Slay The Gatekeeper

In this week's episode, I sit down with Whitney Lasseter, Founder and Visionary of ATMA Church, for one of the most expansive, honest, and nuanced conversations we’ve had on the show.Whitney is a Bufo facilitator, ceremonial leader, and spiritual guide who works at the intersection of sacred medicine, trauma healing, and integration. Together, we ungatekeep a modality that is often misunderstood, quietly used, and rarely spoken about publicly, despite its profound impact on people’s lives.We talk openly about why certain psychedelic and entheogenic medicines remain gatekept, especially among influential and high-profile individuals, and what happens when people step into this work with intention, preparation, and integrity. Whitney shares her personal journey, from a near-death experience and years of heartbreak to a deep spiritual awakening, and how her relationship with God, leadership, and service was completely reshaped along the way.We also explore some of the most sensitive and important questions around this work, sobriety, addiction, legality, public perception, and the future of psychedelic therapy, without sensationalism or shortcuts. This episode is about depth, discernment, and why some of the most powerful tools for healing are still kept quiet.If you’re curious about plant and psychedelic medicine, spiritual awakening beyond religion, or what conscious leadership actually looks like when no one’s watching, this episode is for you.02:32 Why Bufo Is Quietly Used by Influential People03:45 Letting a Journalist Inside Sacred Ceremony06:10 Choosing Integrity Over Safety08:45 The Near-Death Experience That Started Everything09:45 “The Most Profound Experience of My Life”10:31 Redefining God Outside of Religion13:06 Why the Experience Is Fast—but the Work Isn’t16:24 Facilitating Bufo for Her Own Mother17:20 “This Is of God”29:07 How This Medicine Changes Addiction and SobrietyAbout Whitney Whitney Lasseter is the Founder and Visionary of ĀTMA Church: All Tribes Medicine Assembly in Austin Texas, where she facilitates sacred medicine ceremonies and retreats focused on deep healing, spiritual awakening, and integration. With +7 years of experience guiding individuals through trauma, sobriety, and transformation, Whitney is known for her grounded leadership, integrity, and heart-led approach to this work. Connect with Whitney📲 Instagram: @whitneyofatma💼 LinkedIn: Whitney Lasseter🌐 atma.churchStay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @slaythegatekeeper👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

There’s a moment most people reach where they’re no longer confused, uninformed, or unprepared; they’re just hesitant. This episode lives right in that moment.In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Kassidy Warren, and we go deep into why so many people stay stuck under the idea of “I’m in the process of healing.” We unpack how healing language, self-work, and “doing the inner work” can quietly become a place to stall, especially when real action would require discomfort, risk, or a genuine shift in identity.Kassidy breaks down why accountability tends to disappear in adulthood, why athletes and high performers understand stakes differently, and how your environment can either stretch you forward or keep you small. We explore the difference between playing it safe and turning pro, why proximity matters more than motivation, and how most people are already standing at the edge of the decision they keep postponing.If you’ve been telling yourself you’re “working on it,” but nothing in your life has materially changed, this conversation may help you see what’s really going on.02:30 Why athletes understand accountability differently04:20 What happens when accountability disappears in adulthood07:15 Why real change requires stakes08:45 Investing before results show up10:40 How your environment shapes your standards14:45 Why growth often means outgrowing familiar spaces15:30 The “bucket of crabs” effect and being dragged down19:38 Spending money to accelerate growth22:45 Turning pro vs playing it safe23:40 “What am I pretending not to know?”About KassidyKassidy Warren is a real estate investor and coach who helps people buy properties that reduce their tax burden, build equity, and create long-term freedom. He previously worked in engineering and IT before leaving corporate life due to burnout. After living in a van with his wife and rebuilding their careers through consulting, they built a portfolio of short-term rentals. Kassidy now leads a mastermind called Escape Velocity, where he supports members through real estate education, community, and mindset work.Connect with Kassidy📲 Instagram: @kassidy.warren💼 LinkedIn: Kassidy Warren🌐 kassidywarren.comStay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @slaythegatekeeper👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

Explore the art of handling trolls and negative comments with confidence. Discover how trolls can signal your visibility is increasing and why a balance of love and hate can fuel your growth. Learn how controversy can enhance engagement and why preemptive hooks are essential for attracting attention. Courtney shares effective mental strategies for not taking negativity personally and highlights common pitfalls creators face when dealing with critics. Embrace the trolls as a sign of relevance and courage on your journey!

Lucas M. Ferrer-Cardona, MD, a board-certified vascular surgeon and co-host of the Life of Flow Podcast, dives into the art of building a personal brand without social media. He shares insights from Naval Ravikant on leveraging media for opportunity and autonomy. The conversation touches on the importance of creating unique positioning to enhance value, the significance of ownership over institutional roles, and how podcasting can act as a gateway to influential connections. Lucas emphasizes starting small, delegating tasks, and the profound impact of supportive partnerships.

This week, I’m joined by Dr. Ruby Patterson, NASA scientist turned founder, consulting powerhouse, and the mind behind some of the most creative “cheat codes” you’ve ever heard. Ruby blends brilliance and play in a way that makes success feel both strategic and deeply human, and in this episode, she breaks down the mindset and manifestation formula that changed the entire trajectory of her career.We talk about how she used a simple bucket list to unlock rooms she “had no business being in,” why panels became her secret networking Trojan horse, and how scripting, clarity, and talking about your dreams out loud can completely shift your life. Ruby also shares the confidence hacks she used to survive NASA, meet astronauts, build a new business from scratch, and step into her most aligned identity!If you’ve been craving more courage, more clarity, or a smarter way to meet the people who can change your life, this episode is the permission slip and blueprint you’ve been waiting for. Ruby’s story will make you laugh, make you think, and show you exactly how powerful you become when you stop hiding your desires and start gamifying them!!02:10 The confidence gap between who you are and who you want to be06:42 The panel strategy Ruby used to meet anyone she admired11:00 How to get senior leaders to pay attention (without chasing)14:55 Why your dreams need to be spoken out loud18:20 Gamifying your goals: the NASA bucket list story25:40 Networking without pressure, and why audience size doesn’t matter31:15 Scripting in the car: the manifestation technique that works38:22 How Ruby used creative projects as Trojan horses for high-level access44:10 What scientists (and everyone) misunderstand about personal branding51:30 Making your expertise approachable, the “smart eighth grader rule”About Dr. Ruby PattersonDr. Ruby V. Patterson is a planetary geologist, former NASA Mars Geochemist, and the founder of Crisium Group, where she leads groundbreaking work in lunar helium-3 mining and space resource utilization. Named the 2024 Emerging Space Leader by the International Astronautical Federation, Ruby brings a rare mix of scientific rigor, creative thinking, and fearless career strategy to every room she walks into.Ruby earned her Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Houston, after contributing to both lunar and Martian science operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. She supported the Curiosity rover science team, designed astronaut tools for lunar surface missions, and helped develop lunar regolith simulants used in Artemis-era exploration. Her published research on Artemis III sample-return strategy has directly shaped NASA’s current geologic planning for the South Pole-Aitken Basin.Beyond NASA, Ruby has advised multiple aerospace startups on lunar surface conditions, authored technical industry reports, and served as U.S. Lead of Research & Development for the Iceland Space Agency. She has championed NASA funding on Capitol Hill, led an all-female research expedition to Iceland’s volcanic zones, and now spearheads helium-3 prospecting efforts at The Extraterrestrial Mining Company, work with implications for clean energy and next-generation computing.Ruby is also a founding board member of the International Lunar Resource Prospecting Consortium and the creator of an all-female mastermind supporting women in the space industry. Today, she blends her scientific expertise with consulting, creative strategy, and public speaking, helping leaders in tech and space think bigger, move smarter, and access the opportunities they’re truly meant for.Connect with Ruby:
📱Instagram: @rubythespacegeologist💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Ruby Patterson🎙️Podcast: Hotter Weirder Smarter PodcastStay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

This week on Slay The Gatekeeper, I’m joined by Joel Monteleone, dating coach, speaker, and creator of Hot Takes, Hot Dates, the wildly fun, emotionally intelligent singles experience taking Austin by storm! Joel blends emotional intelligence coaching with edgy, practical, and often hilarious dating strategy. In this episode, he shares the patterns keeping people single, the lies we tell ourselves about “bad dating cities,” and why responsibility, not victimhood, is the real cheat code to love and being loved.We talk about avoiding self-sabotage, building attraction through polarity, rewiring beliefs about rejection, and how vulnerability and alignment are the foundation of every healthy partnership. Joel also shares his most counterintuitive dating hot takes, why connection isn’t supposed to be so serious, and the mindset shifts that turn modern dating from chaos into opportunity.If you’ve been attracting the same partners on repeat, feeling stuck on the apps, or wanting a more empowered approach to love, this episode will challenge your assumptions, make you laugh, and give you tools you can use tonight.01:22 Wanting change vs. acting like it06:10 Problematic dating cheat codes & why we unconsciously repeat patterns11:00 The obsession trap14:55 Don’t be a victim - ownership as the #1 dating cheat code18:45 Where to actually meet high-quality partners (and why “the proper” isn’t it)22:40 “Pay for your friends”26:05 Be hot and make your bag30:50 Why modern self-development culture killed fun (and how Joel brings it back)34:55 Polarity 101: how masculine/feminine energy shapes attraction48:10 tatistics don’t apply to youAbout Joel MonteleoneJoel Monteleone is a dating coach, speaker, and the creator of Hot Takes, Hot Dates, a bold new offline experience helping singles ditch the awkwardness and rediscover connection through comedy, play, and emotional intelligence. With a background in EI coaching, Joel specializes in helping high-achieving men and women break out of victim stories, build authentic confidence, and create relationships rooted in clarity, intentionality, and fun.Connect with Joel:
📱Instagram: @joel_monteleone💼 LinkedIn: Joel Monteleone📱Instagram: @hottakeshotdates🎫 Get your ticket: posh.vip/e/hot-takes-hot-dates-austins-most-fun-singles-eventStay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

This week on Slay The Gatekeeper, I’m joined by Anne Mahlum, founder of Solidcore, builder of a 100+ studio empire, and the force behind one of the most iconic nine-figure exits in boutique fitness.Before scaling Solidcore into a nationwide powerhouse, Anne founded Back on My Feet, a nonprofit that empowers individuals experiencing homelessness through running, structure, and community. Years later, she took a completely different idea: a Pilates-inspired concept she discovered by accident, and turned it into a category-defining brand she eventually sold for $98.4 million.In this episode, Anne breaks down the cheat codes that shaped her life and career: why having a Plan B is really just planning to fail, how to build a culture people rise to meet, what separates high performers from excuse-makers, and how she built a company that eventually ran without her, giving her the leverage to negotiate the exit on her terms.This conversation is direct, unfiltered, and loaded with founder wisdom. If you’re building something big, leading a team, or trying to level up your resilience, this episode will show you what going all in actually looks like.02:30 Finding purpose in unexpected places05:45 The Pilates class that sparked solidcore08:10 Identifying your unfair advantage11:25 The first-to-market window that changed everything18:40 Building culture through standards, not slogans22:05 Money literacy: why information isn’t the problem27:20 Turning down $75K to stay all-in32:15 Why EQ matters more than experience36:50 Letting go: building a company that outlasts you‼️🔗 Resources Mentioned• Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki• How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie• You Are a Badass at Making Money – Jen Sincero• Tony Robbins (Date With Destiny, plus his free content)• The Moneywise Podcast• Content by Sam ParrAbout Anne MahlumAnne Mahlum is an entrepreneur and female motivational speaker who's passionate about empowering people to live life on their own terms. The beginning of Anne’s entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In 2007, she found herself running by a homeless shelter in Philadelphia, and had the foresight to realize that running and community could be the catalyst to truly change lives. She engaged the shelter to start a running club, which she quickly transformed into a national non-profit called Back on My Feet. The organization, now with an $8M annual budget, uses running as a vehicle to help those experiencing homelessness become empowered to change their lives. Under Anne’s leadership as CEO, she grew the organization to 14 cities. Since its inception, Back on My Feet has helped thousands of individuals achieve employment and more self-sufficient living. But Anne didn’t stop there. She created success again when she founded pilates-inspired [solidcore] in 2013. As its founder and CEO, she grew it into one of the country’s most successful fitness companies in less than a decade by raising more than $200M through private equity to scale it to more than 115 locations across the U.S.The company currently has thousands of employees and hundreds of thousands of clients across 30 states, including former First Lady Michelle Obama Anne successfully exited [solidcore] in April 2023 and shared millions with her employees after the sale.Connect with Anne:
📱 Instagram: @annemahlum💼 LinkedIn: Anne Mahlum🌐 solidcore.coStay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

This week on Slay The Gatekeeper, I sit down with Bill Perkins, investor, author of Die With Zero, and one of the most interesting thinkers on risk, courage, and intentional living.Bill has spent decades around millionaires, billionaires, and people who take massive bets in life and business. In this conversation, he shares the success pattern he sees over and over again at the top: agency, speed, and the courage to move.We talk about why ideas fail, how ego keeps people small, and why most adults fear looking foolish more than they fear wasting their entire life. Bill also shares the “minimize regret” framework he uses to make big decisions, the habit ultra-successful people rely on to stay in motion, and why he thinks you should spend money when the memory value is highest, not when your bank account looks the best.If you’ve ever found yourself stuck, overthinking, or dipping your toe instead of going all in, this conversation is a wake-up call to bet on yourself while you still have time left on the clock.02:10 The success pattern Bill sees in every millionaire: agency, speed, and action04:40 Why ideas fail: the people who win are the ones who move08:05 Toe-dippers vs. all-in people — the courage gap10:45 Ego risk: the real reason people stay small14:20 Bill’s “future self” test for making hard decisions17:55 Starting from zero: what Bill would do at 25 with $50024:30 Why people secretly love failure (and how it validates their own fear)33:50 Thinking about death as a tool for intentional living53:05 Memory dividends: spend money when the value is highest59:20 The fear of wasting your life vs. the fear of running out of moneyAbout Bill PerkinsBill Perkins is an investor, entrepreneur, and author best known for his book Die With Zero and his unconventional approach to money, risk, and fulfillment. Nicknamed the “Natural Gas King” and “Cowboy of Wall Street,” Bill built his career trading energy markets and is the founder and managing partner of Skylar Capital.He’s also backed and built companies across tech and media, including SkyFi and SynMax, and has produced several feature films. Beyond business, Bill is heavily involved in philanthropy and lives in Texas with his wife, Lara, and his daughters, Skye and Brisa.Connect with Bill:
📱 Instagram: @billperkins📘 Die With Zero: diewithzerobook.com🌐 SkyFi: skyfi.com/Stay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

This week’s guest, Lara Acosta, is a LinkedIn strategist and creator who’s built multiple six-figure businesses through organic content and an innovative email-first funnel. She shares how storytelling and simple posts outperform complex ones, urging creators to use personal anecdotes to build credibility. Lara discusses her successful LinkedIn-to-email conversion strategy, the importance of a consistent posting rhythm, and why relatability trumps authority. Plus, she emphasizes focusing on one effective strategy to avoid distraction and achieve real growth.

This week on Slay The Gatekeeper, I’m joined by Andrew Adams, speaker, coach, and self-mastery teacher, whose story of recovery and rebirth will stop you in your tracks.After spending 12 years in addiction, Andrew rebuilt his entire life from the inside out. Today, he helps others do the same, guiding people to break patterns, let go of attachments, and find peace within themselves.In this episode, Andrew shares the 5 cheat codes that helped him move from survival to self-mastery. We talk about how to spot the real source of your pain instead of just treating symptoms, how to shift your relationship with control, and why emotional intelligence is the difference between chaos and calm.This conversation goes way deeper than surface-level healing or “feel good” advice. It’s honest, raw, and full of truth. If you’ve ever caught yourself in the same loop, feeling like change is out of reach, this episode will remind you how much power you actually hold.01:04 The moment that sparked Andrew’s transformation04:20 “The pattern is not the problem”: looking beneath the surface09:10 How awareness shifts more than willpower ever can13:45 Cravings as clues and what they reveal about your inner world18:30 The illusion of control and learning to let go23:05 Redefining emotional intelligence (and why monks might have it easy)28:40 “Pain is sacred”: finding purpose in the hard seasons34:15 Love as a healing frequency39:20 Power × Purpose = Prosperity: the formula for a full lifeAbout Andrew AdamsAndrew Adams is a high-impact speaker and self-mastery coach who helps people reconnect with their power through awareness, healing, and emotional intelligence. After overcoming more than a decade of addiction, he now teaches others how to turn pain into purpose and live from the frequency of love.Connect with Andrew:
📱 Instagram: Andrew Adams💼 LinkedIn: Andrew Adams Stay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson