In this episode Dr. Patti Talks with Dr. Kathryn Holt about her new book Overcoming Body Hatred. Kathryn's approach combines Depth Psychology and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, providing her readers with a keen insight into body image and disordered eating.
Kathryn C. Holt, PhD, LCSW, is a depth psychotherapist in private practice in Longmont, CO, specializing in body acceptance, soul work, and postpartum support. She writes about bodies, motherhood, and spirituality while bridging the fields of Jungian and behavioral psychology. She studied dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) at Columbia University and completed her PhD in depth psychology with a focus on Jungian and Archetypal Psychology. Her research focused on how people make peace with their bodies after suffering with body hatred. Her therapeutic approach draws from Jungian, behavioral, and feminist psychology. Dr. Holt is the author of 'Overcoming Body Hatred Workbook' and the co-author of the well-received 'Stronger Than BPD Journal'.
For more on her perspectives and offerings, visit her blog at www.kathryncholt.com
Books:
https://www.newharbinger.com/9781648482076/overcoming-body-hatred-workbook/
https://www.newharbinger.com/9781684030613/the-stronger-than-bpd-journal/
Freebies:
True Hunger Workshop/Book Launch https://kathryncholt.com/booklaunch
Mothers and Bodies Workshop https://kathryncholt.com/mothersandbodies
Stuffed and Starved Worksheet: https://mailchi.mp/kathryncholt/stuffed-and-starved-worksheet
In this episode Dr. Patti talks with psychologist and author of the book Post Traumatic Parenting about repairing the trauma from your own childhood as you parent your children. Such an important topic as no one these days is exempt from trauma.
Learn how trauma impacts your responses and parenting behaviors. Do you ever wonder why you are yelling at your child when you know that is not the best practice? Dr. K will help you understand and feel more at ease with your children.
For more information about Dr. Koslowitz and her book please visit https://www.drrobynkoslowitz
More on Dr. Patti
In this episode Dr. Patti tells you about what to expect in Season Two of The Inner space Project Podcast. There will be one episode each month that will air on the third Tuesday. She is asking for sponsors and resources to continue to bring these important messages to you. Spread the word. Like, subscribe, and share. Her upcoming guests so far include experts on children and trauma, disordering eating, grief, and dreams. Tune in this week for the first episode with Dr. Robyn Kosklowski where she shares the importance of raising children consciously and repairing early childhood trauma.
In this episode of the Inner Space Project Podcast, Dr Patti talks to you about all that happened in season one of the project. She shares her passion for creating it, a little bit about some of her guests, and the generous help she's had along the way. This project is truly a work of heart with absolutely no financial resources.
In this liminal space episode between season one and season two, she shares her focus on generating income to support the Podcast and her other Inner Space Project offerings such as a YouTube videos, Substack, and in-person group meetings. Please like, subscribe, and share The Inner Space Project Podcast as well as Dr. Patti Ashley's YouTube channel.
And stay tuned because season two is gonna get real. Hopefully the first episode will air in September 2025.
In this special endings episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast, Patti focuses on the grief and loss of the empty nest. Even though we often don't think about that time as one of mourning, the Inner Space Project opens our eyes so that we can allow ALL feelings to be explored.
May is the time of year when many parents are preparing for high school and college graduations. To help you walk through this paradoxical transition, Patti invited conscious parenting coach and recent "empty-nester," Stacie Lovato to the mic!
Together, they dive into the paradox of saying goodbye to our children, and the human challenges around loving and letting go. This episode focuses on how we navigate the complexities of the empty nest with grace and ease. Conscious parenting is Stacie's passion and life-long lived experience. You will feel so much better as you hear her voice and share her experiences.
Stacie is a mom to three incredible young men ages 20, 23, and 26, a lifelong educator, a devoted wife, daughter, sister, and friend. As a conscious parenting coach, Stacie is passionate about helping parents slow down, connect deeply, and raise emotionally resilient kids. She is the host of Mindful Mama Conversations, a podcast where she explores the idea of connecting to others through meaningful conversations. These days, she is also nannying—what she lovingly calls her "grandma-in-training."
In this heartfelt episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast, Dr. Patti Ashley welcomes longtime friend Patrick Wilson, founder of Balance Mind Coaching.
Patrick Wilson is an advocate and coach for people who are wanting to create change and navigate transition but are struggling with mental patterns that undermine their progress. He focuses on helping people practice and apply simple, practical strategies to work more effectively with both their mind and their body. His work also emphasizes identifying values and creating an action plan that aligns actions with those values. His motto is do more important stuff with less mental noise! For more information, you can visit his website at www.BalanceMindCoaching.com
Together, they dive into the “middle” of life—those messy, beautiful, and often confusing years where personal growth and transformation unfold. Dr. Ashley frames the conversation within her unique four-part structure: beginnings, middles, endings, and liminal spaces. This episode focuses on how we navigate the complexities of midlife transitions and the mental patterns that can either hold us back or help us evolve.
Patrick shares his journey of learning to work with his mind rather than against it, drawing from both personal experience and his work as a coach. With deep empathy and insight, he unpacks the ways overthinking, doubt, and control can disconnect us from the present—and how simple, practical strategies can restore balance.
Tune in for an honest, compassionate exploration of how we can align with our values, reconnect with our bodies, and move through life with more clarity and intention.
MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/
Patrick Wilson: www.BalanceMindCoaching.com
Dr. Patti talks with family and community specialist Florence Ann Romano about the best practices for raising children in this polarized new world. Florence speaks to the pros and cons of digital media and the importance of being a good role model. She also gives parents permission to seek resources, keeping in mind that they are "learning on the job." She invites parents to be more intentional in how they speak to children in order to nurture respect and kindness. She also shares the importance of the "dirty" word failure, stating that children will spend most of their time as adults, and need to learn how to manage struggles growing up. That doesn't mean neglecting children, but rather teaching coping skills to better understand and regulate emotions.
Florence Ann Romano is the author of the best-selling book Build Your Village: A Guide to Finding Joy and Community in Every Stage of Life. She has been featured on over 500 national and local media outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Home and Family, The Jenny McCarthy Show, Sirius XM, and more. She is an authority on childcare and has been referred to as "The Windy City Nanny." She draws on years of experience and expertise helping parents and families build strong communities to support her incredible philanthropic work today. She invites you to reach out to her anytime for support.
MORE INFORMATION:
Dr. Patti Ashley
https://pattiashley.com/
Florence Ann Romano
https://florenceann.com/
In this liminal space podcast episode Dr. Patti talks with artist Tanya Torres about her art and the Mary Magdalen archetype. Tanya shares how art helps her get out of worry and into heart-brain coherence. Patti and Tanya introduce their new Magdalene Muses inspirational card deck that Patti created during the pandemic using Tanya's beautiful Mary Magdalen images. Patti reads messages about sensuality, creativity, heart, and hope from the cards.
Tanya and Patti share how they both first encountered the Mary Magdalene archetype reading the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and then further sought scholarly writings of Margaret Starbird, as well as other authors who've explored the archetype of the Divine Feminine as Mary Magdalene. Tanya views Mary Magdalen as a wise, powerful, and scholarly woman who was trusted by Jesus. Not a prostitute as she had been previously portrayed in the Bible. The archetype of Mary Magdalene to Patti is all about bringing more love and heart onto the planet. We need that now for sure!
Tanya Torres is a Puerto Rican artist and writer living and working in New York City. She graduated from the City College of New York, C.U.N.Y., with a B.A. in Art Education, and an M.F.A. in Printmaking and Painting. Her artwork has been presented at the United Nations Organization, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies Library, and the Prague Congress Centre and the Bronx Library Center NYPL, among other cultural and educational institutions.
In 2016, she published her book Painting Mary Magdalene, Little Miracles and Transformations Along the Creative Path. She also periodically creates an artistic event entitled The Mary Magdalene Celebration, where she brings together artists from different disciplines that explore the theme of Mary Magdalene in the context of a traditional Puerto Rican Offering. This project began in 2010 when she presented her first series of paintings on the subject of Mary Magdalene in conjunction with the musical compositions of Raquel Z. Rivera. On her blog and website, Magdalene.org, she explores the connection between creativity and spirituality through the theme of Mary Magdalene.
Cards decks available at magdalene.org
In this deeply personal episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast, Dr. Patti Ashley honors the 55th anniversary of her father’s sudden passing by taking you on a reflective journey through her life of loss, love, and healing. Unlike previous episodes, this is not an interview, but rather an intimate solo exploration of how losing a parent at a young age can leave a lasting imprint your heart and mind.
Dr. Ashley shares poignant memories that weave together grief and gratitude. Reading passages from her memoir Letters to Freedom: From Fear to Love to Grace, she shares with you some of the ways early loss shapes identity, relationships, and the pursuit of meaning in one's life. She offers listeners a compassionate space to reflect on their own experiences of heartbreak, love, and loss.
Through raw emotion, personal storytelling, and reflections on the transformative power of love, this episode is a tribute to the enduring connections we carry with those who have left us. Whether you’ve experienced loss yourself, or are seeking deeper insight into the journey of healing, Dr. Patti’s words offer comfort, wisdom, and hope.
Tune in for a moving conversation about grief, remembrance, and the ways in which love transcends.
You can also purchase her touching memoir Letters to Freedom: From fear to love to grace in written, kindle, or audio versions.
MORE INFORMATION:
https://pattiashley.com/
In this episode of The Inner Space Project podcast, Dr. Patti Ashley welcomes Dr. Anita Johnston, a clinical psychologist, eating disorder specialist, and author of the bestselling book Eating in the Light of the Moon. Together, they dive into the complexities of disordered eating and recovery, exploring the tension between our innate drives for connection and authenticity. Dr. Johnston shares her profound insights on how early life patterns influence our relationships with food and body image, often creating a gap filled by disordered behaviors.
Listeners will learn about the transformative power of storytelling and metaphor in healing, as well as the vital balance between the masculine (logical, goal-oriented) and feminine (emotional, intuitive) principles in recovery. Dr. Johnston emphasizes that complete recovery is possible, offering tools like curiosity to navigate inner struggles and reclaim authenticity while connecting with others.
This episode also introduces the wealth of resources available through Dr. Johnston’s Light of the Moon Cafe, including free gifts, self-study courses, and interactive workshops. A must-listen for anyone seeking to better understand the intersection of psychology, eating disorders, and personal growth.
MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/
Dr. Anita Johnston: https://dranitajohnston.com/
https://lightofthemooncafe.com/
This heartfelt episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast highlights the beginnings of our lives and the importance of mental health care in the first 18 years of life. Host Dr. Patti Ashley welcomes her daughter, Elizabeth Herman, a seasoned school psychologist and mother of two, for an insightful discussion on the challenges and importance of mental health support in schools. Together, they delve into the day-to-day responsibilities of school psychologists, including psychological assessments, problem-solving meetings, and advocating for students with disabilities. Elizabeth sheds light on the critical but often overlooked role of school psychologists, the staffing shortages they face, and how parents can effectively advocate for their children’s needs within the education system.
The duo also highlights the collaborative efforts between psychologists and social workers, offering actionable advice for parents to tap into available resources. She shares her approach to connecting with students, from validating their emotions to empowering them to explore their inner world with curiosity and compassion.
This episode is a must-listen for parents, educators, and anyone passionate about the intersection of education and mental health.
MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/moms-in-real-life/
In this episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast, host Dr. Patti Ashley dives further into the concept of "liminal space"—a period of transition filled with uncertainty, yet rich with possibilities. Known for her heart-centered and authenticity-focused approach, Dr. Ashley defines liminal space as the "in-between" moments in life that challenge our need for control, inviting listeners to embrace both the fears and hopes that arise during these times. She also reflects on recent podcast segments, covering life’s beginnings, middles, and endings, including impactful conversations with guests like Zeynep Biringen, Laura Deal, and Karen Van Allen, who share stories of parenting, storytelling, and navigating grief. Dr. Ashley touches on her own experience of liminal space, both personally and professionally, and the importance of allowing inner growth to flourish in moments of the unknown.
MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/
In this episode of the Inner Space Project Podcast, Dr. Patti Ashley speaks with Karen Van Allen, a facilitator of A Course in Miracles and volunteer at the Hospice of the Valley, about navigating grief and endings. Karen shares her personal story of loss, focusing on the tragic death of her daughter over 20 years ago. This life-altering event led her on a journey from an analytical, business-focused mindset to one of deep emotional healing and spiritual growth.
Karen discusses how grief stripped her of her identity and plunged her into feelings of victimhood and anger, which she learned to process through spiritual practices, especially A Course in Miracles. She reflects on the power of surrendering to a higher guidance and how signs, like yellow roses and feathers, reassured her along her path. Together, Dr. Ashley and Karen explore the complexities of grief, the importance of honoring anniversaries, and how loss can bring unexpected gifts, teaching us to live from the heart rather than the head.
This heartfelt conversation offers profound insights into finding meaning and peace through life's toughest transitions.
MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/
Karen Van Allen: https://newvisioncsl.org/course-in-miracles/
I hope you enjoy this rich conversation with Dr. Patti Ashley's dear friend, Laura Deal. Laura and Patti talk about how listening to stories can positively impact your emotional health. They also dive into the importance of metaphor in traditional tales and what that means for healing and wholeness. Laura shares with you ways that personal storytelling can be used to improve emotional health.
Laura is a storyteller, poet, dream reader, and laughter yoga leader. She tells traditional, personal, historical, and original stories to children and adults. She is the 2024 recipient of the J.J. Reneaux Emerging Artist Award. You can hear her stories on Story Story Podcast and the Apple Seed on BYU Radio, as well as her CDs, The Diffendaffer Taffy Cafe and Other Stories and Simple, Clever, and Wise. She's the author of The Newcomer's Guide to the Invisible Realm: A Journey through Dreams, Metaphor, and Imagination, andMarbles: New and Collected Poems.
MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/
https://lauradeal.com/
Dr. Patti talks to Zeynep Biringen about the world-wide used emotional availability scale that she created. Biringen has identified four qualities of parents and two qualities of children related to emotional availability. For parents she looks for sensitivity, structuring, non-intrusiveness, and non-hostility. The two qualities in children that she looks for is child responsiveness and child involvement with parents. These six qualities make up what she describes as emotional availability (EA.)
Zeynep Biringen, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist in Colorado and Professor Emerita at Colorado State University (CSU). She conducted research on adult-child relationships at CSU for over 25 years and has trained literally thousands of professionals (researchers, mental health clinicians, and other practitioners) in the evidence-based EA System.
Inspired by her mentor Robert N. Emde’s conceptualizations of emotional availability and emotions as well as Bowlby/Ainsworth attachment theory, Biringen has spearheaded the understanding of emotional availability (EA) as a rigorous scientific assessment of adult-child relationships, developing and refining the Emotional Availability (EA) System. Encouraged by Robert N. Emde, Biringen began to train professionals in the system well over 30 years ago.
MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/
https://emotionalavailability.com/about/meet-zeynep-biringen/
In this episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast, Dr. Patti Ashley introduces a new installment of the show focused on 'Liminal Space'. Being the state of uncertain transition, between the 'where we were' and 'where we're going,' and in the midst of everyones Beginnings, Middles, and Endings, Liminal Space is the perfect addition to Dr. Ashleys podcast structure and discussion of Inner Space.
In this first rendition, Dr. Ashley brings on her Social Media and Podcast Intern, Isabella, who is currently in a state of Liminal Space. A soon-to-be college graduate, Isabella is entering a chapter of intense change and transformation. While oftentimes a scary and stressful phase, Isabella explains her hopeful mindset and attempt to view this particular time in Liminal Space as an exciting one rather than daunting and debilitating. Dr. Ashley touches on her own, recent experience in Liminal Space moving back to Colorado, living in a rental home, and getting her new office (Niwot Therapy Collective) up and running.
The two also reflect on the first four episodes of The Inner Space Project Podcast, and share some of their favorite moments and highlights of Dr. Ashleys first few guests.
MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/
In this episode Dr. Patti Talks with Ted Wiard, the founder of Golden Willow Grief Retreat Center in Taos, NM. Ted lost his brother, wife, two small children, and his mother-in-law all within a few years of each other. He found himself lost and unable to know how to fully be alive without them. Many years later he bought a property on piece of land in Taos, NM, and from there began his amazing work of healing people in grief. In our discussion we look at how our culture tries to dismiss grief and encourages people to "move on." Oftentimes, missing the crucial experience of mourning those we love to completion. Ted shares insights into how to help people grieve and how to tolerate pain order to become more fully alive.
Rev. Dr. Ted Wiard Ed.D. LPCC, CGC is from Taos, New Mexico where he has had many roles in his life and seems to continuously find new ways to help promote emotional healing. He is a licensed professional clinical counselor, certified grief counselor, ordained minister, and a NM certified educator. He is the co-author of Witnessing Ted: The Journey to Potential through Grief and Loss. Ted is the founder and Director of Golden Willow Counseling (a behavioral health agency), and Golden Willow Retreat (a non-profit emotional healing center focused on grief, loss, trauma, and recovery). He is the program director of the Southwestern College Trauma, Grief, and Renewal Certificate. He also maintains a private practice.
Rev. Dr. Wiard is sought out for public speaking all over the nation to discuss organizational change initiatives, emotional healing from loss, spirituality, and emotional sobriety, as well as issues pertaining to addiction and recovery. He has been seen on the Oprah Winfrey Network, as a guest on the Shania Twain: Why Not? series, as well as other documentaries focused on transformation through loss. The list goes on, so it is obvious that Ted passionately believes in the potential of the phenomenological transformational moment that every person owns the ability to experience and celebrate.
Dr. Wiard’s life experiences have helped guide and motivate his drive to be of professional service with his primary focus on emotional healing and recovery from loss, trauma and addiction. Ted’s losses led to a personal healing journey which included academic pursuits in which he became an ordained minister and then earned his master’s in counseling with an emphasis in Grief and Loss as well as completing the Grief Certificate program from Southwestern College. After many years working in the field of addiction, grief, trauma, and emotional healing, he went back to school to earn his doctorate in Organizational Leadership focusing on leadership behaviors in the midst of change. Ted’s passion and his personal and professional background gives others the opportunity to learn and implement emotional healing into their personal and professional lives.
MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/
https://www.goldenwillowretreat.org/
Dr. Patti Ashley interviews Christie Sears Thompson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, relationship coach, author, speaker, and creator of the transformative The Partnerhood program. Christie Sears Thompson brings extensive expertise to the discussion on the multifaceted nature of relationships and family dynamics in today's society.
This episode delves into the essential components of a healthy relationship and examines the profound impact of attachment styles on children and families. The conversation explores the effects of deeply rooted trauma on relationships and family life, offering strategies for healing and growth. The episode underscores that conflict in relationships, when approached correctly, can be both necessary and beneficial for personal and relational development.
Furthermore, Dr. Ashley and Thompson discuss the paradoxes of parenting, recognizing that while it can be a joyous and rewarding experience, it also presents unique challenges. This episode provides practical advice and thought-provoking discussions, making it essential for those seeking to strengthen their relationships and navigate the complexities of family life.
MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/
https://www.thepartnerhood.com/
In this episode, DeAnn Davies guides listeners through the intricate landscape of infant mental health, parenting challenges, and their connection with personal well-being. With a background in psychology and infant mental health, Davies offers insights into the delicate dance between parenting and mental wellness.
Dr. Patti Ashley and Davies discuss the profound impact of early experiences on the developing mind, emphasizing the importance of secure attachment and responsive caregiving in fostering healthy emotional development. Throughout the conversation, Davies delves into topics such as the challenges of modern parenting, the prevalence of parental stress and anxiety, and the transformative power of mindfulness and self-compassion in promoting parental well-being.
MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deann-davies-13a7688/
In this first episode Dr. Patti Ashley, your host on this inner space journey, shares her personal and vulnerable childhood story of losing her father to a sudden heart attack at age eleven. She speaks to how not talking about the uncomfortable feelings we all encounter at some point in our lives actually makes life darker and prolongs sadness. She also shares her motivation for the Inner Space Project that began with Jeff Bezo’s trip to outer space in 2021. She reflects on the words of William Shatner, one of Bezo’s guests on the journey. Shatner, known for his role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek Series reveals in his new book Boldly Go how outer space was a disappointment. He thought it was going to be a celebration, but instead it felt like a funeral, as he realized how we have neglected to take care of planet earth.
That is what the Inner Space Project is all about. Making this world a better place by shining light into the dark and mysterious places right here on our precious planet. Thank you for joining us, and we'll see you again real soon in Inner Space. Please subscribe and share with your friends.
Visit www.pattiashley.com for more information, and stay tuned for upcoming episodes.
