The shit we need to talk about this week: Reclaiming the end of summer from capitalism. In this episode, I share a deeply personal reflection on the emotional complexity of August and the transition out of summer, and explore what it means to slow down, loosen the grip of society’s “end of summer” and “back to school” messaging, and meet this transitional time with compassion.  My invitation to you: reflect, reframe, and move more intentionally through the end of August and September with emotional support and grounded practices. Episode Highlights: - A raw, honest look at why August often feels heavy, rushed, and emotionally charged - Insight into how capitalism drives the pressure to shift out of rest and into productivity - Practical tools from yoga philosophy (aparigraha + brahmacharya) for slowing down and managing energy - A compassionate framework for holding both grief and anticipation during times of change - Thoughtful reminders and accessible practices to carry the sweetness of summer into fall Jump in for all the goodness!

The shit we need to talk about this week: trans issues. Period. And let’s be real: The issues are not new; trans folks have been around since the dawn of time. But the issues trans folks face need attention, support, and advocacy now more than ever. In this episode, I’m joined by Nathan Rodriguez (he/him) to discuss the current state of trans rights and the emotional toll it’s taking on the trans community. As we begin, Nathan, Executive Director of the Trans Equity Coalition (TEC) in New Jersey, speaks candidly about the wave of trans individuals relocating from hostile red states to New Jersey in search of safety. He also shares the wide-reaching work of TEC, including direct financial assistance, support groups for trans youth, adults, and families, gender-affirming wellness services, and community education. Nathan outlines the coalition’s intentionally trans-led structure, how it continuously adapts its programs based on community feedback to improve accessibility and relevance, and the value of grassroots organizing and community-led solutions for effective and authentic advocacy. He unpacks the reality of allyship—not as a passive label, but as a commitment to consistent, visible action—and calls on cis allies to do more than express support. invites allies to get involved with Trans Equity Coalition meaningfully—by donating, promoting, and showing up. In addition to activism and support, we talk about: - Leveraging privilege in personal and professional spaces, how to show up without centering oneself, and why authentic allyship requires discomfort and risk. - The importance of joy, rest, and community as essential parts of resistance and survival for trans people. - The mental health challenges and burnout experienced by many in the trans community, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable support systems. - The importance of intersectionality, ensuring that efforts consider disabilities, race, and socioeconomic factors to create truly inclusive spaces. - The critical role of intentional, decolonial language in activism The conversation is a powerful reminder of the need for collective action, sustained advocacy, and the responsibility of those with privilege to stand shoulder to shoulder with the trans community and all marginalized communities to create collective liberation. Jump in for all the goodness!

The shit we need to talk about this week: being in survival mode and the power of reflecting on the past - on times and generations that navigated the hardest of experiences in order to simply live and also create change for the future. Ya’ll. In this rich and deeply honest conversation, Colice Sanders (she/her) joins me to explore what it means to create joy and meaning in the midst of chaos, grief, and systems that weren’t built for us. Through personal storytelling, ancestral reflection, and radical truth-telling, we unpack how resistance can look like joy, survival, or stillness—and why legacy isn’t just about big actions, but about the everyday choices we make to sustain ourselves and our communities. This episode is a reminder that even in the mess, we still get to choose joy, we still get to show up—and this is not the end. Jump in for all the goodness! Colice’s info: Colice Sanders (she/her) is a writer, an advocate, and facilitator at heart. She loves books and dogs and a big part of her work is educating about diversity, equity and inclusion. She enjoys practicing yoga and connecting with and being part of communities. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/colicesanders Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colicesanders/ Medium: https://colice-sanders.medium.com/

The shit we need to talk about this week: people-centered leadership and conflict resolution is needed now more than ever before. And what’s more, having a space to establish your wants, needs, and how you desire to be held by others in your roles (and have others be equipped to meet you there or find the support to do so) is the dream for future workplaces (and all relationships). This week, I am joined by Abbiola Ballah (she/her) to discuss the challenges of navigating difficult conversations and leadership in the workplace - including for those who are self-employed. As the Founder of Phern Education Studios, Abbiola created a consulting practice dedicated to helping managers navigate complex team dynamics, rebuild trust, and lead with empathy and confidence. This episode: - Emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing the intersection of identities and social dynamics in leadership.  - Redefines the term “messy” - why it happens, why it NEEDS to happen, and how to evolve through it with compassion, clarity, and authenticity. - Highlights the need for pausing to reflect and the significance of community agreements and assumptions in fostering inclusive environments.  - Explores practical tips, such as setting reminders to reflect on feelings and responses, and the value of transparency and consent in interactions. - Encourages dreaming of a time when space is opened for you to establish your wants, needs, and how you desire to be held by others in your roles (and have others be equipped to meet you there or find the support to do so). For me, this was the sweetest part of the discussion! And so much more! Our conversation turned down so many avenues that we did not originally anticipate and all of it wove together to create a really beautiful and raw dialogue. I really hope you enjoy it! Jump in here for all the goodness!

The shit we need to talk about this week: life is super complex right now and navigating harm and both/and of situations is really really hard, including in affinity spaces. In this episode, I’m joined by my friend and colleague, Tan Hubbard (they/them), and we discuss the complexities of navigating the intersection of identities, marginalized identities, privilege, systemic failures, and conflict within affinity spaces.  While it’s true that finding groups and spaces with others who share your identities or interests can be hugely affirming and filled with ease, unfortunately, harm can still occur, and sometimes when we least expect it.  Tan offers a layered and imperfect look at navigating conflict in affinity spaces and beyond, which includes acknowledging what’s hard and what’s right, equitable grace, accountability, and the need for space and rest after difficult conversations.  Ya’ll this conversation is so rich, incomplete, and still much of what we both needed in the moment. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we loved having the conversation! Jump in for all the goodness!

The shit we need to talk about this week: if we are not well within ourselves, how can we be well with others, especially those we care for? I know, given all the horrific shit going on outside our doors, this is a doozy, huh? But I’ve got a good reason for asking it: Our well-being is political AND the priority. And, lately, in my work, I’ve been asked more and more: “What is Ayurveda and why do you bring it into all that you do?” That opening question: “if we are not well within ourselves, how can we be well with others, especially those we care for?” is why. In this episode, I keep it real as I give you a quick overview of what Ayurveda is and why it is woven into every facet of my work - whether you realize it or not! Here are just a few reasons:  - Ayurveda helps balance internal peace and external connections, contrasting with Western society's avoidance-based health practices.  - Ayurveda's goals are: reducing inflammation, improving digestion, and balancing energy so we can be more at ease and at peace within ourselves. We have got to be well within ourselves so we can be well with others. This is the foundation of our liberation, community care, and social justice. We were never meant to live in an individualistic society that makes us unwell, ignores or commodifies ancient wisdom, and extracts from the land.  I hope you enjoy this episode! Jump in here for the goodness!

The shit we need to talk about this week: the work/life balance doesn’t exist. It’s a lie we’ve been sold (like so many others) by capitalism and white supremacy culture. In this episode, I’m joined by my awesome friend and colleague, Rebecca Sebastian, as she unveils an important truth about the work/life balance: We can never achieve balance because both work and life exist on the same side of a scale, with the individual on the other side. Join us as we explore: - What this revelation means in our current landscape. - The impact of societal expectations and systems like capitalism and patriarchy on personal well-being. - The importance of self-care and prioritizing oneself, especially now. - The idea of small acts of self-kindness, such as taking a nap or enjoying a meal, to counteract societal pressures. - The need for activists to prioritize their own well-being while working for a cause, as the cause doesn't demand self-sacrifice. Oooooof, friends. This episode is thought-provoking, fun, and full of some good laughs! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Jump in for all the goodness!

The shit we need to talk about this week: the collective burnout and overwhelm we’re feeling since the inauguration is real. We have got to acknowledge and validate our personal struggles as we face the unprecedented nature of current times here in the US.  In this week’s episode, I put a spotlight on the need for self-care now more than ever and advocate for it through a different lens than we’ve discussed before: the importance of recognizing the ultra basic daily self-care you’re doing. And, I take a deep dive into the two main ways this is having a big impact:  1) The most basic of self-care practices are necessary for your survival and right now, in the hardest of days as legislation and necessary organizations get torn down right before our eyes, that is pretty much our main goal  2) Recognition of these practices and their effect on us keeps our focus where it needs to be rather than sending us into a spiral about all the ways we’re failing to show up despite our best effort.  I also guide you through a practice for reaffirming your commitment to the way you want to show up in the world, and renewing your motivation with small intentional steps forward. Ya’ll, it is time to stop the self-criticism, give ourselves tons of credit and grace as we do our best to show up in this hellscape and move forward through the burnout in a sustainable way.  Jump in for all the goodness!

Welcome to Season 3! The shit we need to talk about this week:  Now that we are in full on polycrisis mode here in the US, what if we FINALLY live our lives the way we want to and NEED to for the sake of our well-being, the revolution and finally letting the systems crumble, as well as for the sake of the collective? In this episode, we discuss: -Using winter’s invitation as the foundation for our self-care moving forward, regardless of the season. - The importance of finding joy amidst societal and personal struggles, individually and collectively. - An emphasis on the need for rest, reflection, and rejuvenation during winter and beyond. - Setting sustainable goals, creating boundaries, and practicing soul-care to maintain mental and emotional well-being. - The significance of listening to one's body and finding small, manageable ways to integrate self-care into daily life. - Focusing on what you want more of and prioritizing your well-being for long-term resilience. Jump in for all the goodness!

This November has brought us major emotional upheaval with the election results on top of what we’ve already been dealing with and the holidays coming around the corner.  If you're like many of us, the holidays can be a stressful time. Family dynamics, obligations to attend events, the absence of loved ones, and financial or emotional strain can all add layers of complexity to what is meant to be a joyful season.  If you’ve been feeling this way, I want to offer you five simple practices to help soothe your holiday stress: 1) View food as neutral  2) Honor your boundaries and give yourself space  3) Make conscious decisions  4) Offer yourself grace, compassion, and LovingKindness abundance and  5) Do something soothing every day …All with an emphasis on the importance of self-compassion, flexibility, and mindful energy expenditure. Jump in for all the goodness! Get The Disruptor’s Guide to Self-Care free download Sign up for my weekly newsletter Additional resources from this episode: Get the episode transcript here. Instagram accounts referenced: @nutritiontea, @your.latina.nutritionist, @black.nutritionist, @raquelmartinphd  

In this episode, I welcome a cool-ass human, Dr. Dee Frayne (pronounced fray-knee), to the show! Dr. Dee Frayne, she/they, is a professional changemaker, disruptive leadership strategist, and performance coach. She loves nothing more than helping feminist leaders, changemakers and social entrepreneurs to lead the fight against social inequality and systemic oppression. Dee wants to help you BE the change so that you can LEAD the change…without the burnout, overwhelm, pressure, and punishment.  The shit we need to talk about this week is the importance of acknowledging and reclaiming anger as a tool for sustainable change.  In our conversation, - Dee emphasizes that anger is a protective emotion often suppressed due to societal conditioning, particularly affecting marginalized groups. - She highlights the physical and emotional toll of suppressing anger, linking it to stress-related health issues and even forming a connection between anger and autoimmune disorders. - Dee advocates for small, intentional steps towards change and self-care practices that nourish the body and mind. And the most important step - doing it in community.  Dee also shares about her Anger Academy, a program aimed at healing anger through community and structured support, and stresses the anti-oppressive nature of self-love and self-care. Here’s how you can connect with Dee: Website: www.deefrayne.com Instagram: @deefrayne  The Anger Academy - www.deefrayne.com/anger Jump in for all the goodness!

In this episode, we dive into the collective feelings of exhaustion and overwhelm that many of us experience during the fall season. And this year in particular, as schedules change and responsibilities increase, it's important to also acknowledge how external events—like the ongoing effects of COVID-19 and the turbulent political landscape—are deeply impacting our well-being. We discuss the importance of recognizing and validating these feelings, rather than spiritual bypassing or gaslighting ourselves. You’ll find practical self-care strategies to help you cope with the season's challenges, emphasizing awareness and simplicity. From nourishing your body and calming your nervous system to engaging in meaningful relationships, this episode offers a variety of actionable steps to promote balance and self-compassion. Join me as we explore ways to create space for ourselves amidst the chaos and cultivate a sense of ease and grounding during this tumultuous time. Remember, you don't have to do it all—start with one small practice that resonates with you. The offerings in this episode are robust and it is meant to serve as a guide you can reference again and again throughout the fall.  Jump in for all the goodness!

Fall schedules and responsibilities are now in full swing amidst the transitional period between seasons - which might have you feeling a bit off, too - and the political climate is SO MUCH RIGHT NOW.  It’s likely, and unsurprising, you’re feeling overwhelmed and drained, and as a result, you’re on autopilot or numbing out to just get through the days. It makes complete sense to choose one of those coping mechanisms, especially at this point of the year, because the shit you need to do (whether you want to or not) requires your attention however you can give it, plus the stuff you actually want to show up for matters to you too much to throw in the towel altogether.  The hard part about this approach is that staying numb or on autopilot will result in you being disconnected from the people you want to focus on showing up for AND unavailable to what those people need.  And it leads to you being disconnected and unavailable to yourself as well. The reality is: The people and causes and responsibilities you want to show up for need you to be tuned in and actively listening, with your whole self. In this week’s episode, the shit we need to talk about is: - Going on autopilot and numbing out isn’t working for us and are causing us to: * Not being tuned in properly to hear/see/witness the real needs - both on the surface and below of the people you want to serve * Become oblivious and even desensitized in many areas of life - Instead of numbing out or going on autopilot any longer, you need to stay present to what’s going on with you and others and take care of yourself. Ways to do this include: * Coming back to foundational self-care practices * Move through the day with mindful awareness and care for yourself in small ways * Tending to the type of energy you’re feeling, whether that’s anxious, angry/hyperfocused, or stagnant. Jump in for all the goodness! 

Fall is hella busy and full of transitions. And, we need to make it to the US presidential election day on November 5th as easefully as possible AND THEN move through the days after with resources STILL AVAILABLE.  Because as I said last year, we are no longer entering December running on fumes.  This, my people, is most certainly not that. So if you’re feeling under-resourced, this episode is for you. The shit we gotta talk about this week: Whether Fall is YOUR TIME OF YEAR or not, feeling under-resourced heading into this season with all of its busy-ness and variability is not the way we want to go. Like at all, under any circumstances.  So here’s what we ARE gonna do: - Recalibrate by checking in and asking yourself: how am I feeling now, how do I want to feel in the fall, and what support do I need to bridge the gap? - Foster stability with your morning and evening routines - Let doing B-level work be OK and release self-judgment when you do it - Take time daily to recognize all the ways you’re showing up for the people, work, situations, and causes you believe in  - Do the thing and then take a break - often! Jump in for all of the goodness!

The shit we need to talk about this week is: Right now, you might be feeling like your bandwidth and capacity are way too low going into all that’s around the corner in the coming weeks. I hear you. Many of us are feeling stretched thin in terms of our available time AND what we can realistically do in it. And I don’t think it’s really an exaggeration or underestimation, honestly. The levels feel bleak and they are.  And I know you - your work, your responsibilities, your causes, your contributions, your people, your well-being are all way too important to you to lay faint in the corner with your head under the covers for too long of a time.  The good news is: there is a glimmer of hope. We CAN expand our capacity to do whatever it is we want to show up for. We can turn this around despite the very real dumpster fire we’re in.  Join me in this episode as I discuss the elements that will help you expand bandwidth and capacity, complete with thought process and mindset shifts, including: - Showing up even when you don’t feel like you can - Reclaiming your time and energy from things that drain you - Asking for help (I know, I’m cringing right alongside you!) - Doing the smallest of things, what seem insignificant or “not nearly enough” - Being willing to feel like you are under-resourced as you start and also feel as though you’re not doing anything significant during the process AND KEEP DOING IT. - Bringing energy back to yourself - through boundaries and things that bring you joy/enjoyment Jump in for all of the goodness!

The shit we need to talk about this week is that it’s astonishing to me that I keep having a conversation around people knowing self-care is important but they’re still half-assing it. So I have to ask you point blank: At what point are you going to cut the shit and actually do it? You’ve acknowledged how important self-care, rest, and resourcing yourself is but there is a resistance in actually taking the time to do it. You know doing these things is an act of resistance, it’s radical action based on what we continue to go through in this world under systems of oppression. Why can we make sense of it in our brains, but we’re not actually changing behavior?! What will it take for us to finally implement this information into our lives? And I know you want to do a better job of taking care of yourself so that you can feel more resourced and at ease and effectively do your work and serve the people and causes you believe in. Yet, still there is some sort of disconnect between the wanting and doing of your self-care.  It’s true that energy, time, resources, and support are stretched thin, low, or non-existent. It’s hard to show up for your work, your people, and your causes, and have anything left over for yourself. AND. What I also know is: the time is now. Are you in?  Cuz there has to come a point where you decide that enough is enough. Life is beautiful and hard and the systems suck. Like suck and also suck the life out of us. And while so many of us are working so hard to disrupt and dismantle all of it, I have to say, we cannot wait on self-care. We cannot keep putting everything before ourselves. We cannot keep half-assing our care or putting it off or making it a part of our to-do list. Jump in for a conversation that gets to the root of why you’re half-assing self-care and wtf to do about it already so you can feel more resourced and at ease.

We are officially past the halfway point of what has been a very tumultuous year and friends, it just keeps going. The presidential election here in the US is on the forefront of the mind for so many of us, on top of multiple genocides, and that’s on top of all of the changes in legislation and horror and injustice that’s been happening. Shit is very scary out in the world and I am feeling palpable outrage and fear from people I’m connected with. And rightfully so. We have every right to be angry at what’s going on politically here in the US and terrified of how the election will turn out.  When so much is going on leading up to an election and what will surely be a pivotal event in our lives, it is easy to get caught up in all the worry over what might happen, not to mention the fear of what the fallout will be. It all makes sense based on all of the awful shit we’ve already seen happen!  And still, I have to ask you, ask us, really: What will worrying get us? The shit we need to talk about this week: we can’t worry over what we cannot control.  What good will it do? And what will the impact be on us in the end? You know that the answers are that 1) it will do no good and 2) the impact on us in the end will be shit for sure. Panic. Dread. Anxiety. Numbing. Giving away time doing nothing that is soul-filling. Disassociating. Disconnecting from ourselves AND EACH OTHER. And friends, this is not the time. It’s never the time, let’s be real, but based on what we’re up against, THIS IS NOT THE TIME for disconnecting from ourselves and each other. It’s quite the contrary. THIS IS THE TIME TO DOUBLE DOWN ON OUR CARE OF AND CONNECTION TO OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER.  Join me in this episode as I discuss ways to meet your worry, move through it, and do something about it (to support yourself and the cause you're worrying about) so that you’ll be resourced rather than depleted as we find our way through the world’s dumpster fire.

Friends, we are having to endure too much these days, both in our individual lives and collectively. And if you, like me, are finding it to be increasingly harder and harder to cope in the world, then, this episode is for you. And I hope you get from it a bit of what you need.  I’m hearing from people that they’re feeling numb, disconnected, distressed, grief, overwhelm, anger, exhaustion, anxiety, and so much in between. We all have our own ways of dealing with all that is present while living in our current times, and some coping mechanisms I’m hearing pretty consistently these days is disconnecting from things we normally do and enjoy, or spending more time than usual getting caught up in things that totally suck up our time or even purposely numbing out through those things that suck up our time (like aimlessly scrolling), or in some instances, disassociating, which is the mental process of disconnecting from our thoughts, feelings, memories, or sense of identity.  It’s possible you’re finding yourself doing some or all of the above. No shame, friends. It makes sense because continuing to be in a state of chronic stress with one stressful episode piling on top of another is super dysregulating and we’re not meant to deal with multiple distressing things at once for long periods of time. So, we end up coping by disconnecting, numbing and disassociating so that we can simply show up to our responsibilities and be some semblance of a human.  But the hard truth is: none of these coping mechanisms help anything in the long run. They don’t stop the genocide or oppression. They don’t help us deal with what we’re experiencing in a sustainable way. In reality, what these coping mechanisms do is allow us to slide further down the rabbit hole of overwhelm and despair. It fuels further dysregulation and disconnection from ourselves and each other. It fuels reactionary behavior rather than thought-out responses. So what we really need to understand is: Our needs, our desires, this picture we have of how we know life can be for ourselves, our communities, and for others around the world NEED US TO NOT COPE IN THESE WAYS. Ending genocide and other injustice and oppression that’s happening around the world and in our communities requires us to NOT disconnect from ourselves and each other, numb out, or disassociate from it all. It requires us to COME BACK TO OURSELVES and go all in on our self-love practices.  In this episode, I discuss a variety of practices and mindset shifts to do just that.  Jump in for all of the goodness!

It’s common to find yourself cleaning the clutter from your living spaces as spring unfolds. And I feel as though these days, with all we’re continuing to witness and endure in the world, there is a connection between the heaviness, overwhelm, horror, and burnout we’re experiencing and this response of cleaning and purging in our home lives.  So many of us feel helpless even though we’re doing as much of the hard work as we can to stand up to oppression and injustice and advocate for those with less power. As a result, it's natural to turn to things you can do to feel in control and, most importantly, open space for some good to come in.  And, I also think that given how exhausted and horrified we are, we could benefit from some inner spring cleaning, too.  We need to talk about this practice as it pertains to the ways you honor your body, how you are with your mind, the company you keep, and how you connect with your community so that you have more energy to go around and less “clutter” - aka stuff that doesn’t serve you - in your inner space. And while I am absolutely aware that energy, resources, and frankly, shits to give are low in availability, I really think this is an important angle for our conversation on cleaning and purging.  And honestly, I think it will help to relieve some of the feelings of stuck, sticky, dull, and overwhelm we’re all inundated with as humans in our current world. Especially so we can continue to be with our big emotions, regulate how we react to them, and can keep moving forward in liberating our lives and work. Jump in for all the goodness!