The Mind Bod Adventure Pod

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made as a creative? Chelene Knight answers without hesitation: “I think the biggest mistake was just not being me.”This week, we sit down with acclaimed poet, novelist, memoirist, and Tasha’s own writing mentor, Chelene Knight, to talk about what it means to build a creative life. Not the tidy, “professionalized” version, but the messy, alive, human one that actually feels good.Chelene’s most recent book, Safekeeping: A Writer's Guided Journal for Launching a Book with Love, is part guided journal, part treasure map through the writing life. It also, as she puts it, “contains all of my mistakes as a writer and all the things that I’ve learned.” Listening to her is like being handed a permission slip to go slower, trust yourself, reread the same book forever, throw out the pressure to finish, snack on a single poem and call it a meal.We talk about:* Why “there is no reading, only rereading”* The mistake of ignoring your instincts and how to recover.* Poetry as the foundation for all writing.* What happens when writers trust the reader enough to leave space.* How slowing down turns reading into a kind of prayer.The adventureChelene guides us through two delicious reading practices: one with Julia Bouwsma’s Dear Ghosts, I Pick the List, and another from Patricia Smith’s Blood Dazzler. They’re haunting and beautiful.The exercise is simple but radical: Hear a poem once, notice the phrase that hooks you, then hear it again. The second time through, the text has changed… and so have you.----------We make this show with love, laughter, and absolutely no corporate overlords. If it lights you up, help us keep it going with a paid subscription!----------What stayed with us most from this practice is how a poem can feel like a hurricane one moment and a whisper the next, depending on how you let it in.Reading, in Chelene’s hands, is more than consumption. It’s a meditation, a prayer, a slow fire that lights us from within.Let us know in the comments how this practice goes :)Thanks for practicing with us,🧘🏽‍♀️ Tasha & Jeff 🧘🏼‍♂️Chelene’s Links:* The Say No with Love Letters* Safekeeping: A Writer's Guided Journal for Launching a Book with Love* Cheleneknight.com Get full access to The Mind Bod Adventure Pod at www.mindbodpod.com/subscribe

Stephen Porges, a pioneer of polyvagal theory, and Karen Onderko, co-author of 'Safe and Sound,' dive into the transformative power of their groundbreaking work. They discuss the Safe and Sound Protocol, a sound therapy that helps individuals connect emotionally and shift from defense to safety. The duo shares wild stories of personal transformations, explains why safety can sometimes feel daunting, and highlights the nervous system's love language: context, choice, and connection. They even guide listeners through real-time practices to enhance emotional well-being.

Sherri Mitchell, an Indigenous rights attorney and author of Sacred Instructions, shares her profound insights on navigating the chaotic times we live in. She discusses the transformative journey of creating a new reality, likening it to a species-wide rite of passage. Sherri emphasizes the sacred power of oral traditions, the misinterpretation of being 'triggered,' and the 80/10/10 rule for constructing our desired world. Her message is a call to dream a better future, while also cultivating self-love and responsibility in the process.

In this engaging discussion, writer and teacher Sarah Selecky shares her passion for teaching writing as a practice of presence. She dives into the synergy between writing and meditation, emphasizing the power of honesty in storytelling. Listeners learn how to shift from simply trying to write to becoming a clear channel for creativity. Sarah provides insightful exercises to unlock deeper self-expression and encourages embracing vulnerability in writing. By the end, you’ll feel inspired to explore the sensory richness of your own words.

In this illuminating discussion, Chan teacher and sociologist Rebecca Li shares her insights on Silent Illumination meditation, emphasizing a profound 'method of no method.' She explores the idea that true relaxation isn't the goal but a gateway to presence. Rebecca addresses how even non-doing can become a trap and shares her experiences with grief and transformation. With a blend of practical wisdom and humor, she invites listeners to simply be, offering a meaningful perspective on mindfulness and navigating life's challenges.

Serge Prengel, a therapist and Focusing teacher known for integrating various therapeutic modalities, explores the art of deep listening and presence. He discusses how engaging in Focusing promotes embodied change and relational connections. The conversation delves into the roles of vulnerability, safety, and the dynamic between the listener and talker. Serge emphasizes embracing uncertainty in communication and turning everyday conversations into profound practices of connection, ultimately enriching the relationship with oneself and others.

This week on the Mind Bod Adventure Pod, we get our somatic groove on with tapping wizard and trauma therapist Mirjam Paninski. Miriam guides us into the world of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)—a deceptively simple practice where tapping acupressure points while speaking truth can open up big shifts in the body, mind, and heart.It’s part therapy, part ritual, part emotional plumbing.In this episode, we explore:* Why EFT is becoming a popular trauma modality (and how it stacks up to EMDR)* How tapping calms the nervous system and gives stored emotion somewhere to go* Ancestral trauma (your body might be carrying Grandma’s fears!)* What happens when you stop bracing and start releasing------------We make this show with love, laughter, and absolutely no corporate overlords. If it lights you up, help us keep it going with a paid subscription!------------Also: find out why EFT works so well with kids, how it can be used in war zones and post-shooting trauma support, and why tapping might be the pre-meditation dimmer switch you didn’t know you needed.🎯 Practice highlight: Miriam guides us through a powerful tapping sequence that opens into inner child healing. The result is some surprising nervous system release in real time (spoiler: Tasha’s jaw melts, Jeff yawns like a lion).Check out Mirjam’s Group Work: The Conscious Tapping Tribe- For $100 off 6-month membership: use code MINDBOD100- For 20% off yearly membership: use code MINDBOD20This one’s playful, poignant, and weirdly effective. Tap along with us and let us know how it lands in your nervous system!Thanks for tuning in. Love always,🧘🏽‍♀️ Tasha & Jeff 🧘🏼‍♂️ Get full access to The Mind Bod Adventure Pod at www.mindbodpod.com/subscribe

In this discussion, psychologist Joel Schwartz dives into neurodiversity-affirming therapy, advocating for the celebration of differences rather than pathologizing them. He passionately addresses the emotional toll of masking and the missteps of the pathology model in understanding ADHD and autism. Joel also shares unexpected strategies for overstimulation and highlights the joy of sensory expression, encouraging individuals to embrace movement and creativity. With humor and heart, he transforms how we view neurodiversity as not just acceptable, but essential.

In this engaging discussion, relational facilitator James-Olivia Chu Hillman shares insights on radical responsibility and the importance of integrity in relationships. They explore the nuances of effective communication, highlighting why being 'right' can hinder connection. James-Olivia emphasizes the transformative power of empathic listening and unconditional positive regard, encouraging listeners to embrace their authentic feelings. The conversation humorously tackles boundaries, self-worth, and the delicate balance of compassion versus control in both relationships and personal growth.

What if happiness wasn’t just a feeling but something you could train and reinforce?This week on MindBod AdventurePod, we sit down with Dr. Axel Bouchon, a neuroscientist and biotech entrepreneur who spent 20 years searching for a cure for depression—only to realize he’d been asking the wrong question. Instead of curing sadness, he discovered the source code for happiness—a set of six neurotransmitters that shape our emotional landscape.In this episode, Axel takes us on a guided tour of our own brains, revealing:* Why depression can’t be erased—but happiness can be cultivated* The six neurotransmitters behind different flavors of happiness (it’s not just dopamine!)* How to “train” yourself for more joy, resilience, and long-term well-being* Why laughter, nature, music, and even bass drops all play a role in happiness* How our best memories act as anchors—and why taking photos might actually make us happier------------------------------------The Mind Bod Adventure Pod is a community-supported project. If you like these adventures, consider helping us keep the lights on with a paid subscription! ❤️------------------------------------We also dive into Matter, Axel’s innovative app that helps reinforce positive neural pathways by engaging with your own peak memories—those moments that spark deep joy, connection, and meaning. It’s a fascinating look at how we can actively shape our emotional landscape for greater balance and well-being.This episode is part neuroscience, part meditation, and part mind-expanding happiness experiment—so get ready to light up your brain in real time.------------------------------------LINKS* Learn more at: Matter.xyz* Download the Matter app: matter.xyz/appWhat’s your most happiness-inducing memory? Let us know in the comments!------------------------------------The AfterpartyThe Pod is about to get way weirder… we’re turning these Afterparty sessions into full bi-weekly episodes! We’ll talk, unpack, guide short practices, sing, dance—who knows what else—all in the spirit of bringing you deeper into our weird worlds as practitioners, teachers, and friends. Coming in APRIL! 🎉------------------------------------K, That’s all for this week. Thanks for tuning in!Love always,🧘🏽‍♀️ Tasha & Jeff 🧘🏼‍♂️ Get full access to The Mind Bod Adventure Pod at www.mindbodpod.com/subscribe