Facing the Moment: Insights Action for Times of Crisis

Schools have long been places of learning, possibility, and growth. Today, however, many are strained by rising stress, emotional overload, and an urgent need for deeper connection. In this episode of Facing the Moment, host Toufic Hakim speaks with Joanna Curry-Sartori, a clinician-educator whose work brings mindfulness, presence, and compassion-based tools into classrooms across the country. Together, they explore the growing crisis in U.S. schools—how behavioral challenges, trauma histories, academic pressure, and constant activation impact both students and educators. Joanna sheds light on the inner world of overwhelmed teachers, the silent emotional burdens students carry, and the systemic pressures that make genuine connection harder to sustain. Drawing on her clinical background and her work training school teams, she introduces the PAUSE framework, a practical method for slowing down, grounding, and responding thoughtfully when tensions rise. Through real classroom stories, she illustrates how small shifts in presence can transform conflict moments, rebuild trust, and ease the emotional climate of a room. This conversation offers a clear-eyed look at what educators are facing today, while also pointing toward restorative possibilities. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of school-based stress, the power of attuned relationships, and tools that support both adult well-being and student self-regulation in challenging moments. 

In this episode of Facing the Moment, Toufic Hakim speaks with Dilara Ally, a clinician-researcher who works at the intersection of mental health, about the emotional, societal, and psychological stakes of artificial intelligence. Drawing on her work in trauma recovery, digital mental health, and natural language processing, Dilara explores how AI is reshaping human connection, influencing well-being, and changing the way we understand intuition, presence, and the therapeutic relationship. This conversation illuminates both possibility and peril: the biases embedded in AI systems, the emotional cost of predictive technologies, and the alarming rise of anxiety, self-harm, and disconnection in young people growing up in the smartphone era. At the same time, Dilara highlights the irreplaceable qualities of human attunement, vulnerability, and repair—and why moral imagination and “living in the question” may be our most important tools in an AI-driven world. We’ve shared 11 episodes of Facing the Moment, and we’d love your feedback. Your response to this quick poll helps us grow and serve you better.  We’re always looking to bring voices that truly fit the heart of Facing the Moment. If there’s a guest you think would be a great fit, please email us at outreach@foundationIFS(.)org.Support this podcast. Your donation supports production, outreach, and the continuation of meaningful conversations on Facing the Moment. https://www.foundationifs.org/support  

In this episode of Facing the Moment, host Toufic Hakim engages Natalie Thomas, PhD—philosopher, psychotherapist, and environmental ethicist—in a candid exploration of the climate crisis. Moving beyond the polarized political debates, the conversation examines the crisis’s tangible impacts on ecosystems, human communities, and mental health.Natalie unpacks the science behind global warming, the psychological roots of climate denial, and the shared values often hidden beneath divisive rhetoric. She offers hopeful signs from community-led initiatives, innovations in green technology, and mental health support networks. The dialogue highlights “climate distress” and its varied emotional toll—particularly on younger generations—while exploring strategies to foster resilience, from climate cafés and nature connection to compassionate activism and bridge-building conversations with skeptics. Listeners are left with both a sobering grasp of the crisis and practical ways to connect, adapt, and act collectively for a livable future.

Anger is everywhere—in our homes, on our roads, and acrossthe news cycle—but how well do we really understand it? In this powerful and timely episode, IFS-trained therapist Ted Riskin joins Toufic Hakim to challenge conventional thinking about anger. Rather than suppress or fear it, what if we learned to listen to it—and even welcome it?From the internal tensions of personal triggers to thecollective storms of cultural rage, Ted unpacks the anatomy of anger: its roots in boundary violations, its role as a smoke alarm for deeper emotions like grief or shame, and its potential as a protective force when wisely guided.Drawing on decades of therapeutic experience and Internal Family Systems (IFS) theory, Ted shows us how to shift from impulsive reaction to grounded reflection.This episode is both a deep dive into emotional self-leadership and a gentle call to action in an increasingly reactive world. If you've ever been caught in the jaws of anger—or lived in fear of expressing it—this conversation offers a way forward: from fragmented reaction to integratedresponse.

In this deeply personal and universally resonant conversation, educator and organizational healing consultant Mona Sullivanreflects on her journey of navigating family estrangement shaped by cultural expectations, religious beliefs, and rigid traditions. Raised in a Muslim Egyptian household in the U.S., Mona shares how her search for belonging led her through painful seasons of shame, conditional acceptance, and profoundloss—including the passing of her father and her former beloved mother-in-law just days apart during a difficult phase of estrangement from her family. Through therapy, spiritual grounding, and compassion, she found a path toward healing, reclaiming her self-worth, and fostering interdependent relationships. This episode offers an intimate look at resilience, the courage to live one’s truth, and the delicate art of keeping the door open for reconciliation—without surrendering one’s wholeness or core self.

In this powerful and timely episode of Facing The Moment, we explore the silent epidemic of loneliness—a condition that affects people of all ages and cuts across cultures, relationships, and social structures. Sarah Oswald, Executive Director of the Relational Life Foundation, joins us for an intimate and illuminating conversation on the roots, manifestations, and healing paths for loneliness. Together, Toufic and Sarah unpack loneliness not just as isolation but as a societal wound—linked to trauma, individualism, patriarchy, and the breakdown of community.They reflect on the mental and physical health tolls, the generational impact, and how modern life—despite hyperconnectivity—has left many feeling unseen and unheard.Sarah offers a hopeful vision rooted in intentional connection, self-awareness, and community-building, and shares practical and deeply human ways we can respond: by slowing down, listening, showing up with presence, and reclaiming our common humanity.This conversation is an invitation to both acknowledge pain and ignite renewal, for ourselves and for others. If you or someone you care about is wrestling with disconnection, this episode is both a compassionate guide and a call to action. Tune in to remember: you are not alone.

In this deeply moving episode of Facing the Moment,We explore what it means to live, work, and nurture hope in the midst of war.Ukrainian psychologist and university educator Anastasiia Shyroka shares her firsthand experience since the 2022 invasion—from the shock of the first days to leading humanitarian efforts, teaching students under siege, and guiding communities through trauma. She reflects on the daily balancing act between survival and professional purpose, the losses carried by individuals and society, and the quiet, persistent ways people create “islands of safety” for one another.Drawing on her research and practice, Dr. Shyroka offersprofound insights into resilience—rooted in purpose, coping skills, and humanity—and the need to pass on not only the burdens of history but also the gifts of courage and care. She also describes her work with others, bringing Internal Family Systems therapy to Ukraine, creating healing spaces throughcultural initiatives, and preparing for the immense task of post-war recovery.A conversation about pain, persistence, and the power ofsmall acts, this episode invites listeners to witness the human spirit’s capacity to endure, connect, and keep building toward a better future.

In today’s deeply reflective episode, we explore the emotional and ideological battleground often referred to as the “culture wars.”Host and Foundation Executive Toufic Hakim, PhD, and guest Guthrie Sayan, PhD—scholar, coach, and founder of the Institute of Healing and Awakening—delve into the psychological and spiritual dynamics fueling the tensions across society.Drawing from the Spiral Dynamics model, Guthrie unpacks how differing value systems—traditional, modern, and progressive—clash and misunderstand one another, each believing it holds the singular truth. Together, they ask: How can we engage with those who see the world differently without losing ourselves? What does it take to shift from reaction to response, from fear to compassion?This episode offers a nuanced framework for understanding today’s cultural climate, along with practical wisdom on navigating anger, uncertainty, and disconnection. It invites listeners into a place of humility, empathy, and self-reflection—with the goal of building bridges rather than bunkers.

In this powerful and timely episode, we welcome Fatima Finney, LMHC—therapist, educator, and thought leader—for a deep and courageous conversation about the rising tide of othering and systemic oppression in today’s world. Together, they explore the ways individuals and groups are reduced to stereotypes, stripped of nuance, and often dehumanized in the name of ideology, fear, or false superiority. Fatima offers grounded, soul-filled insights into how systemic "isms" like racism, Islamophobia, and sexism are crafted, internalized, and perpetuated. Drawing from her personal experience as a Black Muslim woman, she highlights the psychological, emotional, and spiritual toll of being persistently othered—and what it takes to resist that reduction with dignity and rootedness.Listeners will find tools for rehumanizing conversations, disrupting unconscious bias, and creating space for stillness, curiosity, and courageous connection. With wisdom, empathy, and clarity, this episode invites all of us to step beyond the crisis and into deeper dialogue—toward liberation, for ourselves and each other.

In a world increasingly marked by polarization, rigidity, and division, is it still possible to have meaningful dialogue across difference? Join us for a deeply human conversation with community organizer, therapist, and founder of the Center for Grounded Action, Jen Wilford, MSW. We explore why our capacity for dialogue is fracturing—and how to repair it. From technology’s role in our disconnection to global tensions and personal ruptures, Jen brings a powerful blend of experience in nonviolent communication, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and community healing practices. She shares:how to calm our nervous systems in moments of reactivity; what it takes to create emotional and psychological safety in group dialogue; and how empathy for self and others opens doors to deeper connection. This episode is a guide for anyone yearning for real connection, even in the face of painful difference. It’s about listening to understand—not to win. And it starts with each of us

Around the world, youth are confronting unprecedented uncertainty—facing political division, climate anxiety, economic despair, and a deepening crisis of belonging. But amidst this turbulence, many are also carving bold, hopeful paths forward. In this moving conversation, we speak with Fadi Petro, a U.S.-born Palestinian-Jordanian youth advocate and practitioner, about how young people are navigating pain, rediscovering purpose, and building community. Exploring questions such as what does peace mean without justice, this conversation offers a powerful call for healing, grounded connection, and intergenerational listening.

In this deeply reflective episode, Dr. Aizaiah Yong, a theologian, educator, and trauma scholar, shares his wisdom about the nature of individual and collective trauma, and pathways to healing and renewal. He emphasizes that trauma is relational—its effects ripple beyond individuals to families and communities. Healing, therefore, must also be collective and relational, involving support systems, storytelling, and a shared willingness to face suffering together. Drawing on his personal spirituality and interfaith studies to explore how spiritual practices, cultural traditions, and ancestral wisdom offer resilience, he highlights the importance of rituals, creativity, compassion, and cultural diversity.