Garden of Becoming

In this deeply embodied conversation, sacred sexuality facilitator Briana Cribeyer reveals why our relationships trigger our youngest, most wounded parts—and how to practice showing up as adults in love. Whether you're monogamous, non-monogamous, or single, this episode offers revolutionary insights about nervous system regulation, desire, and the daily practice of truly meeting another person.What You'll Learn:Understanding Your Nervous System in Relationship:The "back heart" practice for coming back to your full bodyHow to move at the pace of the nervous system that needs the most regulationThe practice of merge and unmerge—being with yourself while in connectionWorking With Desires:Why naming what you want feels so dangerous (and how to do it anyway)What to do when your desires don't match your partner'sThe core childhood wound that stops us from speaking our truthLessons From Non-Monogamy for Everyone:How to remeet your partner with fresh eyes after years togetherThe practice of conscious beginnings and endings within long-term relationshipsWhy we're actually in relationship with multiple people even in monogamyJealousy, Grief & The Big Feelings:How to honor jealousy as information rather than something to fixWhy we need to grieve losses we never processed as childrenThe relationship between feeling rage and accessing joyInner Child & Teenager Work:The practice of giving yourself what your younger parts neededHow attachment styles predict your adult relationship patternsMoving from intellectual understanding to embodied awarenessAbout Briana Cribeyer:Briana Cribeyer is a facilitator, trainer, and founder of Sacred Sexuality Rising. With a rich background in social services, non-profit management, and education, Briana blends her expertise in sociology and sustainability with deep spiritual practices rooted in movement, prayer, and shamanic healing. Her journey has taken her from the Midwest to the mountains and forests of Colorado, New Hampshire, and Washington, as well as abroad to Japan and South America, where she cultivated a profound connection to earth wisdom and womb medicine.As a lead trainer for Intuitive Tantra and a facilitator for the International School of Temple Arts (ISTA), Briana guides individuals and communities toward transformation, healing, and self-empowerment. Her work emphasizes radical love, self-responsibility, and the belief that through these practices, we can shift the collective trajectory of humanity.Her workshops and sessions are an expression of her deep commitment to cultivating connection, community, and alchemical transformation.Resources Mentioned:Existential Kink by Carolyn ElliottDr. Stacey Ellis - Liberation Workshops (inner child and inner adolescent work)Attachment theory literatureSomatic Experiencing (body-based trauma healing)Rumi's teachings on lover and belovedConnect with Briana:Website: https://www.brianacribeyer.com/Instagram: @she_boldly_goes_The Sacred Portal - Briana's membership program with monthly coaching and master classesThis episode contains mature discussions about relationships, sexuality, intimacy, and emotional processing. While educational in nature, listener discretion is advised.Garden of Becoming explores the messy, beautiful work of becoming whole. Subscribe and follow for conversations that go beneath the surface.Connect with us:Instagram: @gardenofbecomingpodcastEmail: hello@gardenofbecoming.comReview and Share: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review to help others find this show, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

In this transformative episode, Dr. Rachelle Kammer introduces us to EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)—a powerful therapy modality that works with your nervous system to release trauma stored in your body, not just your mind.Rachelle explains how EMDR can access unconscious memories and beliefs you didn't know you were carrying, including pre-verbal trauma from infancy or even in utero. We explore the difference between single-incident trauma and complex PTSD, the profound connection between trauma work and grief work, and how trauma gets passed down through generations.This isn't just theory—Rachelle walks us through practical tools you can use immediately to calm your nervous system, including bilateral stimulation techniques and resourcing exercises. Whether you're stuck in old patterns, healing from childhood wounds, or trying to break generational cycles, this episode offers both understanding and actionable hope.Key Takeaways:Trauma gets locked in your nervous system with the original images, emotions, and body sensations—EMDR helps unlock and process this materialYou can hold unconscious beliefs you don't know you have; EMDR can reveal what's really driving your patternsHealing trauma often means grieving what didn't happen or who wasn't there to protect youYou can work with pre-verbal trauma through body sensations and imagination, even without specific memoriesIntergenerational trauma is real—and you can be the one to break the cycleCreating imagined support figures (like a nurturing grandmother figure) can provide the attachment security needed to process deep traumaSimple bilateral stimulation (tapping with alternating hands on knees or shoulders) can calm your nervous system in moments of overwhelmAbout Dr. Rachelle Kammer:Dr. Rachelle Kammer is a Clinical Professor at Fordham University, with a MSW and PhD from Columbia University. In her private practice, she uses EMDR to help clients release trauma stored in the body and nervous system, supporting them in breaking generational cycles and reclaiming their lives.Connect with Dr. Rachelle Kammer:https://www.fordham.edu/graduate-school-of-social-service/faculty/full-time-faculty-profiles/rachelle-e-kammer/Resources Mentioned:Book: When There Are No Words by Janina FisherYouTube: Search for Janina Fisher's talks on trauma and EMDRTools to Try at Home:Create your calm/peaceful place: Visualize a real or imagined place where you feel safe, notice what you see, hear, smell, and feel in your body; then do slow bilateral stimulation (tapping with alternating hands on knees or shoulders) for 4-8 taps to calm your nervous system Grounding techniques: Count objects in the room, notice your feet on the ground, notice if there is anywhere in your body that feels neutral or goodMovement: Get outside, do gentle exercise, or simply tap your feet under the table during stressful momentsReview and Share: If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear this.New episodes drop weekly every Tuesday. Subscribe and follow for conversations that go beneath the surface.Connect with us:Instagram: @gardenofbecomingpodcastEmail: hello@gardenofbecoming.com Content Warning: This episode discusses trauma, sexual abuse, substance abuse, and grief. Please listen with care and reach out for support if you need it.

Have you ever felt defined by your worst moment? Like one failure, one mistake, or one traumatic experience has become the story of who you are?In this raw, honest conversation, I sit down with Pushcart Prize-winning poet Dr. Ravi Shankar to explore how writing can literally set us free—whether we're behind bars or trapped in our own stories.Dr. Shankar went from being the youngest tenured professor in Connecticut College history to spending 90 days in jail. What happened inside those walls changed everything. Now he teaches creative writing to incarcerated people using "bibliotherapy"—the practice of using writing as a path to healing.In this episode, Ravi shares the exact prompts and practices he uses to help people transform pain into power, face their shadows without drowning in shame, and break free from the labels society has placed on them.This isn't just about writing. It's about liberation.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Writing gives you back control of your story. Even if you can't change what happened, you can reclaim your narrative.Shame is a soul-eating emotion—but it can hollow you out to create space for greater empathy. By connecting with the parts of ourselves we're ashamed of, we learn to forgive ourselves and others.You don't have to share what you write. The act of pouring out your experiences is deeply therapeutic, even if no one ever reads it.When you fail spectacularly, you become less afraid of failure. Rock bottom can be the foundation for reinvention.If you get stuck, write: "I don't know what to say." Then keep writing. Free writing isn't about perfection—it's about generating material.Writing can reach through generations. It's not just about processing your own trauma—it's about healing ancestral wounds.WANT TO TRY IT? Start with these three prompts:"Someone said..." (opens the door to memory)Write from the perspective of an object in your childhood roomTake a trip across town and write down everything you see/hear (side entry into your story)ABOUT DR. RAVI SHANKAR:Dr. Ravi Shankar is a Pushcart Prize-winning poet and author of the award-winning memoir Correctional, which chronicles his 90 days in jail and the men he met there. He teaches creative writing at Tufts University, bringing college classes into correctional facilities to help incarcerated people heal and reclaim their voices through bibliotherapy. He's authored 18 books and appeared on NPR, PBS, and in The New York Times.RESOURCES MENTIONED:Books:Correctional by Ravi ShankarThe Art of Memoir by Mary KarrMy Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa MenakemConcepts:Bibliotherapy: Using writing to promote healingWabi-sabi: Finding beauty in imperfectionKintsugi: Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with goldThe epistolary method: Writing letters to your past/future selfConnect with Ravi:Instagram: @laremerpurplerWebsite: poetravishankar.comFound this episode helpful?Share it with someone who needs to hear thisLeave a review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyTag us on Instagram @gardenofbecomingpodcast with your biggest takeawayWant more episodes like this? New episodes drop weekly every Tuesday. Subscribe to The Garden of Becoming wherever you listen to podcasts.Connect with us:Instagram: @gardenofbecomingpodcastEmail: hello@gardenofbecoming.com

What if the words you use every day are creating the life you're living—for better or worse? In this conversation, coach and organizational development expert Hendrik Berberich reveals how language functions as technology, shaping not just what we communicate, but the reality we experience."Hendrik shows how we can use language as a tool to reprogram our patterns, our emotional states, and who we're becoming. Drawing from 15+ years of experience, he proves that change isn't mysterious—it's methodical.Key Takeaways:The power of "yet": How one word opens neural pathways to possibilityNeed vs. Want: Why this language shift reduces anxiety and increases motivationThe Four-Ear Model: How the same sentence can be heard four completely different waysFrom retrospective to real-time awareness: The five stages of behavioral changeUnderstanding emotional distinctions: The difference between jealousy and envy, shame and guilt, grief and sadnessThe three rooms: How to move from anxiety to wonder, resentment to peace, resignation to ambitionWhy emotions only last 90 seconds (unless you reinforce them)The biological truth: Your reptilian body, nervous system, and neocortex are always in conversationWhat Makes This Episode Special: Hendrik demonstrates these concepts in real-time—catching himself experiencing embarrassment, naming what's happening in his body, and redirecting. Self-awareness as it actually happens."About Hendrik Lasse Berberich: Hendrik is a coach, experience designer, and organizational development specialist who has spent over 15 years mastering the intersection of language, emotion, and embodiment. Born in Germany and having traveled to 20+ countries, he brings deep intercultural wisdom to his work. Trained in linguistic and emotional competencies, somatic frameworks, Art of Hosting, Collective Leadership, and Complexity Facilitation, Hendrik helps individuals and organizations move from unconscious patterns to intentional becoming.Connect with Hendrik: Instagram: @hendrikberberich Website: www.hendrikberberich.comResources Mentioned:Brené Brown: "Atlas of the Heart"Byron Katie: "The Work" (theWork.org)Mark Manson: "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck"Schulz von Thun: Four-Ear Communication ModelReview and Share: If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear this.Garden of Becoming explores the messy, beautiful work of becoming whole. New episodes drop weekly every Tuesday. Subscribe and follow for conversations that go beneath the surface.Connect with us:Instagram: @gardenofbecomingpodcastEmail: hello@gardenofbecoming.com

What does it mean to be human in an endless universe? And how do we find meaning when science seems to have declared God dead?In this profound conversation, Dr. Margot Brouwer shares her personal journey from childhood panic attacks about death to becoming an astrophysicist—and ultimately discovering a philosophy that dissolves the fear of mortality entirely.In this episode, you'll discover:Why time isn't what you think it is (and how Einstein's physics proves we're always in the "here and now")The philosophy of Spinoza and how it bridges science and spiritualityWhat non-duality means and how it can change your relationship with existenceWhy consciousness doesn't disappear when we diePractical ways to experience timelessness through meditationHow seeing the universe as divine changes everythingAbout Dr. Margot Brouwer:Dr. Margot Brouwer is an astrophysicist and author who has been preoccupied with existential questions for as long as she can remember. From a young age, she suspected that studying the universe would provide answers to life's biggest mysteries.She became the first student to complete a Master's degree in Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics at the University of Amsterdam. At Leiden University, she earned her PhD for mapping dark matter in the universe and was the first to test Professor Erik Verlinde's new theory of gravity. After her PhD, she worked as an astronomical researcher at the Universities of Amsterdam and Groningen.But despite gaining an ever-deeper understanding of the universe, she couldn't find answers to her childhood questions about meaning, consciousness, and death. Her continuous immersion in philosophy culminated in reading Spinoza's Ethics, where she finally found the key to translate her scientific knowledge into answers to her greatest existential questions.This pantheistic vision opened the door not only from science to philosophy, but also to mysticism—the spiritual realization that everything consists of one divine whole and that we are inseparable parts of it. Her journey is chronicled in her book "We Are Stardust" (currently available in Dutch, with hopes for an English translation).Connect with Margot: Website: www.margotbrouwer.nl Email: info@margotbrouwer.nlWatch her life-changing conversation about death: Search "Is Death the Gaping Darkness of Eternity" on YouTube (Unmani's channel)If you know of a publisher that might be interested in translating "We Are Stardust" from Dutch to English, please reach out to Margot through her email.Connect with us:Instagram: @gardenofbecomingpodcastEmail: hello@gardenofbecoming.comReview and Share: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review to help others find this show, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

What if the thing triggering you right now is actually a gift? What if shame, guilt, and fear around your body aren't personality flaws—they're just human patterns you can interrupt?In this raw, honest conversation, Aaron Mandelbaum—philosopher, tantra facilitator, and transformation guide—breaks down the invisible blocks keeping us from pleasure, presence, and authentic connection.We explore:Why triggers are information, not punishment (and how to use them)The nervous system hack animals use that we've forgottenHow to find your real yes and no (versus the ones you think you should have)The two magic words that create clear consent: "may I" and "will you"Why most of our sexual and relational wounds come down to three core beliefsHow ritual brings intention beyond talk therapyThe energetic body as your early warning systemWhy being "divine" doesn't mean bypassing your very human reactionsThis isn't theory—it's practical wisdom from someone who's guided thousands of people worldwide through shame, trauma, and transformation. Whether you're exploring tantra, healing triggers, or just want to stop repeating the same patterns, this episode gives you tools to choose a new path.Content note: This episode includes frank discussion of sexuality, trauma, and healing practices.Key Themes & TopicsTransformation & healingTriggers as informationNervous system regulationShame, guilt & fear around bodies and sexualityTantra & neo-tantraConsent & boundariesThe energetic bodyRitual & intentionFinding your yes and noClear requests ("may I/will you")Aftercare & relationship agreementsEmbodied vs. intellectual healingResources MentionedBooks:Tantra Illuminated by Christopher WallaceThe Recognition Sutras by Christopher WallaceUrban Tantra by Barbara CarrellasWorkshops & Training Programs:Wheel of Consent trainingISTA (International School of Temple Arts)Liberation Childhood/Adolescent ExperienceLandmark EducationEmergence BrotherhoodBarbara Carrellas eventsShamanic Kink (Francesca Gentile)Conscious Kink Training (Seani Love)Aaron's "Voyage Into Presence" (3-day intensive)Connect with Aaron:Instagram: @aaronmstagramWebsite: https://aaronmandelbaum.com/Connect with us:Instagram: @gardenofbecomingpodcastEmail: hello@gardenofbecoming.comGarden of Becoming explores the messy, beautiful work of becoming whole. New episodes drop weekly every Tuesday. Subscribe and follow for conversations that go beneath the surface.Review and Share: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review to help others find this show, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

What if the healing you've been searching for isn't in another app, book, or wellness trend? What if it's literally growing all around you?In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Andrea Jaramillo - a public health nurse, certified forest therapy guide, grief and ceremony holder, and founder of Forest Nurse - to explore forest bathing as medicine for our modern burnout.Originally from Ecuador, Andrea has spent her nursing career walking with people through life's biggest moments, from birth to death. Through this work, she discovered that nature isn't just nice to have - it's medicine we all need.In this episode, you'll discover:Why slowing down is a radical act in our cultureHow to introduce yourself to new land like meeting a friendWhy your anxiety and burnout aren't personal failures but collective symptomsPractical ways to begin forest bathing in your own backyard and how to turn your morning coffee into sacred ritualHow we heal collectively, not individuallyGarden of Becoming explores the messy, beautiful work of becoming whole. New episodes drop weekly every Tuesday. Subscribe and follow for conversations that go beneath the surface.Connect with us:Instagram: @gardenofbecomingpodcastEmail: hello@gardenofbecoming.comConnect with Andrea:Instagram: @forest.nurseWebsite: https://forestnurse.comLinkedIn: Andrea JaramilloReview and Share: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review to help others find this show, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

In this powerful conversation, men's work facilitator Blake Zealear opens up about the unique challenges facing men today and the transformative power of authentic brotherhood.What You'll Learn:Why most men struggle with feelings of inadequacy and constant comparisonThe difference between men's work and co-ed personal development spacesHow childhood bullying and male relationships shape adult patternsThe missing rites of passage in modern culture and their impactPractical tools for developing self-compassion and inner dialogueUnderstanding and expressing anger in healthy waysThe connection between sexuality and emotional intimacyThe "Diamond Rule" - treating yourself as well as you treat othersGuest Bio:  Blake Zealear is a certified sex educator, lead facilitator at ReMenber Brotherhood Journey, faculty at the International School of Temple Arts, and an empowerment coach.Resources Mentioned:Brené BrownKing, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Robert Moore and Douglas GilletteThe Way of the Superior Man by David Deida Masculine in Relationship by YoungbloodBill Plotkin's work on rites of passageWorks by  John WeylandConnect with Blake:Website: blakezealear.comFollow on social media @blakezealearGarden of Becoming explores the messy, beautiful work of becoming whole. New episodes drop weekly every Tuesday. Subscribe and follow for conversations that go beneath the surface.Connect with us:Instagram: @gardenofbecomingpodcastEmail: hello@gardenofbecoming.comReview and Share: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review to help others find this show, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

Join us for an intimate conversation with poet and author Meredith Heller as she shares her powerful journey from homeless teenager to guide helping women worldwide reclaim their authentic voices through poetry. We explore how writing serves as deep medicine for the soul, transforming our relationship with difficult emotions.Guest: Meredith Heller, author of "Write a Poem, Save Your Life" and "Writing by Heart." After leaving home at 12, she found healing through poetry and now leads transformational writing workshops globally.Befriending Your Inner CriticWhy silencing the critic drains our energyThe practice of "inviting the critic over for tea"Working with beginner's mind at any experience levelEmbracing Your WildnessRedefining wildness as courage to feel fullyWhy difficult emotions are "wildness trapped"Moving from surviving to expressing life forceThe Power of WitnessingHow sharing stories transforms shame into self-acceptanceHealing that happens in circle and communityMoving from isolation to "hive heart, hive mind"Practical ToolsWeekly writing dates in different environmentsNotice what sparks you and ask "Why is this meaningful to me?"Write for yourself first, not external audiencesKey Quotes"The wildness is the capacity, willingness, courage, and curiosity to express ourselves, to feel what we feel fully, no matter what it is.""Write to touch your own truth. Write to reach your own hallelujah."Resources:Books: Write a Poem, Save Your Life, Writing by Heart, Caterpillar Girl (Aug 2025)Website: meredithheller.comGlobal Zoom poetry workshops availableGarden of Becoming explores the messy, beautiful work of becoming whole. New episodes drop weekly every Tuesday. Subscribe and follow for conversations that go beneath the surface.Connect with us:Instagram: @gardenofbecomingpodcastEmail: hello@gardenofbecoming.comReview and Share: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review to help others find this show, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

Have you ever known exactly what you need to change but felt unable to actually do it? This conversation with transformation facilitator Karlijn Kouwenhoven reveals why traditional approaches often fall short and how working with your emotional body creates lasting change.Karlijn left her corporate career in leadership development after discovering the power of embodied transformation work. Now she facilitates life-changing retreats worldwide, helping people move beyond intellectual understanding to create real shifts in their lives.In this episode, you'll discover:Why your body might be sabotaging your best intentions to changeHow to work with fear as a teacher rather than an obstacleThe difference between healing alone vs. in communityThree practical tools you can use immediately to process emotions and stuck patternsHow to listen to your body's wisdom when making difficult decisionsWhy multiple conflicting voices in your head are actually normal (and how to work with them)Key Topics Covered:The limitations of purely intellectual approaches to healingHow shame keeps us stuck and practical ways to move through itWhy transformation requires both individual work and community supportThe role of emotional reclaim tools in releasing stored tensionNavigating relationships while you're changing and growingHow to expand your capacity for uncertainty and the unknownAbout Karlijn Kouwenhoven:Karlijn holds a Master's in Social & Organizational Psychology and worked in leadership development at a major consulting firm before discovering transformational body work. She's now a certified Tantra and Hatha Yoga teacher and founder of KABIRA, facilitating development retreats across three continents. Her approach integrates mind, body, and soul through what she calls "cutting through the bullshit" to create real change.Mentioned Resources:CORE Retreat: https://www.kabi-ra.com/core-retreatTake Action:Try one of Karlijn's three practical tools:Write down your inner judgments, read them aloud, and notice what happensPut on music and let your body shake or dance for 5 minutesFace one small fear this week and pay attention to your body's responsePlease note: This episode discusses approaches to emotional processing and transformation. These techniques are meant to complement, not replace, professional mental health support when needed.Garden of Becoming explores the messy, beautiful work of becoming whole. New episodes drop weekly every Tuesday. Subscribe and follow for conversations that go beneath the surface.Connect with us:Instagram: @gardenofbecomingpodcastEmail: hello@gardenofbecoming.comReview and Share: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review to help others find this show, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

With Rahi Chun, Somatic Sex Educator & NeuroAffective Touch PractitionerWhat if the tension you carry isn't something to fix, but wisdom your body is trying to share?In this raw and transformative conversation, Somatic Sex Educator Rahi Chun explains why your body holds onto emotional experiences - and how to work with it, not against it, to release what's been holding you back.What You'll Learn:Understanding Armoring:Why your body creates unconscious muscular guardingHow emotional threats create physical tensionWhere different emotions get stored in your bodyThe Foundation of Healing:Why safety is crucial for any therapeutic workHow to create nervous system regulationThe connection between childhood experiences and adult patternsPractical Tools:How to develop consent with your own bodyThe Three Minute Game for building attunementSelf de-armoring techniques you can try at homeBody Wisdom:The anatomical connection between throat, heart, and pelvisWhy your jaw tension might be connected to your hipsHow unexpressed emotions create physical symptomsAbout Rahi Chun:Rahi combines training as a CA state-certified Somatic Sex Educator, NeuroAffective Touch Practitioner, and Life Coach with an M.A. in Spiritual Psychology. His global training includes work in India, Austria, and Sweden, specializing in de-armoring arts, family constellation therapy, and somatic sexual wholeness.Resources Mentioned:The Three Minute Game by Dr. Betty MartinRahi's website:  www.rahichun.com and www.somaticsexualwholeness.comCourse: "Three Keys to Genital De-armoring” https://somaticsexualwholeness.mykajabi.com/3keysCourse: “Divine Union for Lovers” https://divineunionforlovers.mykajabi.com/courseContent Warning:This episode contains mature discussions about sexual health, trauma, and intimate body work. While educational in nature, listener discretion is advised.Garden of Becoming explores the messy, beautiful work of becoming whole. New episodes drop weekly every Tuesday. Subscribe and follow for conversations that go beneath the surface.Connect with us:Instagram: @gardenofbecomingpodcastEmail: hello@gardenofbecoming.comReview and Share: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review to help others find this show, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

Welcome to the Garden of Becoming!Weekly episodes invite you into soulful conversation with healers, artists, and embodied guides exploring transformation, trauma healing, conscious sexuality, spirituality, creative expression, and the raw magic of being human. We speak to the things that move us—grief and joy, fear and freedom, shame and sovereignty—because becoming your most authentic self asks for courage, community, and the willingness to feel.Subscribe to grow your roots, unfold your wings, and walk the path home to yourself!For daily reflections + soulful tools for healing and embodiment, visit:IG and TikTok: @gardenofbecomingpodcast