The Loving Challenger

***Note - this is a NEW podcast series The Matriarchal Collective. Please follow the new channel for more episodes like this!What does it mean to become a Matriarch in a culture that has largely forgotten how to initiate women through the stages of their lives?In this first conversation of The Matriarchal Collective, I sit down with Brazilian-born writer and thinker Adriana Forte for a wide-ranging exploration of women's cyclical minds, perimenopause and menopause, modernity, motherhood, grief, community, and the return of the Matriarch.Adriana is currently preparing her book The Matriarch and the Machine: Breaking the Spell of Modernity in Women and the World. Rather than releasing it as a finished work from a single authoritative voice, she is inviting women into the process. Beginning this fall, she’ll release the book chapter by chapter through C-Lab, sharing unfinished material and inviting readers to grapple with the ideas, add their own lived experiences, and help shape what she calls the “Spell-breakers notes.” As Adriana explains in our conversation, if the Matriarch is collective, she wants the book itself to be touched by the collective too.01:41 — What does it mean to be a Matriarch?05:50 — The Matriarch as a counterbalance to modernity10:55 — Perimenopause, menopause & the changing female mind15:17 — Cycle dysphoria: cyclical bodies in a linear culture24:01 — Grieving fertility, aging & the loss of elder models29:19 — “Waking up from the middle” without rites of passage32:10 — Why we need women, community & loving challenge37:13 — A different model of leadership: collaborative & mycelial42:14 — The Matriarch and the Machine, HRT & choices in context49:02 — Releasing the book collectively + the return of the MatriarchAnd this conversation is only the beginning. The Matriarchal Collective is a growing space for women exploring the thresholds of midlife, the wisdom of our changing bodies, and what becomes possible when we navigate these transitions together. Join the conversation on Instagram: The Matriarchal Collective on InstagramWe're looking to connect with more incredible woman to be interviewed on The Matriarchal Collective podcast - message me at [email protected] - thank you!IG @matriarchalcollective - for more inspiration!

In this episode, Megan and Mercy Kostucki explore the revolutionary potential of personalized music created through AI, designed to support emotional healing, self-discovery, and new identities. Discover how sound and metaphors can bypass the mental mind to connect deeply with your emotional and somatic systems.You'll learn:How custom music serves as a powerful coaching and healing toolThe science behind sound perception: faster than light and its impact on the bodyPractical applications: from emotional breakthroughs to wedding ritualsThe role of metaphors as Trojan horses into the subconsciousThe emotional and transformation potential of creating songs for specific memories and desiresEthical use of AI: tools for empowerment rather than purely entertainmentConnect with Mercy here! Sonic Rewrite — Personalized AI music creationSonic Union Studio — Wedding and event-focused custom musicMercedes-Nam Kostiuki on Spotify — Find her music on SpotifyLinkedIn - Mercedes Nam Kostiuki

Tuning into your desires, wants and needs is the path to self-love. In this episode you'll hear the 4 step process to follow these desires to a more loving relationship with yourself! - Self-Awareness- Self-Acceptance- Self-Worth- Self-CareWant to continue this conversation and learn how to love yourself THROUGH and with your desires? Let's talk! Grab 20 minutes on my calendar (free): https://calendly.com/meganbhatia/20min

In this episode, Megan invites you to turn your daydreams into daily reality. Learn how to identify the feelings behind your dreams—like freedom, rest, or joy—and start generating them right now, even in small ways. Discover how to become a better partner to yourself, set healthy boundaries, and create a life that feels more alive and aligned.💫 Free 20-minute clarity call: Uncover what your daydreams are really telling you.Have a situation you'd like support with? Send a DM to @lovingchallengers on IG

Through the lens of Context, Contrast, and Continuum, I introduce a new mental model—one that honors nuance, invites integration, and transcends the binary habits that shape much of our perception. I like to call it the evolution of yin and yang symbol and it's very useful in everyday life. What do you think of the episode? Let's talk about it! Reach out on IG @lovingchallengers or send me a message [email protected] Learn more about the Loving Challengers Community click here!