In conversation, Brett Goldstein reveals a refreshingly honest and relatable approach to both work and life—he and Sarah move fluidly between stories of vulnerability, reflections on personal growth, and practical wisdom cultivated from real mistakes and successes. Their dialogue uncovers how Brett’s leadership style is grounded in emotional openness and “human connection,” exploring how trust and authenticity ripple out from daily professional choices to transform family life, friendships, and even self-understanding. With humor, a bit of grit, and plenty of actionable insights, their exchange highlights that success isn’t measured in numbers, but in the quality of our relationships and our willingness to show up, learn together, and embrace imperfection along the way.
Show notes:
In this powerful conversation, host Sarah Melissa Oswald speaks with Dr. Jae Sevelius—Senior Research Specialist at Relational Life Foundation and a nationally recognized psychologist—about the evolving research behind Relational Life Therapy (RLT). Together they explore how relationships heal us, the vision for making RLT an evidence-based, scalable modality, and the exciting intersection of relational work and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Jae shares how data, compassion, and authenticity can help transform not only therapy but culture itself.
Show Notes:
In this powerful episode, host Sarah Melissa Oswald sits down with therapist and peace facilitator Chiddie Anyasodo to explore her remarkable journey from oil and gas engineer to relational healer. Drawing on her background in engineering systems and her training in Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Chiddie has pioneered a groundbreaking approach to conflict resolution, transforming age-old community tensions in Nigeria through the creation of the “Five Masquerades” metaphor.
Chiddie shares how she helped a village locked in a 19-year conflict find common ground, peace, and even laughter by translating complex relational dynamics into cultural stories that resonated deeply with her community. From navigating patriarchal structures to disarming resistance and shame, Chiddie demonstrates how relational skills can heal not just couples, but entire communities.
This conversation is both inspiring and practical, a glimpse into how systemic change begins with relational courage, creativity, and compassion.
Chiddie Anyasodo is a UK based psychotherapist, conflict-resolution specialist, and founder of Chotayah, working at the point where psychoanalytic depth meets community peacebuilding.
She spent her early career in the high-stakes world of oil and gas with Schlumberger and Baker Hughes, leading real-time diagnostics and strategy across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. This experience honed her eye for the hidden relational dynamics that drive systemic failure. Identifying a critical gap in research on African relationship dynamics, she began a Doctorate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at the University of Exeter. Alongside a thriving private practice, she serves in some of the UK’s most demanding clinical environments: within the NHS as a psychotherapist specialising in personality disorder and complex trauma, and as a therapist for a major UK local authority.
She is the creator of the “Five Masquerades,” a groundbreaking, culturally resonant translation of Relational Life Therapy’s losing strategies that changes behaviour without shame; in 2025 she helped catalyse a breakthrough de-escalation in a decades-long community conflict by pairing parity with accountability under a single, even code. Chiddie is the author of the forthcoming book The Festival of the Five Masquerades, anchors a growing curriculum, and is collaborating with the Relational Life Foundation to shape this work into trainable tools for couples, leaders, and communities worldwide.Show Notes: Scholarship application for RLT
Website: https://chotayah.com/
In this episode of Facets of Connection, host Sarah Melissa Oswald sits down with Iuri Melo to explore the urgent youth mental health crisis and the power of proactive solutions.
Iuri is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 years of experience and the proud father of five. He’s the co-founder of SchoolPulse, a nationwide student support service that delivers positivity, optimism, and growth mindset tools to students, parents, and faculty via text and email. After several teen suicides in his community, Iuri co-created SchoolPulse in 2017 to proactively support student well-being. He’s also the author of Mind Over Grey Matter and the teen best-seller Know Thy Selfie, and the developer of “Adventure Based Therapy.” With over 300 schools in 25+ states, Iuri’s mission to “bless the human family” is inspiring students every day through kindness, psychology, and powerful weekly videos.
Together, Sarah and Iuri dive into:
This heartfelt conversation is filled with optimism, practical strategies, and a shared commitment to ending the epidemic of loneliness by fostering connection at home, in schools, and across communities.
In this conversation, Sarah sits down with Kathi Burns, a best-selling author, board certified professional organizer, personal stylist & nationally recognized for her simple organizing & style solutions. She has also been featured on Good Morning America as a successful woman owned business. Sarah and Kathi explore how our relationship with our built and digital environments impacts our well-being, productivity, and connections with others. Kathi Burns is .Kathi shares her mission of helping people embrace change with less fear, whether through decluttering a kitchen counter, streamlining business systems, or reframing how we approach “piles” in our lives. Together, they discuss how organization reduces overwhelm, strengthens relationships, and creates space for joy, creativity, and resilience. This episode offers practical wisdom and inspiring insights for anyone seeking more ease in their life and relationships.Show Notes:
Resources:
In this heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation, RLT-certified coach Beverly Joy Ehrlich sits down with Sarah Melissa Oswald, Director of Relational Life Foundation, to explore what it means to foster intimacy through community. Their conversation illuminates the limitations of the nuclear family model and invites us to reimagine relationships as living systems—ever-evolving, interdependent, and rich with possibility. From Sarah’s personal journey of cultivating multifaceted relationships to practical insights on building meaningful connections, this episode is a powerful reminder that intimacy doesn’t begin and end with our romantic partners.
Discover how community, diversity, and inclusive connection can create a more sustainable foundation for belonging and relational resilience—especially in a time of increasing speed, loneliness, and disconnection.Show Notes:Sarah Melissa Oswald’s private practice, Lead Your Love Life
Beverly Joy Ehrlich’ private practice
Carol Giligan
Thomas Hübl
Priya Parker: The Art of Gathering
MatrixWorks: Living Systems in Groups
Jessica Fern – Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Nonmonogamy
Resources:
RLT Relationship Skills Bootcamps
In this rich conversation, therapist, educator, and RLT mentor Caron Starobin, LCSW-C, joins us to explore the unique complexities—and deep potential—of neurodiverse relationships. Drawing on decades of experience, Caron shares how Relational Life Therapy (RLT) offers an empowering framework for supporting couples where one or both partners are neurodivergent. We discuss the intersections of trauma and neurodivergence, how ableism can show up in relationships, and the importance of breaking down communication to build true connection.
Caron opens up about her path into this work, shaped by her own family history and a deep passion for helping people feel seen, heard, and less alone. Whether you're a practitioner, a partner in a neurodiverse relationship, or simply curious about how different brains relate in love, this episode offers insight, compassion, and real-world tools to bring more empathy and satisfaction into your relationships.
To dive deeper into Caron’s work or to explore her upcoming Relationship Bootcamp, visit www.starobincounseling.com.
Show Notes:Connect with Caron Starobin
No Ordinary Love Community Conversation
RLT Feedback Wheel
Save Your Seat in Caron’s Relationship Bootcamp (October 10-11, Ashton Maryland)
RLT Certification
In this heartfelt episode of Facets of Connection, we sit down with therapist, author, and mother, Susan Caso, MA, LPC, to explore how respectful, connected relationships between parents and teens can help shift the trajectory of our current youth mental health crisis. Drawing from over two decades of experience and her book The Parent-Teen Connection, Susan offers actionable tools for building emotional closeness, fostering trust, and transforming conflict into meaningful repair.
Susan and Sarah dive into key concepts like belonging at home, the difference between the “parent role” and the “mom/dad role,” how to model emotional regulation, and why perfection isn’t the goal—connection is. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone raising, working with, or simply caring about the next generation.
Whether you're parenting a toddler or a teen, this episode offers rich insight and thoughtful guidance for navigating the relational work of raising whole humans.
Show Notes:Susan Caso’s book: The Parent Teen Connection
Ed Tronick: Rupture and Repair
Janet Lansbury: Respectful Parenting
Infinite Campus
Gestalt Therapy
SusanCaso.com
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Stacee and Ya’Ron Brown, licensed professional counselors, married couple, and co-founders of the Relational Growth and Wellness Foundation. They share their mission to bring healing, transformation, and liberation to BIPOC and Pan-African communities through accessible mental health care, relational education, and cultural representation. Drawing from their lived experience and 17 years of marriage, Stacee and Ya’Ron speak candidly about using Relational Life Therapy (RLT) to break cycles of generational trauma and support thriving relationships in their community.
We explore their nonprofit’s work to train future leaders, expand access to therapy, and their exciting partnership with Relational Life Foundation to bring these vital tools to underserved communities—at home and abroad. This is a conversation about radical love, representation, and generational healing—one relationship at a time.
Show Notes:RGWF Foundation
RLF Newsletter Signup
Join our host, Sarah Melissa Oswald, as she takes you inside the Colorado State Penitentiary, where she witnesses the transformative power of the Realness Project. Through heartfelt conversations with incarcerated men, she explores what it means to connect, to lead, and to heal—even in the most dehumanizing environments. This episode is a moving reflection on resilience, relational leadership, and the belief that all humans are good at their core. It’s a powerful reminder that once you’ve heard someone’s full story, love becomes possible.
Show Notes:Episode 04: Breaking Generational Cycles of Incarceration with Laurie Lazar
Realness Project
Colorado State Penitentiary Resources:
In this short podcast segment, we explore the evolution of RLT’s Relationship Grid. You'll learn how healthy self-esteem balances equally warm regard for self and others, and how having both protective and containing boundaries is essential for respectful relational dynamics. We also unpack the pitfalls of externally driven self-esteem, and the power of practicing relational health every day. Whether you're a therapist or simply curious about improving your relationships, this conversation offers deep insight and practical wisdom.
Learn more about Cathy at www.cathyhill.caShow NotesConnection Compass Course
RLT Relationship Grid
Use code Facets for 10% off the full "Connection Compass" recording
In this episode of Facets of Connection, we explore the intersection of purpose, relationships, and entrepreneurship with venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and philosophy enthusiast Matt McCall. We dive into the power of storytelling, the challenges of balancing personal and professional relationships, and how entrepreneurship serves as a microcosm for self-growth. Matt also reflects on life’s transitions, human-centric leadership, and the impact of anxiety and depression on young adults today. Whether you're an entrepreneur or simply seeking a more meaningful life, this conversation offers insights and practical takeaways for navigating relationships, purpose, and resilience. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on integrating personal values with professional success.
Learn more about Matt at https://polsky.uchicago.edu/people/matthew-mccall/ / Show Notes:Something Ventured
Anaïs Nin - book Risk
Abraham Maslow - book Motivation and Personality (1954 )
The Hedonic Treadmill
Andrew Huberman
Jonah Hill documentary
TV Show- Shrinking
Phil Stutz
Dr. John Gottman
Matt McCall “S Curve” blog reference
Joseph Campbell
Rhythmia Costa Rica Retreat
"Zone of Genius" is a concept from Gay Hendricks’ book The Big Leap
Victim triangle /Creator triangle
Michael Lewis of Moneyball fame
Daniel Pink Drive Innovation
VIA strength test
In this powerful episode of Facets of Connection, Sarah sits down with Tracy McCartney— mother, writer, connector, and co-founder of Red Canary Magazine — for a heart-opening conversation about how storytelling fuels social and environmental justice. From typewriting poems as a toddler to creating an award-winning magazine amplifying marginalized voices, Tracy shares her inspiring journey of transforming grief, rage, and love for the Earth into real-world action. They dive deep into how independent journalism can heal communities, why true connection is at the heart of activism, and why caring for the planet and caring for each other are inseparable.
If you've ever wondered how your unique gifts can ripple out to make real change (even when the world feels overwhelming), this conversation is a must-listen.
Connect with Red Canary on:
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Vimeo Show Notes
In this heartfelt episode, Sarah is joined by Toufic Hakim—scientist by training, spiritualist by choice, and Executive Director of the Foundation for Self Leadership. Together, they explore what it means to cultivate sustainable hope in uncertain times by tending to our inner worlds, our relationships, and our communities.
Toufic offers wisdom on how self-awareness, compassion, and connection can help us meet the world with clarity and heart. This conversation is a balm for the nervous system—and a deep invitation into presence, purpose, and possibility. The Foundation for Self Leadership is dedicated to fostering emotional, relational and societal healing and wellbeing. Its advocacy and research programs revolve around the IFS paradigm as a leading model among others.
Learn more about The Foundation for Self Leadership
Find Foundation IFS on Facebook & Youtube
Read their magazine Parts and SelfShow Notes:
In this episode, new board president and founder of Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Terry Real, joins senior RLT practitioner and faculty member Anna Sterk, LMFT for a powerful conversation about one of the toughest relationship questions: Should I stay or should I go?
Together, they unpack the concept of relational reckoning—weighing whether what we’re getting is enough to make grieving what we’re not getting worth it. They challenge the myth of unconditional adult love and explore the fine line between acceptance and self-abandonment. From resentment to “normal marital hatred,” this episode is full of clarity, compassion, and truth-telling. Whether you’re questioning a relationship or seeking deeper connection, this conversation offers a path forward.
Learn more about Terry Real
Learn more about Anna SterkDonate here: https://www.relationallifefoundation.org/donate.html
In this episode, host Sarah Melissa Oswald speaks with Laurie Lazar, founder and CEO of Realness Project, about her work in prisons, where she brings authentic relating practices to incarcerated individuals. Through deeply moving stories, they discuss the generational impact of incarceration, the resilience of the human spirit, and how connection can be a catalyst for change. Join us for a conversation that challenges assumptions and highlights the profound importance of empathy, healing, and community.
Learn more about Laurie at https://www.realnessproject.org/ / @realnessprojectnonprofit
Show Notes
Realness Project
Dr. Stephen Porges
Colorado State Penitentiary
Caring for Denver
Dignity Humility Diagram
RLT Relationship Grid
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Neda DeMayo, president founder of Return to Freedom, on the powerful lessons horses teach us about relationships, community, and ourselves. Explore how the secret language of horses mirrors human communication, inspires healthier communities, and offers profound healing for trauma survivors. Learn how wild horse behavior influences leadership, land management, and our connection to nature. Whether you're a horse lover or simply curious about deepening your relationships, this episode offers fresh perspectives and actionable wisdom. Tune in and let the horses guide you toward a more balanced, connected life.Learn more about Neda at https://returntofreedom.org / @returntofreedom
This episode explores the profound transformations within parenthood, particularly motherhood, and the challenges our culture places on mothers. We’ll hear from motherhood coach Kendra Williams and discuss strategies for breaking free from perfectionism, processing identity shifts, and building confidence in parenting. Whether you’re a mother or simply curious about these concepts, this conversation will offer meaningful insights and support.
Welcome to the debut episode of Facets of Connection! In this introduction, host Sarah Melissa Oswald shares the inspiration behind the podcast and her lifelong fascination with relationships and their transformative power. She explores the growing epidemic of loneliness, the science behind human connection, and the role of Relational Life Therapy (RLT) in fostering deeper, more fulfilling relationships. Sarah also reflects on her personal journey, the concept of allurement, and the mission of Relational Life Foundation in building a more connected world.
Welcome to Facets of Connection, a podcast dedicated to transforming relationships in an ever-changing world. Brought to you by Relational Life Foundation and hosted by Sarah Melissa Oswald, this series delves into the essence of human connection—how we learn, love, and collaborate. Through conversations with leaders and visionaries, we explore the power of respectful relationships and their role in combating loneliness and fostering deeper connections with ourselves, our loved ones, and the environment.
Rooted in curiosity and growth, Facets of Connection introduces tools for building trust, fostering open communication, and balancing individuality with shared values. We’ll discuss concepts like ecological humility to inspire compassionate, sustainable relationships and uncover strategies to create mutual understanding and support. Join us on this journey to deepen your connections and build a more empathetic world. Follow Facets of Connection wherever you get your podcasts.
