ALL WAYS EVOLVING with Erica Boucher

Find out about the Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps Yoga Cruise of 2022; why this will be Erica's 3rd AMA Waterways Yoga Cruise; why she's so loyal to AMA Waterways; the special discount for those who register for the 2022 Yoga Cruise by June 30th; and listen in as Erica interviews Diane Horan of AMA Waterways on what you can expect from the Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps itinerary. Then visit www.InternationalYogaTravel.com for more information and to register.  Erica Boucher owns International Yoga Travel and has been organizing and leading yoga, wellness and adventure travel around the world for over 15 years.    ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist, hosting yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

Maureen C. Berry's career was just taking off when she got the diagnosis no one ever wants to hear: CANCER. Maureen barely skipped a beat, and if anything she's more inspired, creative, and on purpose than ever before. Listen to her inspiring story which proves that attitude really is everything.   Website https://maureencberry.com/ Shop https://maureencberry.com/shop/ Podcast https://greenfishblueoceans.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maureenc.berry/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/maureencberry Newsletter | Four Pillars to Creative Badassery https://maureencberry.com/#newsletter   ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist, hosting yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

There is a carbon footprint of tourism that cannot be denied. Clearly, mother nature needs a break from all of us. But, does this mean we should stop traveling? While it’s easy to judge the effects of travel on the climate, one thing the coronavirus pandemic has also helped illustrate is just how dependent the world is on tourism. Businesses around the world, from small mom-and-pop operations to big corporations that employ tens of thousands of people, have been hit hard. This isn’t a cut-and-dry issue with a simple answer. So do we give up travel altogether, or is there a way to travel smarter, more responsibly and sustainably, so that the benefits of travel outweigh the costs?  Here, Erica Boucher, director of International Yoga Travel, shares 13 ways to minimize your carbon footprint and travel more responsibly.    ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist, hosting yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

Join me in a candid discussion with Clinical Herbalist, Erika Galentin, about how to approach perimenopause, menopause, hormone balancing, and anti-aging naturally, and with grace and ease. Erika is a Clinical Herbalist and an ITEC certified Clinical Aromatherapist consulting from Sovereignty Herbs in Athens & Columbus, OH. She holds a degree in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales, Cardiff, UK and Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, Glasgow, UK. She is a professional member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK) and the American Herbalists Guild (USA). She is also a proud member of Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society in Horticulture (USA). Over a decade of clinical practice has provided a platform for witnessing the efficacy of medicinal plants and aromatics within a clinical environment. It is through this clinical practice that Erika seeks to encourage positive, learned relationships between plants and people and people and their bodies. She is a firm believer in celebrating the role that emotions and the psyche play in the ecology of our physical terrain. Erika is also deeply passionate about the history of botanical medicine in the United States as depicted by the American Botanical Movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and has built her clinical philosophy around the principles and practice of Physiomedical and Eclectic traditions. In addition to clinical practice, Erika is both a student and teacher of horticulture, native medicinal plant conservation and ecology, and the phenomenological and Goethean study of plants and their medicinal virtues. With her dedication to medicinal plants native to Ohio and the Greater Appalachian region, Erika teaches, lectures, and writes on native medicinal plant conservation and applied ecology, propagation, herbalism, and clinical efficacy. She also participates as a member of the Education Advisory Committee of the American Herbalists Guild as well as the Stewardship Committee of Appalachia Ohio Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of land and water in Southeast Ohio. She is the author of The Family Guide to Aromatherapy: A Safe Approach to Essential Oils for a Holistic Home You can follow find Erika at https://www.sovereigntyherbs.com/ and schedule an appointment at https://www.sovereigntyherbs.com/appointments. You can also follow Erika on social media in the following places: Facebook: facebook.com/sovereigntyherbs Facebook: facebook.com/themedicinegardener Instagram: Instagram.com/sovereigntyherbs Instagram: Instagram.com/themedicinegardener Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/themedicinegardener   ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist, hosting yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

In this interview on Being White In America, I have a roundtable discussion with Dan McCool, Ph.D., and author of "Self, Institutions, and Others" and the founder of Blue Revolution, and Alicia Jones McLeod of ChallengingRacisim.org, a non-profit organization that aims to educate and empower us with knowledge on institutional and systemic racism. In my never-ending search for growth, evolution, and authenticity, I am tackling the very difficult topic of race relations in America today, specifically from the perspective of what it means to be white in America now, at this current juncture in our history. We address topics like unconscious racism, white privilege, white guilt, racial equality, passive racism, the whitewashing of American history, Black Lives Matter, and more. These kinds of topics that require us to be introspective and uncompromisingly honest with ourselves are never easy. It requires us to turn around and face our shadow selves, our unconscious beliefs and assumptions, and push up against our current comfort zone in order to evolve into greater, more expansive versions of ourselves. Let us have the courage to have difficult conversations, take a deep and honest look at ourselves, and even admit when it's time for us to let go of our outdated, erroneous beliefs that no longer serve us or the world we live in. To learn more about Dan McCool and Blue Revolution: https://www.bluerevolutionusa.com/​ And here are some helpful links and resources shared by Alicia: www.challegingracism.org. https://www.challengingracism.org/events​ - For upcoming events. This is the 21 Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge https://www.eddiemoorejr.com/21daycha...​ Podcast DoTheWork - https://www.stitcher.com/show/do-the-...​ Amber Ruffin Show - https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/t...​ (funny and female - one of Alicia's faves) Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man - https://uncomfortableconvos.com/ (race-focused youtube show but easier topics and explanations for beginners into racial equity). Left-Handed vs. Right-Handed video - https://youtu.be/g1swN72r5Fk​ (helps explain the invisibility of privilege) ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist. As the owner of International Yoga Travel, she hosts yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

In this episode, I interview Joe Sawyer, a retired firefighter who suffered from debilitating PTSD, almost to the point of being suicidal, and the alcohol addiction that was a symptom of the deeper problem. Here Joe shares about hitting rock bottom, and what it took for everything to change. Listen in as he shares the moment everything changed, and what it means about how to live our lives every day.    ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist. As the owner of International Yoga Travel, she hosts yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

I have been studying fear and how it paralyzes us for the past two decades. In this episode, I talk about three times I faced my fears—from a dramatic career change to sky diving to nude modeling. I also share how I used those experiences to learn how to overcome fear; the power of our own self-talk; why it's important to observe our own minds and the ways it can hold us back if we aren't paying attention; and how to boldly, confidently and unapologetically claim our space in the world. Listen and get inspired.  ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist. As the owner of International Yoga Travel, she hosts yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

International author and speaker, Nancy has presented hundreds of programs, inspiring audiences to walk their heartfelt path. Formerly a skilled financial executive and leadership consultant, she currently speaks on initiating positive change. Author of five books, Nancy candidly shares life-changing stories about living with authenticity. Learn more about Nancy and check out her latest book "I AM DOING THIS!" at iamdoingthisnancyrosenfeld.weebly.com.    ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist. As the owner of International Yoga Travel, she hosts yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

On Saturday morning, I got the news that Biden has been elected president just as I was slipping into my kayak for a two-day kayaking and camping trip with friends—a trip that would take me out of cell range for most of the weekend.  After hearing the news, I and my adventure-mates floated leisurely along beautiful Ichatucknee Springs—a unique, spring-fed river that eventually dropped us into the Santa Fe River in North Florida. If you haven’t yet experienced it, it deserves a spot on your Florida “must-do” list. The water was clear and cool, the temperature comfortable in the high 70’s, and brief, light rain that drizzled down upon us for a few minutes felt like a refreshing shower from heaven. It was a pretty spectacular day. That night, we camped on the banks of the Santa Fe, and then Sunday morning had our coffee around a campfire (one of my favorites things to do in life), before slipping back into our kayaks to continue our float downstream on the Santa Fe for another 9 miles, stopping along the way to visit and swim in some of the 15 natural springs we encountered along the way. That along with about half a dozen fun, little rapids kept that trip interesting and engaging on all levels.  At one point as I drifted, allowing the river to nudge me downstream, I noticed that I was breathing easier and feeling more relaxed than I had in a very long time.  Everyone we encountered, including people whizzing by in their motorboats, waved and seemed to be more relaxed. There was simply less of an edge. It felt like there was less friction in the air. I know I wasn’t the only one that noticed this because everybody in my party commented on it. Yet, as suspected, when I returned to cell range and checked in, the country seemed as divided as ever. And that brings me to the point of this blog.  How is it that half of this country is in mourning and the other half is jubilant, feeling like we just dodged a major bullet?  If we each, individually, don’t take the time to do our own inner work, embarking on a journey of self-discovery to understand who we are and why we think the way we do, we may always be a pawn in somebody else’s game. Because until we know what triggers us and what our blind spots are, how can we be sure we aren’t being played? That some person or idea outside of ourselves isn’t plucking our emotional strings, manipulating us for their own gains?    While Biden may have won this election, what’s clear is the extent to which at least half of this country has been brainwashed.   The question is, which half? I would venture to say the answer is both. At a very early age, we came into this worldwide open, pure love, innocence, and connection seeking to experience more of itself. Then, the world outside of us started telling us who we are, what to think, and “how the world works”. For most people, there was no urge for us to explore and discover who we are. We were TOLD. We were told by our teachers, our government, our religious leaders, our neighbors, our parents, the media… Not that they were necessarily doing this maliciously. They were just passing along the information that they had been given…the very same conditioning to which they had been exposed. So now we have a world of humans who have been taught what to think, and not how to think…FOR THEMSELVES. We all have our blind spots, so it’s easy to assume that it’s the other person who is brainwashed. That it’s the other person who’s wrong. That it’s the other person who doesn’t get it. But how can we be so sure? How can we be so cocky and arrogant to assume that we aren’t operating within a false narrative or construct of our own? First, I think what the situation calls for right now is humility—on ALL of our parts. It’s time for us to acknowledge that there are larger forces at play here, and their power is dependent upon getting us to believe in and follow them. (If you haven’t already checked out my podcast, Episode 36 on CULTS: How They Operate, it’s quite enlightening and worth a listen.) Second, this seems like a good time to talk about the 5 WAYS YOUR MIND IS BEING INFLUENCED every day. Specifically, your subconscious mind. The subconscious mind is stronger than the conscious mind, and the subconscious mind is the emotional mind. It’s the part of the mind that gets emotionally triggered, and then the conscious mind tries to make sense out of that triggered feeling and comes up with a narrative, a story, a construct to help us do that. The human mind operating the way it does, it almost always comes up with a story that has us being right and the other being wrong. It’s the subconscious, emotional mind that is driving us.  It’s driving our thoughts. It’s driving our emotions. It’s driving our behavior and our habits. It’s even driving our physical health, because every mental impression has a physical expression in the body. Think about that for a moment. Every single thought you have has a physical expression in your body.  This could be muscles tightening, breath restricting, hands clenching, blood pressure raising. All of this takes place in the body (another way of putting this is that the body IS the subconscious mind), and the conscious mind is trying to make sense of it all. Due to the way our minds have been conditioned, we look for something to blame. That’s the way the human mind has been programmed to operate: “us” versus “them”, “right” versus “wrong”, perpetrator and victim. We almost always blame the other person. Unless your self-esteem is really, really low…then you might be more inclined to assume that you are wrong and the other person is right. But if somebody, even if you are somebody with low self-esteem, gives you a compelling enough story and reason to believe that the other person is to blame, that sure is a relief to our fragile human egos. So, in order to empower ourselves with self-knowledge, let’s look at the five ways that the human subconscious mind is conditioned (according to Charles Tebbets):   1. Repetition Given enough repetition, the subconscious mind eventually considers what it is hearing to be true. This could work for you, with positive affirmations and by choosing intentionally to what you expose your mind; and this could work against you if you are not aware of the repetitive messages being fed to you by political leaders, media outlets, religious leaders, and others with their own agendas in mind. 2. Identification with a group (or parent) We all want to belong. So when we find a group that has an appealing or similar viewpoint, it is easy to take it on fully as if it is our own. This phenomenon is known as “Groupthink”, and it’s what some refer to as the mob mentality—when individuals stop thinking as individuals and start thinking as one cohesive group. Again, as with everything else in life, this group identification doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. It could be a good thing, helping you move further into a lifestyle or mindset that you wish to adopt IF you ensure first that the values of the group truly align with your own personal values. OR, this could be a negative thing, if it causes you to jettison your values, and your ability to think for yourself, in favor of acceptance in and belonging to the group. 3. Ideas presented by authority figures (and from peer groups) We have been groomed from an early age to listen to the adults around us. Again, our teachers, religious leaders, government, politicians, parents, neighbors… The problem is, some of us never stopped following, and so it’s easy for someone with real OR PERCEIVED authority to get us to behave and think in a specific way. Until we stop and question authority, cultivating a healthy skepticism, we may never truly be capable of thinking for ourselves. 4. Intense emotion The subconscious mind is stronger than the conscious mind. It is also our emotional mind. So when we are experiencing intense emotion, the subconscious mind is wide open, taking in any messages that are being fed to it while it’s in that heightened emotional state. This is important to know. When emotion is flowing, the subconscious mind is wide open. If somebody can get you to feel sad, angry, or fearful, they can probably then get you to think and behave in a certain way. In other words, if they can hook you emotionally, they can probably get you to do just about anything. It’s wise to understand this about your own mind, so that you can be the “guard at your own gate”, using your healthy skepticism and your own independent mind to question the assumptions and beliefs being fed to you by others. Think about the winning formula of this scenario: A.) You have a person in authority, either real (he/she holds a high position—religious leader, political leader, etc.) or perceived (he or she appear to be successful at something and so, therefore, must know something we don’t; B.) Combined with a group of likeminded “followers” (again, religious or political groups, especially those with that same person of authority; C.) They use intense emotion to make you afraid, angry, suspicious, and closed to another leader, group or faction; D.) These leaders and groups stir up an emotional frenzy, using repetition as they share their messages over and over and over again until there is no longer any doubt in your mind. And you may have just been hooked. 5. Hypnosis Hypnosis is what happens when the conscious mind—the critical, analytic, thinking mind is bypassed, granting access to the subconscious mind. This is done through a variety of, including those mentioned above, but also by creating enough confusion, exhaustion, and overwhelm that the conscious mind simply gives up, allowing the subconscious to be wide open and accessible. There is a whole lot more I could say about all of this, but this is enough to illustrate the point that we are complex beings, and our minds are even more complex than many realize. It’s wise to know your own

Cults are much more pervasive than most people realize. Chances are, you or someone you love has been touched by an experience with a cult.  In this episode, which builds upon the last episode where author, educator, and All Ways Evolving podcast host, Erica Boucher, shared her own personal story of a cult brainwashing she witnessed almost twenty years ago. The experience was so traumatizing, it was the impetus behind a deep dive into researching and understanding what cults are, how they work, who is most at risk as well as when and how to recognize the signs before it's too late. In this episode, she shares some of what she's learned, as well as a couple of other stories that illustrate how insidious cults really are. Erica pulls from several different resources, some of which include:  The International Cultic Studies Association (www.icsahome.com) Cartwheels in a Sari: A Memoir of Growing Up Cult, by Jayanti Tamm The Skeptic's Dictionary, by Robert Carroll Cult Hotline & Clinic (www.cultclinic.org) www.cultavoidancesociety.org   ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist. As the owner of International Yoga Travel, she hosts yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

Listen in as I share my very personal story of an unexpected experience with a cult almost twenty years ago. Since then I have studied the phenomenon of cults and discovered they are much more pervasive than most people realize. I also share stories of others who found themselves being courted by a cult and how, as a result of what I now know, I was able to immediately recognize it for what it was. This lays the foundation for my next episode, Cults: Part 2, where I share what the signs are so you can recognize a cult right away, simply by knowing some of their definite giveaways.   ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist. As the owner of International Yoga Travel, she hosts yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

Live vicariously and get inspired by Jon & Karen Sumple, digital nomads who took the leap of faith a few years ago and are doing it beautifully. Listen in on their journey from the birth of the idea, to full-on living the dream. In this interview I ask them: What made you decide to become nomads? What has been the most surprising and unexpected part of the whole experience for you? If you knew then what you know now, would you do anything differently? How has COVID changed the experience for you? What's it like being an American overseas right now, in 2020, with the political climate being what it is back here in the states? You can follow Jon & Karen Sumple on Instagram, Facebook, and enjoy their podcast, "From Sumplace New", which is available on all podcast platforms.  Enjoy!   ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist. As the owner of International Yoga Travel, she hosts yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

Back in May (2020) I interviewed Dr. Vivian Vega, Infectious Disease Specialist and personal person friend to get the TRUTH about COVID. There was so much conflicting information out there, I wanted to hear it from HER because she's someone in the field who I know personally and respect completely. Now, five months later, there's still just as much confusion and conflicting information, and we haven't really gotten a handle on this pandemic yet. So what do we know NOW that we didn't know a few months ago? Take a listen and find out.    ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist. As the owner of International Yoga Travel, she hosts yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

Listen in on a candid interview with my personal friend and Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Vivian Vega, as she helps us eliminate the debate and get to the truth of what's really going on with the COVID19 pandemic. Are the statistics we're hearing accurate? Are masks really a good idea, or are they bad for us? How Airborne is the virus? And what do we know about the future of travel? Get some straight-up facts from someone you can trust.   ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist. As the owner of International Yoga Travel, she hosts yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria. 

Relationships can be challenging. No matter how much love and appreciation we may have for those we care about most, our lack of healthy communication skills has us doing damage even when we have the best of intentions. Discover four of the most common, damaging communication and relationship mistakes almost everybody makes, and how to avoid making them in those relationships that matter to you most. ABOUT THE HOST:Erica Boucher, host of the ALL WAYS EVOLVING Podcast, is an Author, Yogi, and Group Travel Specialist. As the owner of International Yoga Travel, she hosts yoga retreats and travel around the world. Learn more about her upcoming trips here.  *Intro music taken with permission by the artist from the song track, Journeying, on the album The River by Michael Brant DeMaria. Couresty of Ontosmusic/michaelbrantdemaria.