In this first part of a two-part conversation, Dr. Stephanie Romero is joined by Sylva London and Ñeca Rodriguez, Awaken Pittsburgh’s newest Integrative Community Therapy trainers and facilitators, for a thoughtful and deeply human discussion on healing, belonging, and community.

Together, they explore what Integrative Community Therapy is and why it matters, especially in a world where so many people feel isolated, overwhelmed, or disconnected. Sylva and Ñeca share their personal journeys into this work, what drew them to community-based healing practices, and how ICT creates space for people to be seen, heard, and supported without judgment or hierarchy.

This conversation invites listeners to reflect on the power of shared stories, collective wisdom, and the simple yet profound act of showing up for one another. Part 1 lays the foundation for understanding ICT as both a practice and a posture toward life, one rooted in presence, dignity, and mutual care.

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of .

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

As we step into a new year, this episode offers a grounded and reflective pause to help you begin with clarity and purpose. Guided by practice leader Danielle Thum, this episode invites listeners into a gentle intention-setting experience rooted in guided visual imagery.

The practice begins with grounding exercises to help you settle into the present moment, followed by guided imagery designed to support reflection and visioning. Listeners are invited to imagine themselves thriving one year from now, explore the opportunities and propelling forces that may support their growth, and shift their focus from external expectations to nurturing their own inner attributes. The practice concludes with intention and gratitude, offering a meaningful way to set a positive, centered tone for the year ahead.

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this episode of The Ripple Effect with Stephanie Romero, EdD, Stephanie sits down with Joseph Croskey to explore how mindfulness can grow from lived experience into a steady practice that supports resilience, presence, and purposeful living. Joseph shares his winding path from military life to contemplative practice and global wellness work through Peace on Purpose, including how inner peace can ripple outward into families, classrooms, and communities. Together, they reflect on a simple but powerful idea, mindfulness creates the space where we can choose a wiser response.

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this powerful episode of The Ripple Effect with Stephanie Romero, EdD, Dr. Jennifer Joyce shares her transformative journey into Integrative Community Therapy (ICT) and how it intersects with mindfulness, healing, and social justice. Together, they explore the roots of ICT in liberation theology, the importance of authentic connection, and how community-based healing practices can foster equity, resilience, and belonging. This heartfelt conversation challenges conventional ideas of care and invites listeners to imagine a world where everyone’s innate wisdom is honored.

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

This episode offers a gentle guided practice led by Dr. Stephanie Romero that invites listeners into a state of radical gratitude while honoring the complexities of their emotional landscape. She begins by grounding participants in breath, body awareness, and emotional check-ins before moving into a compassionate RAIN practice to hold difficult feelings with curiosity and care. From there, the guidance shifts toward recognizing even a single point of goodness in one’s life and deepening that sense of appreciation through embodied awareness. Listen in wherever you get your favorite podcasts!

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

This episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast features an insightful conversation between Stephanie Romero and Bonnie Weiss, who shares her personal and professional journey with meditation. Bonnie discusses how discovering meditation in 2011 transformed her life, particularly in coping with trauma and grief following her husband's death. She highlights the role of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in supporting mental and physical health, while emphasizing that meditation isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The episode also explores the evolution of Bonnie’s work from teaching children to guiding adults, advocating for compassionate, individualized approaches to mindfulness and healing.

Resources Mentioned:

• The book The Body Keeps the Score
• The Bon Buddhist Center Olmo Ling in Pittsburgh

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this powerful episode, psychiatrist Dr. Kenneth Thompson joins Awaken Pittsburgh’s Executive Director, Stephanie Romero, to explore the deep connections between mindfulness and Integrative Community Therapy (ICT). Together, they reflect on how collective healing, compassion, and community dialogue can complement individual mindfulness practices to build stronger, more resilient communities.

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this heartfelt episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, Lora McKnight—Vedic meditation teacher, community builder, and COO of Vibrant Pittsburgh—opens up about her personal journey with anxiety, healing, and the transformative power of stillness. She shares how meditation helped her reconnect with herself during motherhood and the pandemic, and how that practice now shapes her approach to leadership and community.

Learn More at www.awakenpittsburgh.org

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events.

Give Today! awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Campaign Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.