Future Tripping

This week Laura talks with Shaq Williams, a physical and spiritual coach, trainer, and practitioner. From growing up in Trinidad to moving to the States; transitioning from soccer to boxing to yoga; and shifting from being withdrawn to outgoing, they cover a lot of ground. Shaq shares what he’s learned as a result of family pain, being unhoused, and erecting unscalable walls around his heart. Together he and Laura reflect on that moment so many of us can relate to when one’s survival skills no longer serve us and - once we have that insight - how to move forward. 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. 

Perfection may sound great, but there is more and more evidence that striving for perfection significantly disadvantages one’s ability to navigate life’s ups and downs – which we all inevitably have. This week, Laura talks with writer, teacher, attorney, and mother of five, Gail Cornwall, about the importance of striving for excellence but not perfectionism. They discuss the research around centering our self-worth on the process of learning as opposed to our accomplishments and explore the many ways we internalize - from society - the myths surrounding perfectionism. The good news is there are concrete and tangible strategies to help oneself and others and there is, absolutely, an alternate path forward. 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. 

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. 

This week Laura talks to the internationally renowned DJ and Director of On-Air Programming at KEXP Radio, John Richards. As Host of The Morning Show, John talks openly about mental health while playing music for his listeners. During the pandemic he tripled his listenership as people flocked to his unique radio space where he regularly assures them that, “You are not alone.” In their conversation, he and Laura talk about the responsibilities, challenges, and joy that come with the privilege of offering support and creating community for others. John speaks about the toll that the daily exposure of hearing about other people’s overwhelm takes on him. And they get into detailed practices of how to reset and recharge. Of course, one practice we strongly recommend: tune in to The Morning Show and benefit from John’s deeply insightful, warm, creative, and healing presence. 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. 

Teaching, and working in schools, is incredibly difficult under any circumstances. During Covid, it has become exponentially so. This week, Laura talks with Naomi Fuentes, a high school teacher in Odessa, Texas. Odessa is known by many as the home of Friday Night Lights and was highlighted in The New York Times podcast The Daily at the beginning of the pandemic. Naomi was prominently featured throughout the series where she shared her - and her community’s - experiences through national loss and mourning, changing mandates, and crushing stress and fatigue. Naomi’s devotion is profound and anyone who crosses paths with her - whenever and however - is truly better for it. 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. 

This week, as the NBA finals are underway, Laura talks with Dr. William Parham, the inaugural Director of the Mental Health and Wellness Program of the National Basketball Players Association. Dr. Parham is a Psychologist and Professor of Counseling at Loyola Marymount University, and together he and Laura explore many of the current, and historic, forces that impact the mental health of NBA players and other elite athletes. They cover everything from the legacy of systematic oppression and structural supremacy to professional sports’ present day responsibility to treat athletes as multi-faceted individuals, often with complex lives, and - as Dr. Parham explains - invisible tattoos. Through their conversation they talk about not just how to obtain, but also how to maintain, one’s mental health. While professional and collegiate sports have a long way to go in terms of dismantling the barriers for athletes who want to care for their whole selves, knowing that Dr. Parham is a part of that change is, indeed, inspiring.  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. 

In this episode, Laura talks with Jayla Wilson. Having known each other for years, they head into previously uncharted waters discussing race, gender, class, and so much more. Studying English Literature and Environmental Science in college, Jayla speaks about the various intersections in her life that have been both challenging and growth inducing: being Black, a woman, an athlete, an environmentalist, and newly committed to writing about her - and others’ - experiences through journalism. For anyone who has ever wanted to change the course of one’s life, this conversation is for you.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. 

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.You can find Brother Hữu's podcast here: The Way Out is InTo 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. 

This week Laura is in conversation with Dr. Chamberlain. An abortion provider, ObGyn and Medical Director, he has dedicated his career to women’s healthcare. Having been friends for over 25 years, they discuss how he sustains his kindness, compassion, and perspective, even amidst 80 hour weeks. He generously shares his evolution from being raised with conservative values to now being resolute in the critical right of self-governance and personal autonomy for every woman. With a strong focus on the collaborative nature of this work, he reminds us of what it means to come together to protect human rights and how we can all contribute to improving the current landscape. To learn more about this podcast, 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 and leave us a voicemail. 

Join us this week as Laura talks to her beloved and brilliant mentor, Dr. Jon Conte. Jon is one of the world’s foremost experts in trauma and child abuse prevention. Sought out for decades for his expert witness testimony, he has also been the Director of The Joshua Center on Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, and is a Professor Emeritus of Social Work at the University of Washington. Together he and Laura go deep into all things trauma and abuse. They discuss how we can maintain our sense of hope in humankind when we are exposed to trauma and overwhelm, and how doing very small things can yield very big results in our efforts to sustain ourselves. Please note that this episode is graphic in nature and centers on themes of child abuse, sexual abuse, and trauma. While the content of this episode is detailed and explicit at times, if you do choose to listen, we hope you find it helpful and meaningful. To learn more about this podcast, 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 and leave us a voicemail.