In this soul-stirring conversation, Gerald Brooks welcomes AEDP therapist, writer, and teacher Karen Pando-Mars into the sacred space of The Eternal Student 360 Podcast. What begins as a question about career paths quickly unfolds into something deeper—a reflection on what moves us beneath the surface of identity, and how presence becomes a form of healing.

Karen shares how her curiosity about human motivation, first stirred while living in Peru, planted the seeds for her journey into psychology. The question, “What motivates people beneath culture?” became a lifelong pursuit, eventually leading her to AEDP and her collaboration with Diana Fosha on Tailoring Treatment to Attachment Patterns: Healing Trauma in Relationship.

She reflects with grounded wisdom on the clients who return after time away—how their re-entry often speaks to something deeper than scheduling. It’s not just about resuming therapy but about stepping back into a space where they once felt deeply seen and safe. In those moments, the therapeutic bond reveals itself as clinical and profoundly human, a quiet thread that endures, even in absence.

This episode is a meditation on the invisible yet deeply felt fabric of attachment—how we’re shaped by connection, called back by care, and held in ways that words alone can’t explain. For anyone curious about the heartbeat of healing relationships, this is a conversation worth sitting with.

Now streaming on the Podbean App, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Amazon Music/Audible, Listen Notes, Player FM, and Boomplay.

In this episode of The Eternal Student 360 Podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with photographer Greg Urbano — someone whose work first captured my attention for its emotional depth and precision. Our conversation went beyond photography and into life itself: how experiences shape us, how creativity heals, and why staying true to yourself matters in a world full of noise.

Greg shared his journey from growing up as an Army brat, serving in the military, and working in technology, to discovering photography as a way to explore emotion, connection, and artistry. We talked about the challenges creatives face — from self-doubt to criticism — and the importance of creating for the sake of expression, not approval.

Throughout the episode, we reflected on what it means to have depth, blur the traditional boundaries of "how things should be done," and tell stories that move people, even if it’s just one person at a time. Greg's story reminds us that technical skill is important, but the true gift lies in creating meaning that resonates. Head to @estudent_podcast on Instagram to see the pictures discussed in this episode.

This conversation felt less like an interview and more like two artists meeting at the crossroads of life, creativity, and growth, perfectly reflecting what The Eternal Student 360 is all about. Visit @gviews_media on Instagram

In this special reflection, I open up about why I created The Eternal Student 360 Podcast — not from a place of expertise, but from a place of courage, learning, and connection. For years, I stayed quiet, carrying self-doubt and a sense of invisibility. This podcast is my way of saying yes to growth, to speaking my truth, and to honoring the stories of others.

I share more about my background as a therapist, coach, poet, photographer, and lifelong learner, and how my early experiences growing up in Peoria, Illinois, shaped my deep empathy for others. Even with multiple degrees and professional experience, I remain — and will always be — a student of life.

In Episode 2, I introduce my conversation with photographer Greg Urbano: a depth story, embracing imperfection, and finding meaning in the blurred spaces of life. I also share my original poem, "Empathy and a Vacation Day in Maine," inspired by a powerful moment of human connection.

This podcast is for anyone who believes in growth, authenticity, and the courage to keep saying yes — even when the path is uncertain.