Intimate Conversations

Step into a raw, courageous, and deeply intimate conversation with Vanessa Cushing, Licensed Professional Counselor, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, and founder of Cushing Counseling, on this episode of Intimate Conversations: Dark Night to Divine Light. Vanessa's work centers on sexual health, trauma, intimacy, and relationships. She supports individuals and couples navigating sexual dysfunction, desire discrepancies, attachment wounds, out of control sexual behaviors, and identity. She is also the founder of Sex Therapy Pro, an AI powered platform designed to make informed, shame free sexual health guidance more accessible. Vanessa's path to this work is deeply personal. As a survivor of sexual assault and institutional betrayal, she understands what it means to seek support in systems that can fail the very people who need them most. She shares how anger became her first fuel, how education and achievement helped her reclaim her power, and why her deepest healing came through the courageous journey back to her own inherent worth. I also explore the difference between knowing something intellectually and truly embodying it, the protective parts we create around our childhood wounds, and why real intimacy begins long before anyone takes their clothes off. We also talk about: Why rage can be a powerful first response to trauma, and what happens when we begin to move beyond it The difference between proving your worth and actually embodying it How contempt can hide inside the belief that one partner is spiritually or emotionally ahead of the other The Buddhist parable of the horse and what it teaches us about good, bad, and the unknown Radical accountability and why your pleasure is your responsibility, not your partner's The May I Will You exercise and how it can transform the way we communicate our yes and no Why you cannot truly trust a yes if someone is not free to say no The monster quote that stopped us in our tracks and what it reveals about our protective parts Vanessa's fear of abandonment and my fear of physical harm, and what happens when we name our fears with compassion How Internal Family Systems (IFS), ketamine assisted therapy, and psychedelic somatic work are influencing trauma healing Why knowing your trauma is not the same as integrating it How Vanessa helps train other clinicians to bring sex therapy into their practices What sex can become when it is no longer driven by performance or expectations What a rich life really looks like when we stop chasing it and recognize what is already here This episode is a reminder that intimacy is not a destination. It is a practice of coming home to yourself, your body, and the parts of you that have been hidden away since childhood. And from that deeper sense of wholeness, learning to meet another person with honesty, freedom, and love. ABOUT VANESSA CUSHING Vanessa Ariel Cushing, LPC, CST, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, and founder of Cushing Counseling LLC. She specializes in sexual health, trauma, intimacy, and relationships, using approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, and mindfulness based practices. She holds a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University, where she graduated summa cum laude, and a Certificate in Sex Therapy from the University of Michigan. She is also a published researcher and editorial reviewer for several academic journals. Vanessa is the founder of Sex Therapy Pro, an AI powered platform bringing informed, shame free sexual health guidance to people who may not have access to specialized care. Her clinical expertise, research background, and lived experience inform her commitment to making honest, accessible support available to everyone. CONNECT WITH VANESSA Website: www.cushingcounseling.com Free 15 Minute Consultation: www.cushingcounseling.com Vanessa Cushing, Allana Pratt, Intimate Conversations, Dark Night to Divine Light, trauma healing, sexual trauma recovery, intimacy, relationship healing, attachment wounds,  Internal Family Systems, emotional intimacy, healthy relationships #AllanaPratt #VanessaCushing #Therapy #Intimacy ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Go deeper with me, inside The Intimate World ➡️ Visit: www.patreon.com/AllanaPratt 💫 Book Your Intimacy Breakthrough Experience with Allana: www.allanapratt.com/connect Scholarship Code: READYNOW 💖 Ready to stop searching for The One and finally become The One? Discover Allana's signature program: Become the One Introductory Program: www.allanapratt.com/becomeintro Use Code: BTO22 for over 40% off Stay Connected with me: Exclusive Video Newsletter: www.allanapratt.com/newsletter Instagram URL: @allanapratt    Facebook URL: coachallanapratt  

Step into a reverent, deeply connected, and soul expanding conversation with Matt Zemon, author of Ordinary Mystics, Doctor of Ministry, and holder of a master's degree in psychology and neuroscience, on this episode of Intimate Conversations: Dark Night to Divine Light. Matt's life was reordered by a single encounter with the Sacred. Today, he serves as Executive Director of the Council on Spiritual Practices and works at the intersection of science, spirituality, and our deep human longing for connection. Matt shares the story of his first psilocybin experience. Having never been a drug user, he entered the experience hoping to learn and travel inward. What followed was deeply personal. He reconnected with the memory of his mother, who had died when he was twenty two, experienced a profound sense of connection across generations, and released a long held belief that he would die young. In just five hours, his understanding of life, death, and spirituality changed. Together, Allana and Matt explore what it means to move out of the head and into the body, why ceremony and preparation matter, and how community and integration can help people make sense of profound experiences. At the heart of their conversation is a powerful question: What if the sacred is not somewhere far away, but woven into the ordinary moments of our lives? We also talk about: Matt's first psilocybin experience and his powerful connection to his mother Why psychedelics may open a door to healing without replacing the work of integration The importance of preparation, ceremony, and support before and after a medicine experience How Matt's experience influenced a conversation with his teenager about ceremony Why couples should never pressure each other into this work The difference between having a spiritual experience and living a spiritual life How community can support accountability, connection, and continued growth A powerful moment of curiosity that helped Matt revisit a decades old experience of abuse Veteran suicide, emerging interest in psychedelic assisted approaches, and the conversations shaping this field New Mexico's approach to psychedelic policy and what it could mean for the wider conversation Matt's experience of changing his relationship with alcohol How spiritual practice can shape the experience of accompanying someone who is dying Why love is not scarce, and what changes when we begin to live from that understanding This episode is an invitation to remember that we are not necessarily broken. Sometimes, we have lost touch with the connection, love, and meaning that have been here all along. Matt's story reminds us that profound experiences can open new perspectives, while the ongoing work of integration helps us bring those insights into everyday life. ABOUT MATT ZEMON Matt Zemon is an author whose life was transformed by a profound encounter with the Sacred. After years of building a company and living behind a version of himself he no longer recognized, he experienced a renewed connection to those he had lost and to something larger than himself. He holds a Doctor of Ministry and a master's degree in psychology and neuroscience, serves as Executive Director of the Council on Spiritual Practices, and is the author of six books, including Ordinary Mystics. His work brings together science, spirituality, and the human longing for connection, with an emphasis on approaching these experiences with reverence and care. CONNECT WITH MATT Website: www.mattzemon.com Instagram: @matt.zemon   FREE GIFT: ORDINARY MYSTICS COMPANION GUIDES Explore Matt's free companion guides for Ordinary Mystics, including resources for integration, meaningful conversations, and approaching experiences of the Sacred with care. No cost, and no sign up required. www.mattzemon.com/ordinarymystics Matt Zemon, Allana Pratt, Intimate Conversations, spirituality, sacred experiences, psychedelic integration, psilocybin, ceremony and integration, spiritual growth, grief and healing, connection, mindfulness, psychology and neuroscience, end of life, personal transformation, spiritual practice #AllanaPratt #MattZemon #OrdinaryMystics #Spirituality   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Go deeper with me, inside The Intimate World ➡️ Visit: www.patreon.com/AllanaPratt 💫 Book Your Intimacy Breakthrough Experience with Allana: www.allanapratt.com/connect Scholarship Code: READYNOW 💖 Ready to stop searching for The One and finally become The One? Discover Allana's signature program: Become the One Introductory Program: www.allanapratt.com/becomeintro Use Code: BTO22 for over 40% off Stay Connected with me: Exclusive Video Newsletter: www.allanapratt.com/newsletter Instagram URL: @allanapratt    Facebook URL: coachallanapratt

Step into a deeply moving, paradigm shifting, and tenderly human conversation with Valeriya Hjertenaes, PhD, neurodiversity and sustainability leadership expert, global keynote speaker, author, coach, and award winning podcast host, on this episode of Intimate Conversations: Dark Night to Divine Light. Joining us from Norway at nearly midnight, Valeriya brings her lived experience, research, and heart to a conversation about what it means to be wired differently in a world built for someone else. Valeriya shares the moment everything changed. While working in Ukrainian orphanages and navigating her first adoption, she experienced her first intrusive thought amid exhaustion and cognitive overload. Without a framework to understand what was happening, she spent two years struggling in silence before seeking professional help. Then, just three months after walking the red carpet at Cannes as a sustainable fashion advocate, she checked herself into a mental health institution for four weeks. It was there, with limited phone access, that she discovered the term neurodiversity and found a new sense of purpose. She rebuilt her PhD around the subject, launched her podcast, and began transforming her personal experience into a mission to help others thrive. We also talk about: What neurodiversity means and how cognitive diversity contributes to human potential Valeriya's personal experience with OCD and her perspective on neurodivergent strengths How intrusive thoughts work and why having a thought does not define who you are The difference between masking and thriving as a neurodivergent person Why seeking mental health support can be an act of courage How to approach a neurodivergent child, partner, or colleague with curiosity instead of judgment The 5E ENABLERS Method: Empathize, Evolve, Evaluate, Enhance, and Empower How digital overload can affect focus, wellbeing, and cognitive performance The role of daily rituals, spaciousness, and self trust in supporting wellbeing Raising teenagers with openness about mental health How neurodiversity can reshape leadership, inclusion, and workplace culture Why collaboration, connection, and slowing down matter in an increasingly polarized world The difference between asking "How are you?" and genuinely wanting to know This episode is a reminder that being different does not mean being broken. Valeriya's story invites us to question old assumptions, recognize the strengths within cognitive diversity, and create environments where people can thrive without hiding who they are. Our darkest nights do not have to be the end of the story. Sometimes, they become the beginning of a new mission. ABOUT VALERIYA HJERTENAES Valeriya Hjertenaes, PhD, is a neurodiversity and sustainability leadership expert, global keynote speaker, author, mentor, coach, and award winning podcast host. Drawing on more than 15 years of international leadership experience across corporate, nonprofit, and human rights sectors, she helps organizations turn cognitive diversity into leadership effectiveness, resilience, innovation, and sustainable performance. She is the founder of the 5E ENABLERS Method™, a leadership framework built around Empathize, Evolve, Evaluate, Enhance, and Empower. As a neurodivergent leader with lived experience of OCD and an adoptive mother of two, Valeriya combines research, professional expertise, and personal insight to champion more inclusive and sustainable approaches to leadership. CONNECT WITH VALERIYA Website: https://bio.site/ValeriyaImpact.Global Instagram: @mrs.worldcongeniality Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vhjertenaes YouTube: @diversitygamechanger Valeriya Hjertenaes, Allana Pratt, Intimate Conversations, Dark Night to Divine Light, neurodiversity, OCD, intrusive thoughts, neurodivergent leadership, mental health awareness, cognitive diversity, 5E ENABLERS Method, sustainability leadership, neurodivergent strengths, masking and neurodiversity, mental health support, inclusive leadership, human performance, social sustainability, parenting and mental health #AllanaPratt #ValeriyaHjertenaes #Neurodiversity #MentalHealthAwareness ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Go deeper with me, inside The Intimate World ➡️ Visit: www.patreon.com/AllanaPratt 💫 Book Your Intimacy Breakthrough Experience with Allana: www.allanapratt.com/connect Scholarship Code: READYNOW 💖 Ready to stop searching for The One and finally become The One? Discover Allana's signature program: Become the One Introductory Program: www.allanapratt.com/becomeintro Use Code: BTO22 for over 40% off Stay Connected with me: Exclusive Video Newsletter: www.allanapratt.com/newsletter Instagram URL: @allanapratt    Facebook URL: coachallanapratt  

Step into a mind expanding, optimistic, and deeply practical conversation with Dr. Bryce Appelbaum, a pioneer in neuro optometry, founder of MyVisionFirst and ScreenFit, and an expert in the connection between our eyes, our brains, and how we show up in every area of life, on this episode of Intimate Conversations: Dark Night to Divine Light. From elite athletes to children with developmental delays to adults struggling with presence, focus, and connection, Dr. Bryce is on a mission to change the way the world understands vision. What he shares may change the way you understand yourself. Dr. Bryce opens up about his own experience growing up with sensory overload, an alternating eye turn, limited depth perception, and a nervous system often stuck in fight or flight. The vision work his parents pioneered helped transform him from a reluctant reader and struggling young athlete into a confident, high performing adult. Today, he helps others explore the potential of their own eye brain connection. What if some of our struggles with intimacy, eye contact, confidence, and connection are not simply character flaws? Could functional vision skills play a role in how we experience ourselves and relate to others? We also talk about: Why eyesight and functional vision are different, and why 20/20 eyesight is not the whole story How the brain processes visual information and influences attention, movement, and performance Why difficulty maintaining eye contact may involve visual processing as well as emotional or social factors How stress and fight or flight can affect tunnel vision and peripheral awareness The relationship between peripheral vision, spatial awareness, feeling safe, and being present How screens place demands on our visual system, focus, and attention What monovision contacts may mean for depth perception and spatial awareness The peripheral pointing exercise Dr. Bryce shares to explore peripheral awareness How vision performance training is used by athletes across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and other sports What ScreenFit offers for people looking to build healthier visual habits during screen use How visual awareness may intersect with intimacy, emotional connection, and confidence Why individualized vision assessments matter when exploring functional vision concerns This conversation is a reminder that the way we see the world can influence how we experience it, including our confidence, our relationships, our capacity for intimacy, and our ability to be present with the people we love. When we understand the connection between our eyes and our brains, we open up new possibilities for personal growth, performance, and connection. ABOUT DR. BRYCE APPELBAUM Dr. Bryce Appelbaum is a pioneer in neuro optometry, an international TEDx speaker, and the founder and CEO of MyVisionFirst. He specializes in functional vision and human performance, helping people understand and train the connection between their eyes and their brains. He also created ScreenFit, an online vision training program designed to support healthier visual habits in a screen heavy world. Dr. Bryce has worked with thousands of patients and hundreds of professional athletes, as well as professional and collegiate sports teams. His work has been featured in USA Today, NBC, CBS, The Times, and The New York Times Sunday Magazine. He has also appeared on podcasts including The Human Upgrade with Dave Asprey, Feel Better, Live More with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, and The Genius Life with Max Lugavere. SPECIAL OFFERS FOR INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS LISTENERS Save $200 on ScreenFit with code INTIMATE: https://screenfit.com/enroll Get 10% off selected digital performance lens products with code INTIMATE: https://shop.myvisionfirst.com Take a free vision assessment: https://myvisionfirst.com/quiz Episode on Dr. Bryce's Site: https://myvisionfirst.com/eye-contact-intimacy-vision/ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Go deeper with me, inside The Intimate World ➡️ Visit: www.patreon.com/AllanaPratt 💫 Book Your Intimacy Breakthrough Experience with Allana: www.allanapratt.com/connect Scholarship Code: READYNOW 💖 Ready to stop searching for The One and finally become The One? Discover Allana's signature program: Become the One Introductory Program: www.allanapratt.com/becomeintro Use Code: BTO22 for over 40% off Stay Connected with me: Exclusive Video Newsletter: www.allanapratt.com/newsletter Instagram URL: @allanapratt    Facebook URL: coachallanapratt  

Step into a warm, wandering, and surprisingly intimate conversation with Amanda Black, entrepreneur, community builder, and founder of The Solo Female Traveler Network, the largest community of women who travel solo worldwide, on this episode of Intimate Conversations: Dark Night to Divine Light. With a global community of more than half a million women, a TEDx talk on the power of shared firsts, and a mission to help women change their lives through adventure and real connection, Amanda is living proof that following your gut, even when it looks like a one-way ticket to a country you've never visited, can become your life's greatest gift. Amanda opens up about the loss that started everything. Her mom, her best friend, died when she was twenty-nine. With a small amount of money and a heart full of grief and quiet defiance, she bought a one-way ticket to Honduras and became a dive master. What began as a declaration of defiance against the loss that had changed her life became the foundation of a global movement. A Facebook group of 65,000 women wanting to travel together led to a sold-out Bali trip. That trip became the beginning of something much bigger: a community built around adventure, belonging, and the kind of connection that can change your life. Together, Allana and Amanda explore what women are really seeking when they book a trip alone. It is rarely just the destination. It is the permission to show up fully, form bonds in unexpected places, and discover parts of themselves they have been too busy, too worried, or too caught up in people-pleasing to meet before. We also talk about: How grief can become a portal to total self-permission The difference between worry as love and worry as control Why shared firsts can unlock connection that years of ordinary conversation cannot The sisterhood that forms when women do hard things together for the first time How a 109-flight stair climb to Tiger's Nest became one of the most beautiful days of Amanda's life What women think they are signing up for versus what they actually receive Why half a million women are choosing to travel solo and what that reveals about our hunger for real connection How Amanda kept her company alive through the pandemic by taking personal risks The surprising vulnerability of being a highly self-sufficient woman who still craves meaningful partnership Why the depth we build with our women friends is the standard we deserve to bring into romantic love What the first voice of excitement, before the brain interrupts, may be trying to tell you Amanda's TEDx talk on shared firsts and how new experiences help us build belonging Upcoming adventures to Uzbekistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Egypt, Morocco, and destinations across Africa This episode is a reminder that the life you are longing for may be one brave, slightly reckless, beautifully impulsive yes away. Sometimes the best way to find your people is to stop waiting for connection to happen and go create the conditions for it. ABOUT AMANDA BLACK Amanda Black is an entrepreneur, community builder, and founder of The Solo Female Traveler Network, a global community helping women experience the world through culturally rich travel, adventure, and meaningful connection. With a decade of experience in global travel, community design, and transformational group experiences, Amanda is passionate about creating shared moments that turn strangers into lifelong friends. She is also the speaker behind the TEDx talk "Shared Firsts: Redesigning How We Find Belonging" and the founder of Kindred Community, offering women connection retreats designed to make meaningful relationships feel natural, joyful, and accessible. CONNECT WITH AMANDA Website: www.thesolofemaletravelernetwork.com Meet Amanda: www.meetamandablack.com Kindred Community: www.kindredcommunity.co Instagram: @solofemaletravel TikTok: @sofetravel YouTube: @sofetravel TEDx Talk, Shared Firsts: Redesigning How We Find Belonging —————————————————————————————————————————— 💫 Book Your Intimacy Breakthrough Experience with Allana: www.allanapratt.com/connect Scholarship Code: READYNOW 💖 Ready to stop searching for The One and finally become The One? Discover Allana's signature program: Become the One Introductory Program: www.allanapratt.com/becomeintro Use Code: BTO22 for over 40% off Stay Connected with me: Exclusive Video Newsletter: www.allanapratt.com/newsletter Instagram URL: @allanapratt    Facebook URL: coachallanapratt