Yoga doesn't have to be perfect to be powerful. That's the refreshing message from Melanie Salvatore August, who brings her background as a classically trained actor, writer, and veteran yoga teacher into a conversation that strips away pretense and gets to the heart of what makes practice sustainable. Melanie's journey began with meditation books discovered as a preteen and evolved through her years in New York and Los Angeles before motherhood completely transformed her approach. With disa...
What if the key to living more fully isn’t thinking harder, but reconnecting with your body? In this week’s episode of How We Can Heal, Lisa sits down with actor and teacher Josh Pais to explore what it really means to “lose your mind” and why that might be the best thing you can do. Josh shares how his father's work as a theoretical physicist alongside Einstein sparked a profound insight: emotions are simply atomic vibrations. This perspective forms the foundation of his groundbreaking appro...
Ever feel like polarization makes meaningful conversation nearly impossible? Dr. Donna Hicks returns with transformative insights on navigating our divided world through dignity consciousness. At Harvard's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Hicks witnesses dignity violations daily yet remains steadfastly committed to her groundbreaking work. She reveals why these violations feel so viscerally painful – our brains process them identically to physical wounds – and offers pract...
Lucy Bartholomew brings Australian sunshine to this captivating conversation about finding purpose on mountain trails and wisdom in difficult moments. When Lucy was just 15, she discovered her passion for ultra running alongside her father, embarking on a journey that would take her from weekend camping trips to world championship podiums. What began as quality time with her dad evolved into a career marked by remarkable achievements—winning Ultra Trail Cape Town 100K, placing third at Weste...
What does it truly mean to show up whole and authentic in a world that encourages fragmentation? Dr. Thema Bryant doesn't just talk about integration—she embodies it as a psychologist, author, professor, sacred artist, and minister leading transformative work in trauma healing and relationship building. Dr. Bryant shares her excitement about merging different aspects of her identity and work, challenging the notion that we must compartmentalize ourselves based on context. "I'm excited about ...
Dr. Judith Herman, a towering figure in trauma studies and author of the landmark books "Trauma and Recovery" and "Truth and Repair," takes us on a journey through the evolution of trauma understanding from the 1970s—when we didn't even have terminology for what victims experienced—to today's complex landscape of healing and justice. Drawing from decades of clinical work and research with survivors, Dr. Herman reveals how trauma exists within frameworks of dominance and subordination that pe...
Ready to transform your healing journey? Season six of the award-winning How We Can Heal podcast brings fresh perspectives and powerful insights every Monday. We've assembled an extraordinary lineup of powerhouse healers, teachers, athletes, researchers, and even actors who will share their unique approaches to personal and collective healing. This season dives deep into transformative concepts like liberation psychology and tyranny while exploring how moments of courage—whether small daily ...
Dr. David Spiegel, Wilson Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, brings over 40 years of expertise in trauma, hypnosis, and mind-body medicine to this fascinating conversation. Drawing from decades of scientific research, Dr. Spiegel reveals how hypnosis serves as "controlled dissociation," offering a powerful pathway for trauma recovery by allowing people to revisit difficult experiences while maintaining physical comfort. The conversation takes us deep into the neuroscience o...
Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice. If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice! Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners. Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today! ----- This episode is also sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD). ...
Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice. If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice! Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners. Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today! ----- This episode is also sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD). ...
Facing the unimaginable pain of losing a child, Anna Ratnathicam Diab opens her heart to share the story of her daughter Carolina, who passed away suddenly at age 11 during a family trip to Uganda in 2019. What unfolds is a raw, honest conversation about navigating grief's unpredictable terrain and finding meaningful ways to honor a child's memory. Anna vividly recalls Carolina's vibrant personality—her love of bright colors, her notorious sweet tooth, and her habit of wearing "pattern on pa...
Award-winning author of "The Yoga of Parenting," Sarah Ezrin shares how yoga philosophy provides a framework for navigating parenthood's chaos with grace and self-compassion. The yoga practice she once knew - with its hours on the mat and meditation cushion - has transformed into what she calls "yoga snacks": micro-moments of mindfulness chosen throughout her day. These might look like lighting a favorite candle amid dinner preparation madness, taking five deep breaths during an argumen...
What if the transformation into parenthood isn't just about survival, but offers a unique window of opportunity for profound growth? In this illuminating conversation, classical singer and Alexander Technique practitioner Madison Smith challenges the harmful notion that we should "bounce back" after childbirth, offering instead a revolutionary perspective on the neurological shifts that occur during this major life transition. "Your body's not coming back, and I don't say that negatively," M...
What if sports were designed around athlete wellbeing instead of profit? In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Diane Williams shares the buried history of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), an organization that flourished in the 1970s and early 1980s with a radical vision for collegiate athletics centered on education and student development. Dr. Williams, a professor of kinesiology at McDaniel College and former NCAA All-American athlete, reveals how this women-...
What happens when a casual curiosity about trail running transforms into a life-changing journey of service? Bugi's remarkable story unfolds as she recounts her evolution from a nervous first-timer at a Brazen Racing event to becoming "the other Kenyan" – an ultra runner who now feeds 42 children daily through her foundation in rural Kenya. The magic of the trail running community shines throughout this conversation as Bugi describes finding her people through those long, vulnerable hours sp...
This episode is sponsored by Ultrasignup, the leading marketplace for discovering, registering, and managing trail running events across the United States. With a mission to promote the spirit of trail running and outdoor adventure, UltraSignup hosts a diverse range of races and events. When you visit Ultrasignup.com you’ll find over 5000 events – about half of which are NOT ultra-distance. You’ll also find stories highlighting runners, race directors, training tips, running destinations, and...
Lucja Leonard's journey from forging sick notes to avoid PE class to completing a 300-mile ultramarathon across the Arizona desert reveals the transformative power of pushing beyond perceived limits. Just five days after finishing this monumental race, Lucja shares how she navigated extreme sleep deprivation, 90-degree heat, and those inevitable moments where every life decision is questioned. The conversation dives deep into what pulls someone toward such extreme challenges. For Lucja, it's ...
Dion Leonard's life changed forever when a small dog joined him for 80 miles of a grueling 155-mile ultra-marathon across the Gobi Desert in China. Their story of connection, separation, and eventual reunion became a New York Times bestseller, but behind this heartwarming tale lies an equally powerful journey of personal healing. Before becoming a world-class endurance athlete, Dion was a pack-a-day smoker who couldn't run around the block. His transformation began with a drunken bet about a...
Dr. Frank Corrigan joins us to share his groundbreaking approach to trauma healing called Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR). With his melodious Scottish accent and over 30 years of experience as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Scotland's National Health Service, Frank explains how his quest to help severely traumatized patients led to this innovative method that addresses trauma at its deepest neurobiological roots. The magic of DBR lies in its focus on a critical moment most approaches miss – the m...
Welcome back to the How We Can Heal Podcast! Season 5 is coming April 14th With new episodes dropping every Monday. You've probably heard the saying, "time heals all wounds," and while healing often does take time, there are other elements and skills that can support the process. This season we'll focus on those moments, choices, and approaches that help us choose and experience healing. In addition to highlighting the voices of stellar clinicians and mental health professionals t...