Future Tripping
Laura van Dernoot Lipsky
Do you know anyone who doesn’t feel overwhelmed right now? Laura van Dernoot Lipsky is an internationally renowned trauma expert and bestselling author of Trauma Stewardship and The Age of Overwhelm. She has helped people and systems, for over three decades, find their way through really hard times. In this podcast, we will have conversations about what to do in the face of our overwhelm and how to do it, and we will be guided by listeners’ questions. Each week, Laura and a guest will discuss concrete strategies we can use to mitigate harm, cultivate our ability to bring our A-game to whatever we’re doing (or as close as we can get), and move beyond what can feel like permanent survival mode. Some weeks will be geared more towards adults, and others towards adolescents and anyone who loves, lives, or works with them. Together, we’ll focus on the merits of staying present, not missing out on today, and trying to avoid future tripping. We hope that Future Tripping will offer listeners insight into what is currently overwhelming them and tactical skills for both sustaining themselves and contributing, however much they’d like, to larger systemic and structural change.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 14, 2023 • 1h 4min
Dustin Washington: Social Justice + Spiritual Consciousness + Human Solidarity
Dustin Washington joins us this week for a conversation about social justice, spiritual consciousness, & human solidarity. Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of The Soul Focused Group and Co-Director of the Human Solidarity Project, Dustin has worked for over 25 years as a Racial Equity educator and social change leader. More recently, he has grounded those efforts with his work in spiritual consciousness. Dustin’s depth and breadth of knowledge combined with his willingness to be self-reflective, honest, and forthcoming is - truly - inspiring. For anyone interested in social change & liberation work, we think you’ll really appreciate this conversation!To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.
Sep 7, 2023 • 50min
Dr. Anna Lembke: Dopamine Nation - Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence
Our fall series starts with the tremendous wisdom & research of Dr. Anna Lembke. Her latest book, Dopamine Nation, is all about the role dopamine plays in our lives and how we can, realistically, work to find balance amidst a world that is drenched in over-stimulation. Dr. Lembke offers a key to understanding so much of human behavior. We are thrilled to have her with us this week!To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.
Aug 31, 2023 • 1h 9min
6-year-old Casey & Mom Abigail: Challenges & Joys of Being Gender Expansive [from the archives while we’re off the grid]
We are taking a few weeks off the grid. Hoping you enjoy these episodes from the archives.In this not to be missed episode, we are joined by a very special guest. Laura talks with 6-year-old Casey and their mom, Abigail, about being non-binary and gender expansive. Casey generously shares with us their insights, experiences and advice for other children and adults. We even get some book recommendations! Abigail then offers us a window into their family’s journey and what it means to her to be a fierce advocate for creating a world where all children see themselves. To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.
Aug 24, 2023 • 1h 19min
Brother Pháp Hữu: On Buddhism, Thích Nhất Hạnh, Loss & Love [from the archives while we’re off the grid]
We are taking a few weeks off the grid. Hoping you enjoy these episodes from the archives. This week, Laura talks with Brother Chân Pháp Hữu. Brother Hữu is a Zen Buddhist monk, Abbott of Plum Village in France, international educator, and long time attendant to the venerable Thích Nhất Hạnh. They discuss how as a boy in Canada, he first met Thích Nhất Hạnh and was so moved by his teachings that he moved to Plum Village at age 13 to become a monk. The two community builders and friends discuss the passing of their beloved teacher, how the teachings of Buddhism guide them, and how they each navigate loss and love amidst these overwhelming times.To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.
Aug 17, 2023 • 1h 8min
Matt Reddam: Surviving the Most Destructive Fire in California History and What Really Matters [from the archives while we're off the grid]
We are taking a few weeks off the grid. Hoping you enjoy these episodes from the archives.This week Laura talks with her friend and colleague Matt Reddam. Matt is a survivor of complex childhood trauma and now works with children, families, schools and systems in a variety of roles. He lives in Butte County which experienced the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history. Matt shares his belief that creating connection – even when there are differences and divisions – is the key to moving forward, healing and rebuilding oneself and one’s community. They discuss the importance of normalizing conversations about overwhelm, trauma, and mental health – especially among men and within our educational systems. Matt’s abiding sense of humor, authenticity, and hopefulness is a reminder for us all of what is possible, even in the aftermath of the unthinkable.To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.
Aug 10, 2023 • 53min
Emily Carmichael: Before/After Spielberg & the Challenges of Hollywood
If there is something Emily Carmichael has known well, it’s been how to work incredibly hard. Writing independently for 11 long years, the stress of paying rent continuously looming, she’ll never forget the day Steven Spielberg asked to meet with her. This week we get to hear about Hollywood. What’s gotten better in terms of supporting artists, how far it has to go regarding destigmatizing mental health, and how at least this artist has forged her own way despite the overwhelm. Regardless of your relationship with television and movies, Emily’s insights speak to all of us and her wisdom resonates widely.To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.
Aug 3, 2023 • 56min
Eloise Cherian: Psychedelic Science & the Future of Psychedelic-assisted Therapy
The future of psychedelic science & psychedelic-assisted therapy is incredibly promising. Practiced for millenia by Indigenous communities, this path is proving to be very hopeful for so many who have not found relief through other modalities. While having just graduated from Pomona College, Eloise Cherian joins us today with an incredibly impressive amount of experience already in this field. She and Laura discuss the basics, dive into her research in college, and focus on the incredibly important ethics surrounding these treatment and healing options. Eloise’s passion for, and knowledge of, this science shine through and we are so fortunate to be able to learn from her this week.To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.
Jul 27, 2023 • 45min
Connie Burk: Non-precious Parenting
Connie Burk, a mother of four and co-author of Trauma Stewardship, shares her insights on non-precious parenting. She emphasizes the importance of humor in navigating the tumultuous journey of parenthood. The conversation dives into candid discussions about the challenges of adopting siblings from foster care, highlighting community support and family unity. Connie advocates for authenticity over societal expectations, encouraging open communication and empathy in diverse family structures. Her unique perspectives aim to inspire and uplift caregivers facing everyday challenges.
Jul 20, 2023 • 60min
Carter Osborne: Applying to College - Tips From an Expert
While getting to attend college is a true privilege, the application process is grueling at best. Carter Osborne has worked with students for years as they craft their essays, but the role he plays in kids’ lives during this pivotal time goes much deeper. Devoted to teen mental health and suicide prevention, Carter approaches the entire process as an actual opportunity for students to get to know themselves. For true self-reflection. Reforming the college admissions process in the United States can’t happen soon enough but, until then, students having a trusted ally by their side throughout it all is critical. We’re so lucky to have the best of the best with us today.To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.
Jul 13, 2023 • 49min
Sara Ainsworth: Reproductive Justice - What We Can All Do
Sara Ainsworth is an absolute force. Kind, brilliant, skillful, and entirely devoted, she and her incredible colleagues work to [from their site] transform the law and policy landscape through advocacy, support, and organizing so all people have the power to determine if, when, and how to define, create, and sustain families with dignity, and to actualize sexual and reproductive wellbeing on their own terms. This means Sara builds on her decades of experience working for social justice to face some of the most heartbreaking situations in our country that involve harm to women as they try to maintain sovereignty over their bodies. And yet, being in Sara’s company doesn’t allow room for despair. We are extremely fortunate to be joined by someone with such expertise and who can help us all understand how we can help in big and small ways.To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.
