Ritual Sisters

Join us as Michelle Maikoetter, Director of Special Projects at the Neurosequential Network founded by Dr. Bruce Perry, shares insights on trauma recovery, the importance of relational history, and practical rituals for healing and connection. Discover how understanding brain development can transform trauma-informed care. Michelle highlights the importance of “being in it” with people versus approaching difficulties from a “fix it” place. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on InstagramPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcastLeave a message: speakpipe.com/ritualsisterspodResources from today’s episode:The Neurosequential Model Network: https://www.neurosequential.com/Bruce Perry Handouts: http://www.bdperry.com/handouts“What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/what-happened-to-you/“The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog” by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/bruce-d-perry/the-boy-who-was-raised-as-a-dog/9780465094455/?lens=basic-books

Each month we do a “Ritual Riff” where we dive deeper into our topic of the month and explore seasonal rituals. February’s topic is “self-love.” Kelly and Michelle sit down to discuss how winter (or lack thereof) is going, Julie’s episode on shame recovery/sacred sexuality, and strategies to build self-love. We also share our first listener voicemail! Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcastLeave a message: speakpipe.com/ritualsisterspodResources from today’s episode:Kristen Neff Self Compassion Work https://self-compassion.org/Cultivating kind attention with Shauna Shapirohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeblJdB2-Vo

Our conversation with Julie Elizabeth, a licensed relationship therapist, author, and intimacy & embodiment coach, delves into the complexities of purity culture and its impact on individuals' perceptions of worthiness and sexuality. Julie shares her personal experiences of shame and pressure associated with navigating her sexuality within the confines of a religious upbringing and continued messaging as a young adult. Julie provides tools for healing from the past and describes her personal journey of redefining spirituality for herself. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on InstagramPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcastLeave a message: speakpipe.com/ritualsisterspodResources from today’s episode:Julie’s Websitehttps://linktr.ee/julie_elizabethJulie’s Book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62112341-sacred-sexuality

Each month we do a “Ritual Riff” where we dive deeper into our topic of the month and explore seasonal rituals. January’s topic is “vision.” Kelly and Michelle sit down to discuss the start to the new year, they’re conversation with Maggie Voisin, and rituals around winter/vision. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcastLeave a message: speakpipe.com/ritualsisterspodResources from today’s episode:Research on Cold Plunging https://lifestylemedicine.stanford.edu/jumping-into-the-ice-bath-trend-mental-health-benefits-of-cold-water-immersion/Andrea Gibson “Tincture” https://poets.org/poem/tincture

On today’s episode we sit down with Maggie Voisin, former Olympic skier, to discuss rituals in athletics. We discuss how Maggie has dealt with the shift in identity of retiring at a young age as well as cycles of rest and activity across seasons. Maggie gives amazing insights into building both of these cycles regardless of your relationship to athletics! Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcastSpeakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/ritualsisterspodResources from today’s episode:Maggie Voisin https://www.instagram.com/maggie_voisin/?hl=enMaggie ski video https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=_NtEB81ijgU&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGntwxNvr4vu5MDoXED0r-FFXEzBm-KqBC03i4yi3685M8q3shnnMHUYvnQh10_aem_ZiQz24N9XyVljFDq1fm1WQAyurvedahttps://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/ayurveda

What would you do if you met a kindred spirit but had a barrier to communicating with them? On today's episode we speak with two friends who managed to bridge the gap between the Deaf and hearing worlds. We talk about what communication means, what allyship means, and what is unique and special about Deaf culture. Please also check out the full video episode with ASL interpretation on YouTube! David Naert Born and raised in Illinois, David has spent the past decade planting roots in Des Moines, Iowa, where his passion for language and lifelong learning continues to grow. A native English speaker who later learned Spanish, he began studying American Sign Language three years ago and found a deep appreciation for Deaf culture and the people who welcomed him into their world. Now an aspiring trilingual interpreter, he’s motivated by connection, committed to fostering access, and inspired by the relationships that keep him learning.John Isaacson Born profoundly Deaf, John’s first language has always been American Sign Language. Growing up in both the Deaf and hearing worlds, he learned early how to balance and move between them. After being mainstreamed from kindergarten through his freshman year, he transitioned to a Deaf residential school for the remainder of high school—an experience that strengthened his identity and deepened his sense of community.Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramSupport us: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcast

How do we evaluate and create family rituals? How do we meet our family members where they’re at? How can we move into a space of doing instead of saying? In today’s episode, Michelle and Kelly sit down with the hilarious and insightful Terry Kottman, PhD, to discuss all this and more. Terry is the developer of Adlerian play therapy, the founder of the League of Extraordinary Adlerian Play Therapists and an author of many books on play therapy. Terry shares heartfelt wisdom from both her decades-long career as a play therapist as well as her 49-year marriage and raising her son, Jacob. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcastResources from today’s episode:League of Extraordinary Adlerian Play Therapistshttps://leapt.arlo.co/w/About Dr. Kottmanhttps://www.encouragementzone.com/page10.htmlBookshttps://www.encouragementzone.com/page11.htmlTerry Kottman developed Adlerian play therapy, an approach to working with children, families, and adults that combines the ideas and techniques of Individual Psychology and play therapy. She founded the League of Extraordinary Adlerian Play Therapists and created a certification program for Adlerian play therapy. Terry is a fun and engaging presenter and author who regularly teaches classes and writes about play therapy. She is co-author (with Kristin Meany-Walen) of Doing Play Therapy: From Building the Relationship to Facilitating Change and Partners in Play: An Adlerian Approach to Play Therapy, and the author of Play Therapy: Basics and Beyond and several other books. In 2014, she was granted a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Play Therapy; in 2017, she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Iowa Association for Play Therapy; and in 2020, she received a third Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Society for Adlerian Psychology. (She seems to be collecting them.) In 2024, Terry received the Innovation in Counseling: Practice and Clinical Service Award from the National Board of Certified Counselors. She has been married to her husband Rick for 49 years and has a delightful adult son, Jacob.

On today’s episode, we sit down with Hāweatea Holly Bryson, Indigenous Psychotherapist and founder of Nature Knows. We discuss her expertise in Māori healing, rites of passage, and how profoundly we are impacted by the natural world. Through  Hāweatea’s unique perspective, we explore the concept of rituals as powerful tools for personal transformation. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcastResources from today’s episode:Nature Knowswww.natureknows.co

How can we allow grief to move through us and not get stuck? How can we turn grief into a “village making” instead of a “village breaking” process? How are grief and water connected? In today’s episode, we sit down with grief practitioner, death doula, and founder of “Women of the Water,” Lisa Cheney-Philp to answer these questions and more. We all go through grief, so let’s be better tenders of this experience for ourselves and others. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcastResources from today’s episode:Women of the Waterhttps://womenofthewater.com/homeDie Wise: A Manifesto on Sanity and Soul by Stephen Jenkinson https://www.amazon.com/Die-Wise-Manifesto-Sanity-Soul/dp/1583949739Website with resources from David Kessler and Elizabeth Kubler-Rosshttps://grief.com/

How can comedy help us through tough times? How can it help us to build community? In today’s episode, we speak to Hannah Butler, a master’s student in marriage and family therapy, and creative dabbler.  She was first introduced to the art of improv comedy in middle school and since then has performed in various troupes and will occasionally host improv jams among friends. Hannah is passionate about making art accessible for everyone and advocating for creative space in our work-centric culture. Over the course of the episode we break down how everyone can dip into the world of comedy and why this is beneficial.Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcastResources from today’s episode:Second City https://www.secondcity.com/Bird City Improvhttps://www.birdcityimprov.com/Improv Warmup IdeasSac Comedy SpotTo Dive Deep - UCB Improvisation Manual https://impropedia.ru/UCB%20improvisation%20manual.pdf

Kelly and Michelle sit down to discuss “what is ritual” and why we believe it’s so important. We’ve learned so much from our guests in the last few months that we thought we would revisit this conversation and help new listeners understand what we’re all about! Kelly and Michelle talk about recent rituals in their lives and Michelle shares about how to put on an awesome bachelorette party - ritual style! Plus, stay tuned at the end of the episode for a sneak peak of what’s in store for season two! Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcastResources from today’s episode:The Ritual Effect by Michael Nortonhttps://www.alumni.hbs.edu/stories/Pages/story-bulletin.aspx?num=7191

Kelly and Michelle sit down to reflect on the highs and lows of season one of the Ritual Sisters Podcast! We then share about the goals for the Patreon and how it can help you to up your ritual game as well as support the show. Clink on the link below to connect with us on Patreon! And stay tuned at the end of the show for highlights of the bonus content that is available now on the Patreon. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ritualsisterspodcast

What are the roots of yoga? How can yoga help us fire up to engage in activism and our communities? How can we practice yoga if we don’t fit into the images we most commonly see of yoga practitioners?  In today’s episode, we speak with Susanna Barkataki, certified yoga therapist and Ayurvedic practitioner, #1 bestselling author, and founder of Ignite & Yoke Yoga. Susanna dives into topics from her books, Embrace Yoga’s Roots and Ignite Your Yoga, to help us understand what yoga is all about and how everyone can use rituals within yogic philosophy to enhance their lives. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramResources from today’s episode:Embrace Yoga’s Roots https://www.susannabarkataki.com/bookIgnite Your Yogahttps://www.susannabarkataki.com/iyySusanna TED Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T37-I8A6iXY8 Limbs of Yoga https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness/the-8-limbs-of-yoga#bottom-line

How can we explore and understand our gender identity? How can we support people in our lives who are questioning their gender? In today’s episode, we speak with Cass Howlett (they/them/theirs), a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate and Dance/Movement Therapist to answer these questions and more! Cass works for The Rainbow Circles, an LGBTQIA+ led and affirming therapy practice in Fort Collins, Colorado. They share many wonderful insights into how members of the trans and cis communities can explore and affirm gender identity! Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramResources from today’s episode:The Rainbow Circles https://www.therainbowcircles.com/Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menonhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/611537/beyond-the-gender-binary-by-alok-vaid-menon-illustrated-by-ashley-lukashevsky/Neuroqueer Heresies by Dr. Nick Walker https://neuroqueer.com/neuroqueer-heresies/“Sort Of” - HBO Max https://www.hbomax.com/shows/sort-of/fd2a57e4-c0cc-497f-9989-34971877ff41Ballezhttps://www.youtube.com/@ballez.company

How can we connect with the culture and people of the places we visit? How can we be stewards of the environment while traveling? In today’s episode, we speak with travel writer, speaker and author of “The New Tourist,” Paige McClanahan. She has worked as a journalist, reporting from more than a dozen countries, and is now shifting her focus towards travel writing. Paige talks about the ways that we can engage more deeply in our travels, approach new people and places with curiosity, and be a more respectful tourist overall. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramResources from today’s episode:The New Touristhttps://www.paigemcclanahan.com/bookPaige’s Newsletterhttps://www.paigemcclanahan.com/newsletterBlack Paris Walking Tourshttps://blackparistour.com/

How can we help our youth navigate childhood/adolescence in the age of technology? What is the impact of technology on mental health? How can families successfully navigate mental health diagnoses? We dig into all of this and more with Dr. Justin Romano, child/adolescent psychiatrist and co-host of Millennial Mental Health Chats Podcast! He answers all of your burning questions about kiddos and mental health - from ADHD/Autism Spectrum diagnoses to medication to setting limits on screen time. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramResources from today’s episode:Justin TED Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ldLwkj4dRc“Stolen Focus” by Johann Harihttps://stolenfocusbook.com/“The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidthttps://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book“Lifestyle psychiatry” https://www.appi.org/Products/General-Interest/Lifestyle-Psychiatry

How can we better support the military and their families? How can people feel more confident transitioning into and out of the military? In today’s episode, we talk about these questions and more with Jerry Pierson. Jerry is a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant and current Licensed Practical Counselor. He is working on his PhD in Counseling Education and Supervision and focusing his dissertation on foreign-born military spouses. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramResources from today’s episode:SkillBridge https://skillbridge.osd.mil/International Association for Resiliency and Trauma Counselinghttps://iartc.org/National Indigenous Women’s Resource Centerwww.niwrc.org

How can birding help us feel more connected and committed to the natural world? Who gets to call themselves a “birder”? We discuss this and more in this week’s episode with Hannah Wurster, PhD. Hannah is a Early Childhood Mental Health expert and birding enthusiast. She discusses how she fits birding into a busy schedule of being a full time working toddler mom - and how you can too! Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramResources from today’s episode:“The Bird Way” by Jennifer Ackermanhttps://www.jenniferackermanauthor.com/the-bird-wayA Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopoldhttps://www.aldoleopold.org/products/a-sand-county-almanacInvisibilia Saving the Whales Episode https://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia/812703083/two-heartbeats-a-minuteMerlin Birding Apphttps://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/?utm_source=adgrant&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=merlin&utm_content=birdidapp&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=367929544&gbraid=0AAAAADzNbpx6-E__fRZTy__Ct6xep-G0Z&gclid=CjwKCAjw3f_BBhAPEiwAaA3K5JYrTkxmSgL-uJgwznUXBplY76Jt46sdh9Ariw1Q5oMWb0zNV3ZDdBoCU8wQAvD_BwE

How do we slow down and notice what’s happening within and around us? How do we build a great connection to the universe? On today’s episode, we speak with spiritual mentors, Jon and Susan Hokama. We talk about spending time in nature, ancestral wisdom, and getting comfortable with the unknown. Contact us: ritualsisterspod.comFollow us: @ritualsisterspod on instagramResources from today’s episode:Center for Action and Contemplation https://cac.org/Wisdom and Moneyhttps://wisdomandmoney.org/“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliverhttp://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/oliver_wildgeese.html

Today we interview Layra Marte, a boudoir photographer based out of NYC and founder of Layra Marz Photography. We take a deep dive into ways to get comfortable with yourself, honor your body how it is right now, and listen to what you need. Follow us: @ritualsisterspodContact us: ritualsisterspod.comResources from today’s episode:Layra Marz Photography https://www.layramarz.com/Shauna Shapiro Ted Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeblJdB2-VoThe Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron https://juliacameronlive.com/books-by-julia/The Body is Not an Apology https://www.sonyareneetaylor.com/books/the-body-is-not-an-apology-the-power-of-radical-self-love-h2x6pKimberly Lucht coaching www.kimberlylucht.com/aboutLove Your Body Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3iy792hWM3ipUN7KapTKxK?si=JJZgkGHNT6qQVljYdJ6blg