The Nativist

Finding Your Way: The Individuality of Spirituality

If you’ve ever doubted the direction of your life, or pondered your spirituality, or questioned your faith - this is conversation is especially for you. But even if not, it’s a discussion relevant to any human navigating life and its twist and turns, its possible paths.

Lou Bluth lets us in to her world, sharing her story of being raised Mormon and leaving the church (and the heavy blowback she received from that), religion’s lingering effects, living and farming in Mexico, and exploring what life has to offer. She tells how she took responsibility for her own life and beliefs, for the sake of herself and her family.

She’s open, she’s honest, she’s inspiring, she’s real…she’s divine.

 

She also now has her own podcast with her husband, where they talk parenting, living, loving…all the good stuff. You can listen to it on Spotify: El Vikingo and Lou (it will soon be available on iTunes).

 

You can find Lou on Instagram @loubluth

As You Please

This is one of those conversations that could completely transform how you view and live life. How you show up in the world. How you FEEL.

I’m not exaggerating. This is a deep, profound, and universally relevant topic that I’ve felt increasingly pulled to explore - both on here and in my own life. This matters. It affects our relationships, our body image, our self esteem, our interactions, our life experiences. It affects everything and everyone.

And if you start listening and feel unsettled…that’s a key message in itself, something to unpack and examine. I encourage you to honor yourself and your needs, while also encouraging you to open your mind and expand past any possible fear or shame.

This actually covers a variety of significant topics to which we can almost all relate, and it was a true pleasure to tackle it with the wise and radiant Rachel Klein. In addition to the main discussion, Rachel offers her thoughts and journey on aligned and embodied living. She shares how personal tragedy fully awakened her to the fragility of life, inspiring her to quit a corporate job and move west.

This episode has the power to revolutionize your relationships - with yourself and others.

NOTE: This content is intended for mature audiences.

 

If you’re interested in following/working with Rachel, you can connect with her on Instagram: @mssweetpea

Exploring the Limits

This episode is for you if you’ve ever felt stuck/burned out/uninspired/aimless/ambivalent/disillusioned/stifled/checked out/craving meaning. And/or if you’re into having your mind blown, world expanded, thought provoked, and soul validated.

In this episode, Rainier Wylde and I discuss…life.

My default facial expression when reading/listening to Rainier’s words is jaw dropped, eyes widened (listen to this episode and you’ll see why). Social media is saturated with thought leaders, life coaches, advice givers; and while many provide true value, many more (bless their hearts 😬) offer stale, recycled, regurgitated...words. It’s worth noting this is just my perspective, but I have a feeling many of you know exactly what I’m talking about. Rainier is anything but stale, recycled, and regurgitated. He is unique. Drawing wisdom and insight from his innate intelligence, his many lives lived, and his embodied authenticity, Rainier delivers profound wisdom in the most poetic of ways, unlike any other out there. Just peep his Instagram profile/posts and you’ll immediately see. And even better, he’s just really friggin’ chill and fun to talk to. Rainier, it was an honor. 🙏

 

You can find Rainier:

Instagram: @ranierwylde

Website: www.rainierwylde.com

 

He also offers 1x1 and group coaching

Trauma Up Close

This episode is for ALL OF US, regardless of sex, gender, age, and class. Trauma does not discriminate. It affects far more than you might know, whether directly or indirectly, and often carries significant shame and stigma. We aim to help dissolve that.

The brave and beautiful Elise Blaser shares her personal story experiencing and healing from sexual assault, and alchemizing it into empathy and insight as a crisis counselor and parent. She is a remarkable human being.

Elise and I discuss trauma’s immediate and long-term effects, and how to address them. We cover coping methods - healthy and unhealthy - and trauma’s various manifestations. We note various reasons why victims can doubt - and even unconsciously suppress - their victimhood, and how to recognize it in yourself. We tackle the damaging myths surrounding trauma.

We highlight risk factors and how to mitigate them (key for everyone to know, especially parents and caregivers), and offer resources for preventing and healing from trauma. Knowledge is power.

This is important.

 

To access the Crisis Text Line Elise mentions in the episode, text HOME to 741741. The Crisis Text Line  provides free, 24/7 support via text message, and are there for everything: anxiety, depression, suicide, school.

 

You can find Elise on Instagram: @eliselilaa where she continually shares insight and resources on various mental health issues: trauma, body image, etc.

Episode 44: Circles of Life

My twin soul Rachel is back with her signature wisdom and fabulousness. We discuss how life mirrors nature and how lessons recycle. We talk on relationships and the ingredients for a successful one (and how people define successful differently). We chat about how energy affects all in life and love - as shown by science. We end by sharing our thoughts on leaving a successful, stable career to pursue a passion project. No matter who you are or where you are you in life, I'm confident this conversation will resonate. 

You can find Rachel on:

Instagram: @_rachelstaff_. and @peakphysiquewyo

Facebook: @Rachel Laird Staff

Website: www.peakyourphysique.com

Leggo Your Ego

The man on the move, Charlie Roberts, has worked with some major names in music and media. He and I chat about being creatives with ADD, returning to small hometowns, and taking pride in your work, whether you're sweeping the floors or running the show. If you're looking for an easy yet motivating listen, this is it.

 

You can find Charlie on:

Instagram @aycharlie

Facebook @Charlie Roberts

What Self Love REALLY Looks Like

Do you ever feel like you’re constantly in the self-love hole? No matter how much self care you do, or vacations you take, or mantras you recite, or exhalations you release, you still feel drained? Regularly filled with negativity/doubt/sadness/shame/anger/resentment? If so, this is for you.

And actually, this is for EVERYONE, no matter your age, gender, class, etc. Self love applies to us ALL, no matter how solid you feel. It's a journey, a continuous process.

In this listener-requested episode, I cover how self-love advice is often incomplete and even misleading. I share what comprehensive self love really looks like, and how to cultivate a self and life from which you won't constantly need to escape.

Though I always keep it real, I get particularly vulnerable with this episode. I share a personal experience, personal enough to prompt the “maybe I shouldn’t share this” thoughts. But it’s my truth, it’s relevant, and [hopefully] valuable. So here it is.

I love you.

Episode 41: Showing Up for Yourself

This listener-requested episode offers insight and guidance on how to show up for yourself: what that looks like, what that requires, how that changes, etc. I also share personally-tested and science-supported tips on how I motivate and show up for myself (these may surprise you).

 

Getting Real About Trauma

Educator and trauma survivor Stormy Heinz and I discuss trauma: how it affects everyone (directly/indirectly), how it manifests, and how it perpetuates. Stormy offers guidance and resources on addressing it within yourself/others.

Just because you yourself have not experienced significant trauma, many, many others have, whether they’ve revealed (or even recognized!) this or not. Statistics clearly show how disturbingly prevalent it is (human trafficking ring a bell?), and its far-reaching effects on our relationships, our communities, and our society in general. You also might be surprised to learn what qualifies as trauma - something we touch on in our chat.

Stormy and I discuss various manifestations of trauma, and its cascading ripple effects. She also mentions the ACEs test (Adverse Childhood Experiences). You can take the ACEs test here 

To learn more, check the CDC’s ACE Study website.

There are some solid life truths in here, so it’s definitely worth a listen.

Stormy is an English teacher, with a BA in English and an MEd in curriculum and instruction with an adolescent literary emphasis. She also instructs fellow educators on recognizing and handling trauma in students.

Thank you.

 

 

TRIO Programs

In honor of PTSD Awareness Day, this episode features my friend Omar Raudez discussing his work with the veterans element of the TRIO Programs.

The TRIO Programs are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. TRIO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects.

The recipients of the grants, depending on the specific program, are institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth and secondary schools. Combinations of such institutions, agencies, and organizations may also apply for grants. These entities plan, develop and carry out the services for students. While individual students are served by these entities, they may not apply for grants under these programs. Additionally, in order to be served by one of these programs, a student must be eligible to receive services and be accepted into a funded project that serves the institution or school that student is attending or the area in which the student lives.

If you’re interested in further information on the TRIO Programs, see the following:

Federal

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html

Idaho State University

https://isu.edu/trio/

You can find Omar on social media:

Instagram: @raudezomar

Facebook: @Omar Antoñio Raudez