Spaces Between

Themes in this personal episode: The importance of set, setting, and safe facilitators. Individual and Collective healing in a group setting. Noticing my analytical mind before and during ceremony. Healing the feminine wound - the resonant emotional waves we would go through. Boundaries of not caretaking other women (for all of us). Up front and personal with my shadow material. Whoa! The presence of a Benevolent spirit (AKA God, the Universe, Spirit). Feeling my emotions on the deepest level. The power and impact of sound (moaning, grunting, humming, and releasing). We were held in the feminine (The divine mother, the facilitators, nature). Mirrors (Everyone is a mirror). We are here to grow, learn, and open our hearts. The beauty of being alive is magical and mysterious. ginaminardi.com ginaminardi.substack.com  

In this conversation, I sit down with my friend Jenna K., to discuss her ceremonies with MDMA and psilocybin.   We discussed her "Why?" and this space of pain and trauma living in her body - that she couldn't quite access for over a decade with other modalities. It led Jenna to want to explore on a deeper level with plant medicine, to heal what was held in her body for so many years.    Themes within the discussion: Feeling the "call" to sit with the plant medicine.  The deep surrender to letting go of control. Feeling safe enough in the life that she had created, to feel like she would be held through these experiences. How her life made sense to her after the initial MDMA journey. Her body purging out the trauma during the ceremony. The shame and feeling of brokenness when the childhood trauma was revealed. That her childhood abuse was not her fault. Stepping into her Knowing - that her body and these memories were the truth. The deep healing, illuminations, and heart opening within herself. The continual and necessary work between ceremonies. How to resource oneself after uncovering traumatic material. How anger and rage have protected her. The need for continual softening. That plant medicine is not a "cure all" but dives deeply into traumatic material that needs to be seen and held. The connection to spirit in these experiences. 

After being a therapist for over a decade and being committed to my personal therapy for years... I decided it was time for me to heal on a deeper level.  Every bit of my intuitive being knew that  I needed to heal trauma and imprints from life on a cellular level. To show up as a better partner and mother, but most importantly... healing the relationship with myself.  What I learned is that talking through our problems only goes so far and we must tap into the body to truly heal trauma. Themes in this episode: Trusting myself and trusting life A complete surrender to the unknown We know the way back home to ourselves Individual and Collective projected pain - the pain body We all have things to heal (Look at the state of our world) We are all temperature dials in a room (What energy are you bringing?) How do we come back to the heart and heal from the heart...not the mind Old spaces of trauma held in my body The release through movement and sound Release control and allow The non-negotiable of set and setting and safe facilitators   

I've been thinking a lot about individual and collective shadow. How do we keep our hearts open during dark times? We all must become closely acquainted with our shadow or dark side.  Each of us has a dual nature: we are light (conscious) and dark (unconscious). The dark side of our personality—the “other,” the shadow side—is made up of what we think is our primitive, primal, negative impulses—our “existential kink.” Our existential kink also drives the dark or negative repeating patterns in our life: always choosing the abusive partner or boss, settling for less, thinking that we're undeserving, not worthy. But it also is the source of our greatest power. I do a deep dive into Carolyn Elliot's book, Existential Kink, which offers a truth-telling guide for bringing our shadow into the light. Inviting us to make conscious the unconscious, Elliott asks us to own the subconscious pleasure we get from the stuck, painful patterns of our existence.

The predominant theme for me in 2023 was transitioning to becoming a mother and how that impacted all areas of my life. The most profound initiation, unraveling of my old self, and opening to the fiercest love that I've ever experienced. The deep vulnerability in that. The expansion and contraction of my heart from current world affairs and the climate crisis. To a deep commitment to keeping my heart open to all of it. 

“Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of. And since Hiroshima we know what is at stake. Human kindness can be found in all groups, even those which as a whole it would be easy to condemn.”  The salvation of man is through love and in love.” -Viktor E. Frankl   Humanity feels like it is on a precipice and that we are in the eye of the storm collectively.  I understand that humanity has experienced 200,000+ years of war, but these times feel particularly charged right now.  In this episode I talk about: Whether or not humanity can ever live in a peaceful way, or if it is naive to even ask that question? Is part of being human, being violent on some level?  Whether that means violence with our thoughts, speech, energy, and behaviors? My thoughts on "evil" and I discuss my feelings on darkness in the individual and collective.   The need for each of us to heal our own inner wars which become outer wars. How can we all soften and live more from our hearts versus ego righteousness, pain, and reactivity Love is the answer to our evolution I believe the alternative is going to be catastrophic globally

I sit down with Psychotherapist and Journey Clinical KAP provider, Holly Forman. We discuss Holly's decision to have a home birth, the balance of preparation and surrender, and ultimately birthing a new version of yourself.    We discuss:    The similarities of psychedelic journeys and birth Women advocating for themselves, gaining knowledge about the birthing process, and not feeling like you have to give your power away The balance of preparation and complete surrender to the unknown Humans fear what they don't know Birthing yourself How as humans we often want to avoid the wild, raw, messy, and painful sides of life How important integration is after birth and a psychedelic journey Ketamine therapy Internal Family Systems 

In this episode back, after an almost 9 month hiatus from podcasting, I explore my experience birthing a human. The big tears of overwhelm and joy shed in the postpartum period, as well as my feelings around the often bullshit narratives around motherhood.   In this episode I explore: The humility and surrender that I experienced both with birth and new motherhood Embracing the total unknown and liminal spaces between Women stepping fully into their power and not overriding their deep intuitive knowing The deep feminine wounding that still continues to play out amongst mothers (Insert judgment and shaming) Gifting yourself compassion and forgiveness as a new mom The death of self and your old identity and how it's not linear My big feelings on privilege and resources in this country for new parents The desperate need for more postpartum care for families The overwhelming amount of opinions when you become pregnant and then have the child The impact of having a baby on your relationship A deep and wild connection to the life cycle

I decided to write this episode on the very last leg of my third trimester in pregnancy . I have had the most illuminating experience of what living in the “Spaces Between” in life really means. It is a potent energetic space which is both awe inspiring and completely overwhelming. To fully surrender to the unknown or attempt to control how you think life is going to unfold. The only life experience that I can compare it to - is the passing of my mother at 17 years old. It is impossible to know or intellectually understand the full magnitude of a major life transition. All of us humans have gone through them in birth, death, marriage, divorce, illness, etc. It is my intention in this episode to open up a conversation of how to approach these life situations with more presence, mindfulness, and ability to feel into these spaces. Versus our society which tends to shy away and avoid the large tidal waves of emotions that come with them.

In this episode I sit down and have a conversation with my personal couples therapist, Christine Mourad, who is one of the most skilled and brilliant therapists I have worked with. It's been some time since my last episode, "I See You In Me", but I have not stopped pondering the necessity of creating safety, empathy, and compassion in our personal relationships which extends outward in society.     We cover: Giving yourself a big fat spoonful of grace, realizing you are a work in progress, and not a fully realized being. The importance of self compassion. Sensing into the body and letting go in the body.   The balance of "not always excavating the root causes" of our reactions but being mindful to not bypass difficult feelings. The sacred ground of holding space for ourselves and another in a relationship to be fully alive. Establishing safety in relationships and what that really means. The evolution in "moving forward" and growth in a relationship - both as individuals and as a couple. There needs to be space for anger and conflict. What's getting in the way in your relationships? Family of origin issues?  Trauma?  Not accessing the wise adult but living in a state of the adaptive child? We are born attached, we are born to attach, part of being in our full selves is to be connected and belong.  In our true selves - that doesn't mean we will get everyone's approval - but we need to feel connected and belong to feel whole. Psychedelic Therapy Our feelings as therapists about the fast food approach of coaching and therapy on social media.  How trauma can stop life from unfolding and flowing.  

Recently I have been thinking about the deep divide in the U.S. After my last interview with Dr. You and our discussion of feeling rage, sadness, and hopelessness during these times... I decided I needed to look at how I contribute to the divide.  In my interview with Dr. You, I brought up how I believe that self compassion, and compassion in general, are the missing links to the evolution of this country.  In this talk, I reference three brilliant female psychologists, who have done their own research on the benefits of engaging in self compassion to create a more compassionate world.     In this talk I explore: The intergenerational trauma, oppression, and patriarchy that needs to be looked at and deeply felt. One of the only ways to heal is to feel our rage, fear, and anxiety...but to hold it compassionately and with presence.   Most of us operate from the limbic part of the brain, which is a bottom up response of survival and reactivity. We need to learn how to have a top down response of self regulation, soothing, and pause from the frontal cortex. When we don't learn to sit with our feelings of vulnerability, we "bad other" other human beings.   Becoming more compassionate to oneself and others is not about being weaker, passive, or complacent.  As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. says, "It's about engaging the soul force." We forget the amazing resilience of our ancestors and of life. Whenever the dominant strata of society feels threatened, which is predominantly white Christian male, they become more threatened, that dominant strata becomes more cruel, more hateful, and more violent, more punishing, and more oppressive. It's contagious. We get angry and hateful towards those. We then react in aggressiveness. It perpetuates suffering and then we fall deeper and deeper into the dark ages. When others are caught in the shadow and unprocessed feelings their violence brings up our shadow. That hatred never ceases by hatred. But by love alone is healed. Practical tools and applications for self-compassion practices in your life.  

Today I am honored to be sitting down with Dr. Whitney You, a high risk OBGYN. I brought her on to discuss the overturn of Roe V. Wade, but it became a much larger conversation of what freedom, sanctuary, and security mean in America right now.  Dr. You was planning on taking her children to the local 4th of July parade at Highland Park, where the most recent mass shooting took place. Dr. You and her family ended up in a mandated shelter in place, as the authorities were looking for the shooter outside of her neighborhood.  In her words, "I just felt really defeated and tired. And scared. I just wanted to keep my kids safe.  And at this point - I don't trust that the government is going to do that.  So you get into, 'Well what do I need to do to keep my kids safe?  I don't have the answer.'  As a parent and a mother - not having that answer is a very helpless feeling."   Discussion Points: It doesn't feel like there is sanctuary or safe spaces in America right now. How are we to be proactive as American citizens when everything feels so polarized, volatile, and divided? We talk about the feelings of hopelessness but also honor our privilege in a country where many live in neighborhoods that have never felt safe or protected.  How do we have conversations with each other - and develop more empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence as a country... as well as coming to the discussion with real knowledge and education on a subject versus an opinion or belief? We talk about how guns have more rights than women in America right now. How the overturn of Roe V. Wade is not just an abortion issue, it's a human rights and equity issue.  Dr. You talks about how it will disproportionately effect the under resourced, women of color, individuals struggling with metal illness, in the military, and those who rely on public funds.   It's a space where we lack a lot of definitions and the necessity of more conversations about it, de-stigmatizing it, and taking the shame away.  

Are you feeling the intensity of these times in America?  The collective rage, grief, and disbelief of this regressive and dark moment in this country?  I wrote this episode on what it means to take "Exquisite Risks" in your life, a week before the overturning of Roe V. Wade. At first, I didn't see the connection...but now I see how inextricably interwoven they are.   In this episode I talk about: The previous miscarriage I had and then becoming pregnant the next month. Taking Exquisite Risks (based on the work of Tara Brach and Mark Nepo) is all about the shedding of old skin, your old self, and being fully alive and present with new versions of awakening in yourself. But that means pushing through the comfort of "your old cocoon" of habitual thoughts, ego, control, and comfort.   That we become suffocated in the "cocoon" if you don't open to the exquisite risk of being alive, rather closing off to life and new ways of being. As humans we are individually and collectively meant to grow, evolve, shift, change, and as Frederick Nietzche says "The snake that cannot shed it's skin parishes." If we don't, we live in arrested development. I believe that this country is in a state of dangerously regressive and arrested development.  BUT we must not become defeated and women must continue to stay in their power because that's what part of this country is terrified of. 

At any moment, the decision you make can change the course of your life forever. And once you make a decision the universe will either conspire to make it happen... or maybe it won't... if you believe that some things are predetermined or fated for you.   Gina talks about her struggle and indecision of becoming a mother.  She has felt the social and biological pressure, and doesn't feel that society offers any affirming reference  points (in a positive way), if you choose not to be a mother or actually can't have kids.  Women are often perceived as cold, heartless, or something "is wrong with them if they don't want a traditional family."     Gina talks about the path of surrender and opening to neutrality around this topic for her.  She realizes through all of it, that it is more about a deep and loving relationship with herself, regardless if she has children or not.  And that sometimes the design of our life is quite often out of our hands.  

What if you could see the divine in everyone and know it to be true in yourself? That it is not just reserved for "gurus", "spiritual or religious teachers", and those who claim they operate at a "higher level of consciousness." Gina goes into her experience at a 5 day workshop at Esalen, with channeler and intuitive, Paul Selig. Gina was blown away by the experience and the level of love she felt for herself and fellow human beings. A restored sense of hope about the future of our world, left Gina wanting to share this deep experience with everyone. Paul was born in New York City, attended NYU and received his master's from Yale. A spiritual experience in 1987 left him clairvoyant. With 9 acclaimed channeled books in print, Paul is considered one of the foremost contributors to the field. He serves on the faculty of The Kripalu Center and the Esalen Institute. Also a noted playwright and educator, he served on the faculty of NYU for over 25 years. He also directed the MFA in Creative Writing Program at Goddard College for many years and now serves on the college's Board of Trustees.

This episode is about the power of taking action in your life, living with intention, and following your intuition. Rachel and Gina talk about: Shifting from being externally driven to softening into a new space of internal awareness.  Being more mindful in life is effortful and the rewards of being more present are worth it.  Rachel's journey of establishing a deeper relationship with the divine feminine.  The full circle of life. Rachel's path and commitment to becoming a director.  Her journey of pregnancy and birth. The power and innate intelligence of your body. 

Gina has noticed through therapy sessions and the beginning of the New Year on a personal level.... that it has started off with a bang!  Sort of like the bang of a lingering migraine...with covid surging, news headlines talking about a potential civil war in the U.S, global warming, and technology becoming ever addictive.  Gina talks about the inevitability of pain and suffering in life, but it is also an opportunity to awaken and open our hearts.  To live from a space of more love, more compassion, and kindness.  To establish a skillful and wise relationship with our personal and collective pain body.  

In today's episode Gina sits down with feng shui expert Patricia Lohan.  She is an author, coach, healer, and helps people who want to dream more wildly, live more vibrantly, and give back generously.  They talk about the necessity of softening, slowing down, and creating space in your life, and when you do, a river of flow energy opens up. Patricia talks about the many times in her life when something would fly out of her mouth unknowingly, which would be the unconscious manifestation of the next big shifts in her life.  And of course they talk about getting you home into a space of energetic alignment and balance – to open up creating more of what you want in your life.  

Gina sits down with her journal and reflects about the lessons and insights gained from the last year. She hopes it will inspire you to take inventory of the last year for yourself. How have you grown, progressed, regressed, or been really proud of yourself?

Gina takes a deep dive into research and experiential exercises with herself entirely focused on embodiment.  This episode talks about the different definitions of embodiment, how you can become more embodied in your life, and the benefits of it.   It means becoming whole.  To have all of your parts on-line.  To feel deeply and fully, which funnily enough is also the panacea to our collective ‘neurosis.' Mind, Body, and Breath start to operate together and interweave – they become a unified team.  When they are working together, we experience the same frequency of nature. The subjective aspect of the body and felt sense with mindfulness.  The body is a key aspect of who we are. Set or form of intelligence: Awareness of choice (towards self and others). Patterns, self-regulation, How am I practicing this in life? Gina's personal favorite: Embodiment means that you recognize that YOU ARE HERE.  You are not the mind.  But you are the essence behind the mind. You are consciousness itself and the conscious observer.  We have to bring attention to the body – versus the mind running the show.  Learning how to slow the mind.  Your soul essence uses the body to get the minds attention.

Gina sits down with Advanced Akashic Reader, Akashic Breathwork practitioner, and healer Krista Rauschenberg. They discuss: What led Krista to becoming an Advanced Akashic Reader and they discuss what the records are (just a hint...they are a library of information that contain your soul's journey, spanning through past lives, present, and future possibilities). Feeling our way through life and not thinking our way through. Going back to touch traumatic and painful spaces in the body, to feel, honor, and release that energy. "I release this pain slowly, easily, and forever." It may take a few seconds, days, or years. But you need to lovingly sit with it until it's processed. Worthiness and Self Love. Moving through all of the layers upon layers. Doing the work. Knowing when to take breaks. But keep trying and don't give up. The Risk and Reward Ratio. You are responsible for you. It is an act of maturity. Being responsible for your actions, happiness, health, and having a sense of humor with it all.

This is a personal episode where Gina discusses prepping to sit with Ayahuasca, which led to:   Living with more daily intention Noticing and breaking old habits and patterns (whether with wine, caffeine, and negative thinking) Deepest commitment to herself, life, her relationships, and navigating fear of the unknown, which lead to profound daily appreciation and gratitude Releasing and Purging old trauma Listening with presence to the constant story telling of her mind Then shifting to a felt sense of listening and acting from the heart The pure power of presence and the neutrality that comes from that Keenly noticing nervous system activation and the art of the sacred pause Reacting versus responding The immensity and power of being a human and the "medicine" being within you Taking responsibility for her life and choices she makes

Gina sits down with her soul sister and best friend Eulalie Cizek.  She was on the previous episode where they talked about self-abandonment, intergenerational trauma, commitment to truth and authenticity.   They also went back and forth about the question of "how do we really heal?" and the balance of BEING versus DOING and SEEKING all of the time.     This episode covers the profound insights and healing that Eulalie went through in ceremony:   Choosing and loving herself first Turning herself inside and out Standing in her power Releasing her attachments We are dynamic and complex beings How true healing happens in your heart and not in your head Coming out from hiding from herself How it is infinite what we hold in our bodies and beings Gratitude being precious and extends to every being Forgiving and Loving every bit of herself Getting in touch with the wild, free, and untameable parts of herself Pain is a gift Daily choice and intention   

Gina sits down with one of her long time best friends and soul sisters Eulalie Cizek.  They have a long history and a uniquely intuitive, non-judgmental, open, and lovingly supportive friendship.  They both have a way of bringing out more of the truth in the other, compassionately  challenging one another to grow, and lovingly blowing the horn when either one sniffs BS.    It is a conversation about healing.   It is a conversation about trauma - both individual and collective.   It is a conversation about stepping back into our power as women and healing our hearts.  It is a conversation about the balance of "doing the work to heal" and  just "being."   Key points: Generations of trauma and cycles of abuse with women The nervous system responses from trauma stuck in the body and feelings of powerlessness Self Abandonment Commitment to being honest with ourselves How difficult it is for humans to speak their truth especially when it comes to trauma Projection and unconscious wounding from parenting The confusion to work through that as a child - when they don't take ownership of it Love yourself  Deconstruct and Reconstruct on the healing path Not classifying things as Good or Bad The simplicity and divine power of just Being versus excessive seeking  The discussion of medicinal plant medicines and Eulalies's decision to do an Ayahuasca ceremony after years of therapy and healers   Warning: This episode is for mature audiences only and contains a discussion around sexual trauma in younger generations.  Please know this may be triggering for some individuals.

Gina believes that we are in a particularly interesting paradigm shift for humanity and particularly for women.  That women are in a ripe space (and an uncomfortable one) of shedding learned behaviors, trauma, and ways of being - from society, family systems, intergenerational trauma, and the patriarchy. It is a time for women to step into their power and out of powerlessness.  The world needs it right now.   Gina shares a recent journey with some health issues and poses the question lovingly to her listeners - how does your body talk to you?   What messages is it telling you?   Unhealed individual or collective trauma?   Not living truthfully or with integrity?   People pleasing, caretaking, and self-abandoning?  

Kassia Meador is one of the top female professional surfers in the world.  She brings the same grace and dance of surfing into her one on one and group energy medicine sessions with clients.  Kassia has been working with sound and vibrational medicine since 2011 and is a trained holographic sound practitioner, she received her ICSU in Cranial Sacral Therapy from IPSB at LEI and is currently in the BCRPP polarity therapy program.  She is equally versed in verbal processing techniques with studies in NLP and Gestalt therapies. Gina and Kassia sit down to discuss: The power of deep listening How immensely healing it can be to be actively listened to We are at a crossroads in our society that is saturated in divisiveness and how we need to learn to truly listen to one another We need to learn how to honor our wounded, scared, and reactive spaces within us...also the space of righteousness The power of tuning into your body (the densest energy center) and listening to what it needs Kassia's personal journey of healing multiple concussions and what lead her to become a practitioner herself

Gina shares a personal episode on the cycles of feeling connected and disconnected to herself. Questioning the 10,000 online courses that promise all of us - that we will become whole and deeply self loving - ALL OF THE TIME. What Gina has learned from years of therapy, meditation, online courses, and books... is that life cycles and so does our connection to ourselves. There is no "ultimate solution" - just daily choices, habits, and aligning with our authentic truth. That we ebb and flow. It is the nature of being a human and in this episode, Gina focuses on the nature of being a woman in a patriarchal society, but also how the patriarchy is a toxic system for men. The messages we have received from our family systems, media, and society at large. How there is a common thread of women needing to seek out external validation, approval, and praise. Gina weaves in elements of Dr. Shefali's book, "A Radical Awakening", which challenges women to turn their pain into power and living from your authentic truth.

Gina sits down to talk with Bonnie Wright who is a director, environmental activist, author, and former actress who played “Ginny” in the Harry Potter movies. She has a deep soul - filled with kindness, humility, and a lot of wisdom. The conversation covered: There is no wrong way to do the right thing. The interconnectedness of all things. Understanding what you need for your mental health versus comparing to others. The environment and mental health are deeply connected. The importance of language and narratives and how we talk to ourselves and the climate crisis. Accountability because we often feel the only place we are accountable is online, but that should actually be the last place we look for validation and accountability. Noticing when it's time to rest and when it's a privilege to rest and pushing through discomfort to take action. Dismantling the idea of being a “Perfect Activist.” The damaging side of the wellness community. The balance of input and output. The balance of listening and taking action. Cycles of life Follow Bonnie and get updates on her new book @thisisbwright

Alicia “ACE” Easter is a yoga and meditation instructor, and master Reiki practitioner on a mission to empower others by helping them work through emotions physically. It's a journey that began when she discovered the emotionally healing powers of yoga while grieving the loss of her mother, who died of pancreatic cancer when ACE was 19. With national bestselling author Jennifer Pastiloff, ACE co-hosts the podcast What Are You Bringing? and has interviewed experts in social justice, sex and love, spirituality, and more—including Elizabeth Gilbert and Erin Brokovich. Ace and Gina sit down to talk about what it means to be Motherless daughters, the non-linear journey of grief, the wisdom they have gained, while stepping into their power and voices as women, learning that they can heal themselves, the gift of humanizing our mothers, and their mutual love of Beyonce.

Gina sits down with Lisa Tahir - psychotherapist, author, and podcast host of “All Things Therapy.” They discuss her book, The Chiron Effect, and how to heal your core emotional wounding through self forgiveness and empathy. Lisa shares practical wisdom about how to work through stuck relationship patterns - she says that it all starts with yourself.

Gina and Chris share some of the same "Buddhist ideologies" but neither one of them feels comfortable being identified as a Buddhist. They sit down to discuss how to help someone in crisis, the difference between Niceness and Kindness, how to find more equanimity and neutrality in life, our attachment but inability to sustain contentment, and so much more.     Check out Gina on Instagram @ginaminardi

Eva Clay is an acclaimed sexologist, psychotherapist and former professor of neuropsychology. Gina and Eva sit down to talk about how sexuality is not fixed. You are not going to like the same things for the rest of your life. Sex is an ever evolving universe - always shifting. As Eva says, "Sex CAN become a wild grand adventure. It is so complex and wild. We have to begin with that mindset. You have to stop looking to your partner to please you. What I see when the spark goes out in a couple - is they are writing a novel together. You are getting the thrill off of your partner in the beginning and that has a shelf life." Continuing on this statement Eva states, "Disconnect the sense of routine. I do this to you. You do this to me and then we have sex. We have this sense of tit for tat. Did you get off yet? Well now I'm going to get off." Gina and Eva talk about dismantling this routine, engaging the breath to connect, the phenomonological space between, and healing through skillful sex.

Humans naturally resist big change. We tend to gravitate towards predictability, comfort, and routine. This isn't necessarily a bad thing - but can often extinguish our life force energy and passion for living - when we resist transitioning into new spaces in our lives. Those spaces could be a move, career change, ending a relationship, or taking that risk that you have avoided out of fear of the unknown.   Gina deeply believes it is necessary to embrace and dive into the unknown, and that it is fundamentally part of life. Most importantly - transitions and big changes are what help us grow and evolve - as we often face metaphorical deaths of a life or version of ourselves that we knew before “the change.”    Gina believes that we all go through “deaths” and “rebirths” in life. In this episode she discusses a recent personal experiences of this. 

Gina Minardi, LMFT and psychotherapist Ciuin Doherty, LMFT sit down to discuss the power of therapy, inner child work, mirror neurons, and how humans don't come into the world knowing how to self soothe. That we all need support in holding big experiences and emotions. They talk about the importance of men learning how to be vulnerable. That's it's not even in the male's “frame of reference” to turn to someone when they are in pain or struggling. The two therapists also talk about pursuer and withdrawal dynamics within couples. And how to disrupt the cycle of disconnection and connection in relationships. Want more from Ciuin? Find him on Instagram @ciuin and check out his website www.ciuindoherty.com. Note: Spaces Between will be on a brief hiatus and return on March 17th. See you then!

Gina does a personal episode on her experience of intuition expanding in her life. She breaks down scientific research on helping you learn how to listen to your intuitive voice.

Gina sits down with Janis R. Cohen, who is a licensed psychotherapist, clairvoyant, and empath. Janis works with spiritually conscious people who struggle with making decisions and taking actions in their life. She has a successful podcast aptly titled, "The Intuitive Therapist." Gina and Janis sit down to discuss everything related to intuition. How everyone has it, how to tap into it, and listen to it. Gina and Janis talk about her direct approach with clients and how to shift people from spaces of indecision into taking clear action in their lives. Janis talks about how everyone knows their answers and when "push comes to shove", people know what they want and what they don't want...even if their default is "I don't know." We all have a deep knowing within us.

Gina used to be quite good at Doing-Doing-Doing. Pre-pandemic her life was filled with meetings, therapy sessions, collaborations, surfing, constant traveling...you get the gist. She used to think that she was just "getting after life." But Gina has now learned the valuable lesson of slowing down and learning how to BE (with life, emotions, and stillness). We live in a culture of productivity. Our identities are tied to and defined by what we're doing and how we are doing it. This has led to a collective hustle for self worth, driven by the non-conscious belief that if we do more, we'll be more. And most of us don't realize that there is a difference between being and doing, or that there is inherent value in our own beingness. There are a million courses on Mindfulness and Gina has taken too many of them. In this episode, she breaks down the tenets of Mindfulness and what has worked personally for her to live a more fully present life. To just BE. She hopes to save you a lot of money and time....and sanity.

Laura Rubin of AllSwell and I sit down to discuss how EVERYONE, regardless of age or gender, can benefit from journaling on a mental, emotional, and physiological level. That journaling is a multifaceted and creative space for processing, healing, and gaining deeper insight into yourself. Laura and I take a deep dive into her personal healing practices over the years, which she quotes, “you can shake a rattle at me Gina…I have tried them all but you learn that there is no silver bullet. You create a menu of things to choose from...that work for you.” Currently on her menu is micro dosing psilocybin, writing, a great coach, and lots of time in nature. She discusses the wisdom and perspective gained from battling breast cancer and in the most recent year of 2020…unhooking from the toxic cycle of capitalism, that somehow always being productive and achieving more – would make for a more meaningful life. What she has learned is quite the opposite in a radical slow down that started in 2020 and she wants to continue into 2021.

Gina believes in the power of your energy and the importance of taking a good look into your energy field. Gina breaks it down through a personal look at her own chakra system, but emphasizes that it's not important if you believe in chakras... but rather taking a deep look into what is negatively or positively effecting, depleting, or amplifying your energy field.

Gina sits down with Reiki Master and Rainbow Energy healer Meredith Sloane. The two women have an in depth conversation about the importance of protecting one's energy, clearing it, and the chakra system. Meredith was first attuned to Rainbow energy in Peru in 2011. As a Reiki Master, she had already been working with energy for over 5 years but what happened to her in Peru forever changed her life.

From the personal to the collective, Gina talks candidly about her insights and lessons learned from 2020.

Gina sits down with top rated professional surfer Brad Gerlach, who is also well known for riding the biggest waves in the world, having a rock and roll spirit, with a deep commitment to self-evolution and growth. Working with a variety of mentors over the years - Brad has been on a journey of deepening his self-awareness, working through what triggers him, and is an open hearted and loving husband and father. Brad and I talk about masculine and feminine energy, relationships, and how he “feels into things deeply” to make the right decisions for himself in his life. Also-that helping people and being of service is everything. Over the last ten years, Brad has developed a land based systematic surf training method, called Wave Ki, to teach people how to harness the power of each wave they ride. Similar to martial arts, he has found the best way to improve is through visualization and to go through it all slowly. He wants to make the invisible-visible and feeling it is everything

Gina has had an incredibly hard time letting love in. She goes into her personal history of why it's been so difficult for her. Gina also connects the universal theme for all humans...of why love and relationships are incredibly tough for most of us...hence our still current 60% divorce rate. Gina layers in the work of Couples Therapist and Psychobiological developer, Stan Tatkin, and his approach to the "Brain on Love" and "Wired for Love."

Gina sits down with psychotherapist Jori Adler and they discuss all things attachment style, “manifesting” partners, the dangers of over psychoanalyzing yourself while in a relationship, the self-love process to manifest a partner and it's about connecting to love not just romantic love. Are you open to love or calcified to it? Noticing when your walls are closing in. How Jori transitioned out of divorce, moving three times, and an entirely new career. Moving past the pressure of being alone on a Saturday night. Connection and disconnection. And everything in between.

2020 has been a mind bending year for all of us. Gina talks openly about what happened when she surrendered into silence - after being sick for six weeks.

Gina sits down with best selling author of "On Being Human" to discuss how shame isn't logical or rational. Difficult emotions are hard to be with. PMS. How to deal with your inner asshole. Give yourself a F-ING medal. How to be honest and listen deeply.

Gina talks candidly about how perfectionism has impacted her life, the origins of it on a micro and macro level, and how it might be affecting your life.

Hi, I'm Gina Minardi, a licensed therapist who got fed up with therapy.  From rehabs in Malibu, to homeless shelters in East LA, and now in my own private practice, I've witnessed the spectrum of human beings struggle through their stories, trauma, and healing. I've also observed my own, and it has been both beautiful and brutal. Growth, self-actualization, and a spiritual practice are not for the faint of heart. But if you don't allow yourself to laugh during the journey, it's going to feel a whole lot tougher. There's no one “right” way to heal and you truly are your best resource.  Therapists, healers, shamans, and intuitives are meant to support you on your path — but they don't have all of the answers.  You do.   “Spaces Between” is a podcast about the spaces between laughter, tears, breath, our thoughts, stories, ego, soul, trauma, growth — and the joy to be found in this messy journey we call life. I've had my share of both joy and messiness on my own life journey, and on this show, I won't be holding back. Growth can be ugly. To be dedicated to the beauty of it means to step into your soul space. It is both terrifying and liberating. Episode 1 drops on November 11th, with new episodes every Wednesday.