Pulling The Thread with Elise Loehnen

Philosopher Ken Wilber discusses human development stages, religious beliefs, cultural evolution, and equality values. The conversation explores the integration of different perspectives, pay gaps based on gender and race, levels of consciousness, psychedelic experiences, trauma healing, and multiple intelligences.

Nicole Avant is a philanthropist, filmmaker, and former diplomat. In her recent memoir, Think You’ll Be Happy, Nicole describes attending to the grief and shock of her mother’s unthinkable murder—she was shot in the back by a home intruder in 2021—by creating a living legacy in her honor. Her mom, Jacqueline Avant, had turned her Los Angeles home into a refuge for artists, politicians, and world-changers as the partner to Nicole’s father, entertainment mogul Clarence Avant, who is the subject of Nicole’s beautiful documentary,The Black Godfather. Nicole grew up sitting at the feet of extraordinary artists like Bill Withers, Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, Sidney Poitier watching as her parents navigated the world to make it better for future generations. In today’s conversation, we talk about that legacy—as well as Nicole’s relationship to the divine. Like her parents, she is a master connector—putting people together to see what unfolds.MORE FROM NICOLE AVANT:Think You’ll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief with Grit, Grace, and GratitudeThe Black Godfather, on NetflixFollow Nicole on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I think we need each other. I say this all the time, there are some things that are too big to feel in one body. You need a collective body to move them through. And I think that's what we need. We need to come together in spaces to heal, not just to consume together or to watch a movie together, but to feel together and to have human emotion in real life, in public and act from the place of a feeling body, to choose action from a feeling body and not just a reactive or a numb body, but a body that feels, a body that can connect. What kind of actions do you take in the world from that kind of body? I think it's different.”So says Prentis Hemphill, therapist, embodiment facilitator, and author of the just-released, What it Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World. In today’s conversation—the final in a four-part series—we explore a path to putting ourselves, and the collective, back together, and how this begins with a visioning…but a visioning born from getting back in touch with how we actually feel. I loved their book—just by reading along with Prentis’s own path to re-embodiment, I found myself finding similar sensations in my chest, back and heart. In today’s conversation, we talk about somatics, yes, but also about conflict—and what it looks like to become more adept with our emotions in hard times. This is one of my favorite conversations I’ve had to date on Pulling the Thread—I hope you enjoy it too.MORE FROM PRENTIS HEMPHILL:What it Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the WorldPrentis’s WebsiteThe Embodiment InstituteFollow Prentis on InstagramRELATED EPISODES:PART 1: James Gordon, M.D., “A Toolkit for Working with Trauma”PART 2: Peter Levine, Ph.D, “Where Trauma Lives in the Body”PART 3: Resmaa Menakem, “Finding Fear in the Body (TRAUMA)”Thomas Hubl: “Feeling into the Collective Presence”Gabor Maté, M.D.: “When Stress Becomes Illness”Galit Atlas, PhD: “Understanding Emotional Inheritance”Thomas Hubl: “Processing Our Collective Past”Richard Schwartz, PhD: “Recovering Every Part of Ourselves” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soraya Chemaly challenges the notion of resilience, advocating for collective care over individual triumph. The discussion explores gender dynamics, trauma, societal expectations, and redefining strength and resilience. Embracing body changes, challenging stereotypes, and engaging men in conversations about women's experiences are also highlighted.

Therapist and social worker Resmaa Menakem discusses ancient fears, racialized trauma, and the importance of communal responses to trauma. The conversation delves into personal experiences with fear, intergenerational trauma, and the impact of unaddressed trauma on relationships and communities.

Guest Kara Loewentheil discusses challenges of societal conditioning creating a 'brain gap' in women, self-doubt, body image beliefs, mindset shifts for personal growth, interplay of thoughts, emotions, and behavior, gender biases in money self-worth, and impact of personal transformation on societal change.

Peter Levine, Ph.D, expert in trauma therapy, discusses somatic experiencing and gradual healing through bodily sensations. His new book, An Autobiography of Trauma, delves into his personal journey and the global impact of his work. The podcast explores cultural approaches to trauma, collective healing, and the significance of self-care for generations.

Africa Brooke, author, discusses the impact of online personas on real-life interactions and the importance of cultivating self-awareness. She shares her journey of stepping back from the 'cult of wokeness' and the need for diversity of thought. The podcast explores cancel culture, societal pressures, self-expression, and the promotion of genuine conversations. Additionally, there is a discussion on wellness product selection and reflections on past behavior.

Dr. James Gordon, a trauma specialist, discusses the importance of courage and hope in healing trauma. He shares insights on using practical tools like slow breathing and physical meditation, community training in conflict zones, and the transformative power of group healing. The podcast explores global trauma healing efforts and the impact of personal transformation on societal change.

Author and journalist Johann Hari discusses societal perceptions of weight and sin, critiquing extreme weight loss methods and the glorification of suffering. He delves into his conflicted views on new weight loss drugs, explores genetic influences on weight gain, and compares US and Japanese food habits. The conversation highlights the emotional and physical impact of medications on weight loss, advocating for a scientific approach to managing weight.