle culture literally made them sick.Both Elizabeth and Ashley met while obtaining health coaching and yoga certifications after quitting their corporate jobs.Now, you can often find them leading workshops, hosting festivals, speaking at conferences, and executing panels about the power of stress management and self-care to prevent burnout.Typically, Ashley joins Elizabeth in these types of discussions, but we did record this episode during a particularly stressful point during the Omicron surge here in Tennessee. So, today on Human Amplified, you'll be hearing from a solo Elizabeth Moore. This episode is for you if hustle culture just isn't cutting it anymore and you want to educate yourself on how to say no to it. In other words, if you're going through the motions of the grind day in and day out and it's detracting from your life — as it is for so many others as evidenced by The Great Resignation — listen in as guest Elizabeth Moore empowers us to renegotiate our relationship to wellness, failure, work, our work environment, and our co-workers.She explains the impacts of chronic stress and burnout on our bodies and our communities, including our work communities. From this episode, you'll learn: -What an unhealthy or sick environment is-How to recognize stress in your body-How to know when stress turns to burnout-When to set boundaries around your times of diminished capacity to produce-How to use vulnerability to change culture-And, what the hard conversations are that need to occur so we can start shifting expectations around stress and burn out at workTRIGGER WARNING: This episode does come with a trigger warning. To get the full context of why a non-traditional approach to wellness can be needed to foster healthier change, we discuss Elizabeth's journey with body dysmorphia and an eating disorder in detail.***************Support for this podcast comes from Bed of Nails. Use a Bed of Nails acupressure mat and pillow to reduce your stress. Shop our affiliate link today and use code BON15BRANDI for 15% off at check out. ***************

Today we're talking with hairstylist and aesthetician turned natural soap maker, Coco Kennell. She's the founder of St. Louis, Missouri-based skincare company, Soap Life 360.Coco Kennell is a resourceful DIYer who comes from a long line of problem solvers who've ingrained resourcefulness as a core value in her life. That resourcefulness led to the creation of her natural skincare products, which she formulates and makes mostly in her home lab.Soap Life 360 is all about the natural soap, but it's so much more than that. As Coco puts it, it's also about starting a conversation around coming home to community violence while still learning how to love your neighbor.In this episode, Coco details how her reaction to the civil unrest in Ferguson, MO, in 2014 led to soap-making in the first place - as a form of relief. She details the memory of this all too familiar instance of police brutality, and reveals a personal connection to that event that reopened childhood wounds all over again – it was personal pain layered beneath the pain in her community.But, there was also inspiration when she looked closely - she saw wounded people taking care of one another. So with her ingredients and packaging, she infuses the characteristics of inspiring community personalities into her products. Then, she tops the product off with a fitting name designed to spark a conversation that bridges gaps between predominantly white and Black communities.The interesting thing about this episode is, yes, we talk a little business, a little chemistry that goes into soap making, and why natural ingredients are so important for your skin. But we also talk about lessons of acceptance and family ties.What stands out to me the most is when Coco describes how natural skin care allows your skin to be how it's meant to be. What a beautiful symbol for undoing the societal conditioning around racism. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode does come with a trigger warning due to the detailing of the murder of teen, Michael Brown, as Coco recalls it and she reflects on how this impacted her emotionally. Listener discretion is advised.**************Support for this podcast comes from Bed of Nails. Visit humanamplified.com/episodes/089 for your 15% discount on Bed of Nails products and link to shop from to enhance your self care practice.**************

Brendon is an author, internationally-acclaimed speaker, and relationships expert who says he used to be an outcast always trying to fit in. In today's episode, we dig deep into that feeling, that so many of us have, and how Brendon was able to embrace his differences and stop trying to be what everyone else wanted him to be. He describes his childhood, gets real and transparent about struggling with addiction and the outpouring of support that has comes with being real and raw, and also realizing the power that we all have from surviving traumatic pasts.We also spend some time thinking about how to deal with the power dynamic and struggles that come with trying to influence or control others into being what you think they should be or vice versa.The bottom line is, you'll leave today's episode with empowerment. You'll know that you have the power to: -Fully embrace who you are, in all your differences that may not be considered “the norm”-Know your own truth-Make decisions to change things you don't like about your life-Recognize judgement from others for what it is - and you'll have to listen to find out what it is-Recognize judgement in yourself and what it feels like to take yourself away from being you, so you can stop doing that and start living more fully-Embrace vulnerability-And, you'll come away from this episode knowing how to apply Brendon's advice to big issues like coming out as lgbtq+ in complicated family situations and masking versus not masking or vaccinating versus not vaccinating.As Brendon puts it, the world is changing. The future you want will not be based on the past version of you.****************We did cut about ten minutes of content out of the original interview for our podcast episode. To access the unedited and uncut video with no ads + commentary on the making of this episode, grab The Good Seats tier or higher on the Human Amplified Patreon. Access to The Good Seats also comes with an Aftershow Pass.****************

This week, we're talking to another brilliant musician, singer-songwriter, and all around badass rocker, Carrie Akre. She's an intuitive life coach, podcaster, solo artist, and also has fronted the bands Hammerbox, Goodness, and The Rockfords with Pearl Jam's Mike McCready.In this episode, we're unpacking societal conditioning around emotions, that when addressed, bring a relief and healing. From using your emotions to navigate making good decisions to using your intuition regularly to choose yourself, Carrie explains the importance of self compassion in alleviating insecurity, anxiety, and fear, which in turn, leads to a better life. We also explore shadow bubbling up to be dealt with in the collective and in ourselves, and how that's a good thing, even if it's hard.You'll leave this episode knowing:-What shadow work is and the importance of it -How to start recognizing the truth and what resonates with you-How to tell the difference between your intuition and your analytical mind or thoughts that you might confuse as your intuition-How to strengthen trust in your intuition-And most importantly, how to make decisions that are best for you, even when that results in hard emotions coming from other people*****************************Support for this podcast comes from Human Amplified's Backstage Pass on Patreon. Why would you want to hang out behind our stage? Well, it's a brand new offering that's really fun, so you'd be one of the first, but most importantly, you get to rock out behind the scenes with other people who feel just like you. We're a little counterculture and we don't always fit in. But, we're good humans who want the world to be better. Backstage, we can figure out how to help it be, together. When you snag your Human Amplified Backstage Pass on Patreon, you get to hang out on monthly live calls to learn about what goes into making the show and how you could make a show or something like it. But also, we can talk about whatever you want. In fact, in our last call, I answered the question why choose a podcast. I get asked this a lot. And, my answer was it was based on feeling. That's the honest truth, even if it's not the mainstream way to make business decisions. That's intuition at work, my friend, which Carrie is about to really dive deep into in part two of her interview.Backstage, you also get access to The Good Seats and Crowd Surfing, which are two other Patreon tiers that give you unedited and uncut video of each podcast episode, including the one today with Carrie Akre; special commentary on what went into making each episode; and VIP-only entry to our new and growing Discord server.So let's meet up backstage and figure out how we can be counterculture enough so that it becomes culture. Go to patreon.com/humanamplified and grab your backstage pass today.*****************************Give our sponsor some love: Abstract Serenity is a new online metaphysical shop based in El Paso, TX making healing crystals, ritual tools, oracle cards, and apothecary products simple to use. Embrace your journey and empower yourself.

Today's guest is Nashville singer, songwriter, and pop artist, Jon Mullins, who is also a 2020 alum of the hit TV Show, The Voice. In the last couple of years up to now, he's put out quite a few singles, including Better Man, Get to You, Survive, Hot Like Summer, and some amazing Christmas songs.Speaking of Jon's music, later in this episode, we dive into the emotion and vulnerability that went into creating the song “Better Man,” which he describes as the beginning of telling a story through his own artistry with his wife, Whitney, as inspiration and support. Not only does he sing just a bit for us, but Jon really opens up about how he initially was afraid to release the song. Doors just kept opening though, and “Better Man” became a life-changing experience. Before that, we talk all about how Jon met and fell in love with Whitney, an accident she had early in their marriage, and how after the accident, their emotions and healing evolved as a couple with music as therapy and a healer. Jon takes us through how music went from being a healer to how it's now the goal that he and Whitney have their eyes and hearts on together.On a personal note, this has been one of the funnest conversations I've gotten to have. Jon is such a down-to-Earth, genuinely nice guy who just shines his light wherever he goes. If you haven't heard his music, be sure to check it out. If you have heard his music, listening to him talk about his life, his creative process, his love for his wife, and how they support each other will only make you love it even more.*****************************Support for this podcast comes from Meg and Craig Relationship Coaching. Meg and Craig are igniting and empowering couples in love, intimacy, communication, parenting, balance, finances, conflict resolution, and empty nesting. Visit megandcraig.com to get started.

In this episode, we're talking with Ron Karr — a highly-sought after public speaker, former president of the National Speakers Association, sales and leadership success consultant, and author of five books. His newest book is called The Velocity Mindset where he teaches us how to combine speed with direction to change our lives. Living in Florida by way of New Jersey, Ron is also a doting dad and loves to play golf. Ron not only knows what it takes to improve sales and guides CEOs and large business groups, but his unique vantage point is so interesting because the root of sales success is relationships. In this episode, Ron combines his professional expertise with lessons learned from his personal history of being the son of a Holocaust survivor and navigating that relational and generational trauma to help us improve our relationships through trust, dependability, transparency in communication, and service. Whether you're interested in growing in your career or your personal relationships, from this episode, you'll learn: -How the mind and body are connected-The importance of honoring your word-Actionable steps for what to do when something comes up and you can't honor your word-The hormones of trust that lead to productive engagement-How to know if you have a victim mentality-How to get out of a victim mentality-How to be the bigger person - the leader - to start changing outcomes in your life, especially when other people are involved**********************Support for this podcast comes from SmarterQueue. Scheduling social posts with SmarterQueue increases your efficiency and boosts your engagement, enabling you to have such a positive impact on your online relationships, which honestly, are real relationships, with real humans, that need to be nurtured. Click here sign up for a 30-day free trial, no strings attached.

In this episode, Amie packs information into every answer she gives us. We cover a ton of ground in what seems like a short amount of time, so you might want to take notes to go back and process the complexities of each topic in more depth after you initially listen. Pay special attention to the parallels between Amie's physical life and healing to her spiritual journey. These parallels she demonstrates between going home to her inner self and moving homes or physically going home from the hospital at a time she feared for her life show us how interconnected every aspect of our human existence really is.From this episode, you'll walk away knowing:-How to start healing your inner child wounds-How to lead with love in your life and open your heart more even if you're wounded-Exactly what a spiritual awakening looks and feels like, in all it's different phases-Ways to deal with the hard emotions, such as grief and fear, that come up during healing and/or awakening-The importance of trusting your gut to make decisions-What specific ego traps are and how to work through them******************Support for this podcast comes from Abstract Serenity — a new online metaphysical shop, based in El Paso, TX, focused on making reputable crystals, ritual tools, oracle cards, and apothecary products accessible and simple to work with for the beginner who's just starting to explore and may be unsure what to expect, where to start, or how this interest will even be received by friends and family. Embrace your journey and honor yourself today at abstractserenity.com.

In this powerful episode, Peggy starts out by very intimately and openly detailing a traumatic childhood event that ties into her realization of and reckoning with white privilege and how it's touched every aspect of her journey.Then, we dive into:How white privilege kept her out of the foster care system and changed the trajectory of her lifeImplicit bias and how it plays out in the justice systemHow learning real history would have changed the way she policed as a young street cop in GeorgiaAnd her thoughts for how to reform the justice systemIf you're white, you'll leave this episode with proof that you can evolve, the knowledge that it's okay to admit that you've had a leg up even in hard times, and inspiration to grow your strength when you need it most in the face of racism and injustices. You'll also have a better idea of what white privilege is and how you can start addressing it in your own life.If you're Black, I'm not sure what you'll take away from this episode. Perhaps validation, if you need it for healing. Perhaps hope for change if you're running low on that. But, maybe there are no take aways.TRIGGER WARNING: This episode does come with a trigger warning and especially for our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) listeners. We discuss in detail the topics of what it was like living in the Jim Crow south as a little white girl, a normal atmosphere of overt racism and covert racism, the integrating of public schools, domestic violence, gun violence, abuse, alcoholism, and resulting trauma. Listener discretion is advised. Join in the discussion at patreon.com/humanamplified

In this episode, we talk about Kia's focus on communications, community engagement, and philanthropy and how she supports and amplifies Black humanity. She teaches us the importance of knowing real history and uncovers why it may take a while to undo racism. From this episode, you'll understand why there's a need to be better humans and take away actionable steps for how to be a better human. We dive deep into how fixing racism right-sizes other isms in our society too — in other words, how everyone is impacted by racism and benefits from fixing it — and how to be on the look out for the creation of new agents of harm.We also explore the difference between charity and a new philanthropic model Kia envisions and is actively working toward.As a self-described disruptor, Kia explains that comes with creating new ways of thinking, healing, and addressing collective trauma.Among many other things, Kia is an award-winning director of her boutique communications and community engagement firm, MEPR Agency; founding director of the Nonprofit Equity Collaborative; and founder of the Black Philanthropy Initiative in Nashville, Tenn.

If you don't already know me, or you want to get to know me a little better, I'd love to get to know you too! To start, here's a little bit about me and why I'm here with Human Amplified: Hi, I'm Brandi Fleck. I'm a storyteller, writer, artist, avid student of human nature, recognized communications and interviewing expert, and the found of Human AmplifiedI care about you more than anything else and I'm here to help you more fully embrace your humanity so you an experience all the badass things about life regardless of what you've been through in your past. I've been there, trying to heal from the hard times, and I know it's possible. So, let's tell your story. Let's embrace it. And then, let's change it. Because babe, that ripples out and changes the world.For more information, visit humanamplified.com.Original music by Ryan Sauls.

I'm your host, Brandi Fleck, and this is Human Amplified. I hope you're ready to ditch the small talk and get really human, because you just found the go-to podcast for thinkers who want to be better humans and rock out doing it. We get there with soul-exposing personal stories + expert advice. So, come hang out with us where you get to: -Build your empathy muscle-Hear about mind-blowing but also relatable experiences-Learn more about yourself-Heal from past trauma-Be inspired to keep being a good human-Feel seen and heard through the stories of others-And get actionable steps to make the world a better placeSubscribe now on your favorite podcast platform and visit us at humanamplified.com.

Welcome to the season 3 finale of the Human Amplified podcast. Thank you so much for hanging out with us this season, which has been an amazing and heartfelt journey of inspired storytelling within the human condition.Today, world-famous Hannah Mermaid joins us, in a down-to-Earth, get-to-know her-on-a-deeper-level discussion that was truly impactful in my life, and I know it will positively impact yours. She's an underwater model and performance artist, speaker, teacher, and servant of the sea. Hannah brings so many interesting perspectives to help you open your mind to everything from going with the flow and how that helps her underwater to new ways of approaching activism. We start out talking about Hannah Fraser's life, her childhood, her supportive mom, where she's from, and how she started making her own mermaid tails at an early age. Then we transition into how she transitioned into Hannah Mermaid - the first professional mermaid that paved the way for so many others, which is now a thriving and recognized career. Hannah Mermaid gives you all the details about some of the most terrifying moments she's experienced underwater, but also some of the most beautiful moments of embracing her femininity and self empowerment through art, fantasy, and iconography.We dive deep into the differences between masculine and feminine power and Hannah's history with activism. She describes how powerful the mermaid icon is and her lived experience of that power - from successful protests to transformation in other people's lives who've reached out to her. Hannah Mermaid also describes how the oceans have evolved since she's started her career and what that says about the state of humanity.Although we were having this conversation on opposite ends of the country over a sometimes crackling internet connection at the height of COVID infections where Hannah was in L.A, I felt like we were old friends picking up where we left off, balancing laughter with seriousness and the give and take in between. After listening, you'll be inspired. And you'll have food for thought on how to reach your own self empowerment in a way that works for you while enacting change. While you're thinking about it, follow in Hannah Mermaid's example - remember to take care of yourself and the importance of breathing.

This week's guest is Dan Strelan. He's a health coach and expert in nutritional medicine who lives in the beautiful Blue Mountains of Australia. He gathers his own spring water and showers in waterfalls. You really get to experience his calming, creative, and thoughtful personality in this interview as he leads us through a philosophical exploration of our own meaning making in life to the science behind ingesting worms to heal your gut. A journey he's personally been on, in addition to his clients, to heal from gluten intolerance and sensitivity.We start out this episode philosophizing about the meaning making humans imbue on all aspects of life. Dan takes us through different perspectives that he rates on a scale of effectiveness in helping us alleviate suffering. We spend a bit of time establishing the foundation of the entire discussion. That is, uncovering our true human nature is a life long self discovery process that includes physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing in order to thrive. We explore how that wellbeing increases when we align ourselves with the natural cycles of our world - the Earth, the seasons - and recognize that we're part of a living ecosystem. When that ecosystem flourishes, we do to. To the contrary, we also explore how our wellbeing can decrease when we're out of alignment with the natural flow of Earth and how many of our societal systems and cultural conditionings have taken us away from our true nature. As part of this human nature in alignment with nature discussion, Dan gives us tangible advice for awakening to our own truth, healing our gut through Helminths therapy (that is, ingesting a certain type of worm that restores our gut ecosystem), and for how creation plays a role in healing our bodies. We wrap up with exploring how the natural cycles of order and chaos in life parallel co-creating music - when you jam with other people, unprescribed, you experience cycles of order and chaos. When you trust the cycles and let go, you find the freedom of creative flow.Ultimately, Dan says the starting point for healing our bodies is by truly listening to our emotions. Then, the hidden wisdom of our bodies emerges and we can truly grow. Throughout this episode, Dan lists a host of informational resources, so feel free to check out the show notes for links to those and to learn how you can work with him.