In this powerful and vulnerable episode, I am joined by Summer Koeste, an award-winning writer, artist, cultural anthropologist, 20-year Alaskan educator, and mother. Summer describes herself as a "nonconformist" who has lived many lives, navigating everything from life-threatening health challenges to living abroad in the high mountains of Argentina and the dancehall reggae world of Jamaica.

We explore Summer’s unique perspective on deprogramming the cultural scripts that no longer serve us, a theme she explores deeply in her newsletter, The Feral Stack. She shares how her background in anthropology and her experiences outside of white American culture have given her a "tourist gaze" on our society's values and behaviors, allowing her to question why we adhere to systems that don't help us thrive.

Summer also introduces us to the concept of being an "artivist", combining art and activism, which she embraced through songwriting to process her deep "justice sensitivity". From the separation of families at the border to the challenges of mothering a neurodivergent child in an underfunded education system, Summer’s work is a testament to the power of using one’s creative voice to demand collective liberation.

You'll also hear about:

1. (02:22) Summer’s "many lives" and how facing a fear of death through asthma and writing shaped her perspective.
2. (08:15) Her upbringing in 1980s Juneau, Alaska, where worth was defined by physical capability.
3. (14:40) Discovering "coded" gender expectations while living as an exchange student in Northern Argentina.
4. (21:10) How Summer used a more masculine persona to find freedom of movement in conservative spaces.
5. (28:55) Her time studying Latin American and Caribbean cultures and becoming immersed in the dancehall reggae world of Jamaica.
6. (35:20) The "Pura Arepa" business in Costa Rica and her experience navigating a dangerous, psychologically abusive relationship.
7. (42:45) Rebuilding a life in Alaska and researching why American culture repeats behaviors that don't lead to happiness.
8. (51:15) Defining the "Artivist": Using songwriting and performance to advocate for justice and collective liberation.

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Connect with Summer Koester:

1. Learn more on her Website
2. Follow her on Instagram

In this enlightening episode, I am joined by the talented Chellie Carlson, a premier stylist who has turned the art of dressing into a modality for deep healing and self-discovery. Chellie shares her remarkable journey, from growing up on a farm in Missouri to founding her own styling business at the age of 40, just two weeks before the world changed in 2020.

We explore why the act of getting dressed is about so much more than just looking "pretty." Chellie discusses her background in the lingerie industry, where she spent 20 years learning how to create safety for women in their most vulnerable moments. This experience laid the foundation for her unique approach to styling, which she views as a form of "body love" and a way to help women outwardly express their most authentic selves.

I also share my own personal experience working with Chellie, including the "style trauma" I carried from my past and how her process helped me navigate those old filters to step into a new, empowered identity. Whether you think you need a stylist or not, this conversation will change the way you look at your closet and your reflection.

You'll also hear about:

1. (02:22) Chellie's upbringing on a Missouri farm and how her mother's love for fabrics and sewing influenced her path.
2. (08:15) The transition from a 20-year corporate career in the lingerie industry to founding her own styling business at age 40.
3. (14:40) Lessons from the fitting room: Learning to create a "container of safety" for women to confront body shame.
4. (21:10) Why personal styling is a transformational modality rather than a superficial or "materialistic" pursuit.
5. (28:55) Dr. Gertrude shares her personal "style trauma" and how working with a stylist helped heal old filters of identity.
6. (35:20) Using Human Design and Gene Keys as tools to help clients align their internal essence with their external wardrobe.
7. (42:45) The concept of "Dressing for the woman you are becoming" vs. the woman you used to be.
8. (51:15) The generational shift: How Dr. Gertrude's daughter utilized Chellie's services to navigate her own career transition.

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Connect with Chellie Carlson

1. Follow Chellie on Instagram
2. Learn more about Chellie on her Website

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In this deeply mystical and grounding episode, I welcome Canadian author and dream worker Toko-pa Turner. Toko-pa shares the journey behind her award-winning books, Belonging and The Dreaming Way, exploring how our personal search for belonging is often a reflection of a collective epidemic of alienation. We discuss how belonging isn't just an external place to find, but a skill and set of competencies we weave from the inside out.

We delve into the profound world of dream work, moving beyond simple interpretation to viewing dreams as "nature naturing through us." Toko-pa explains the Jungian approach to dreams, asking where a wound is taking us rather than just what caused it, and shares her own touching story of how her dreams "parented" her during a difficult youth.

Our conversation also touches on the impact of technology on our ability to dream, the importance of "idle moments" for creativity, and a vulnerable share about my own dream regarding my father's passing. Toko-pa closes with a powerful perspective on the "Death Mother" archetype and the necessary work of "remothering" ourselves when healthy models were absent.

You'll also hear about:

1. (04:19) The origin of Belonging: How a personal search for connection revealed a collective wound of alienation.
2. (13:44) The difference between Freud and Jung: Freud asks "what happened to you?" while Jung asks "where is this trying to take you?".
3. (15:53) How dreams can "parent" us: Toko-pa's experience of finding guidance from within when she left home at a young age.
4. (20:29) Reframing dreams: Viewing dreams not just as neurological processes, but as nature expressing itself through us.
5. (29:27) Dr. Gertrude's vivid dream about her father after his passing and Toko-pa's validation of visitation dreams.
6. (36:37) The "echo chambers" of social media and how technology exacerbates our sense of alienation.
7. (51:17) The necessity of "idle moments": Why pauses and boredom are essential precursors to creativity and wisdom.
8. (57:13) The "Death Mother" archetype and the lifetime work of "remothering" oneself from the foundations up.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Learn more about Toko-pa Turner

1. Visit Toko-pa's Website
2. Follow Toko-pa on Instagram

Follow Dr. Gertrude:

1. Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s