The Pete Isaia Podcast

On today's episode I have an incredibly enticing and diverse conversation surrounding domestic violence and relationship dynamics with Jane Enter, an incredibly knowledgeable and regarded psychologist.  Jane has a Bachelor of Arts in English, Psychology, and Law, and an honors degree in Psychology. She’s a member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists and the Australian Association of Buddhist Counselors and Psychotherapists. She sits on two boards; The Buttery in NSW and the Governance Board of an emerging psychedelics rehabilitation treatment. She has also previously sat on the Federal government advisory body for the prevention of youth suicide and the federal government advisory body of drug and alcohol treatment recommendations. She has been the clinical director for three high-end rehabilitation centres, including the world's most prestigious; The Sanctuary in Byron Bay.  We begin this episode by reflecting on when we first met years ago at The Sanctuary, I was working as a nurse and Jane a clinical director. As experts in our respective fields, we discuss therapeutic modalities and the importance of quality relationships between the clinician and the client.  Jane and I highlight where we are going wrong as a society when it comes to minimising cases of domestic violence, offering progressive methods to address the situation. Jane explains why she believes in early education as an approach to prevention, encouraging that we build a strong foundation of conflict resolution and self-regulation skills in our youth. She recalls the main contributors causing people to become violent in their relationships, listing personal factors and addressing ways in which society has been quietly contributing to harmful behaviors.  We consider how gender plays a part in abusive relationships, defining what gender roles are, and explaining what roles we all should be taking on.  I think everyone will gain some insights from this information-packed episode!  ⁠⁠ START YOUR SHADOW WORK ⁠⁠⚡️ Connect with Pete on Instagram Connect with Pete on Facebook Find Jane at https://www.muditaholistic.com/ Family violence counselling services: 1800737732 Lifeline: 131114

Today I welcome the highly experienced and well-versed Dr Vanessa Strauss on The Pete Isaia Podcast. Vanessa is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese medicine, university lecturer, Evolutionary Astrologer, women's rites of passage worker and storyteller.  In this episode we reflect on my own health journey and how discovering Chinese medicine changed my life. I share how Vanessa, with her incredible knowledge and skill in the field of holistic healing, was an instrumental presence that guided me to wellness.  We’ll also delve into ‘Gu Syndrome’ from a Traditional Chinese Energetics perspective. What is it? Where does it come from? What does it do? And how does one heal themself from it?  Vanessa and I discuss our practice and passion for astrology, me as an amateur and Vanessa as an expert. She explains the discoveries and insights we can gain from our astrological charts, including but not limited to; our ego, shadow, relationship compatibility, and fertility.  This episode holds so much valuable knowledge, with stories to inspire and expand your thinking.   ⁠⁠START YOUR SHADOW WORK ⁠⁠⚡️ Connect with Pete on Instagram Connect with Pete on FacebookFind Vanessa at https://www.vanessastrauss.com.au/

My guest of honour today is my life partner, my beloved and soon-to-be mother of my child, Rebecca Isaia.  When Bec and I met we bonded over neither of us planning on having children, and now 4 years later we are about to embark on the amazing journey of parenthood, with a baby due in 3 months.  We discuss our unique circumstances of becoming first-time parents later in life (I'm 62 and Bec is 37), and have vulnerable conversations about parenthood, relationships and marriage, drawing from our partnership, our past relationships, and personal experiences.  We share our own reasons for not wanting to be parents, and how we both came to make the conscious decision of bringing a child into the world. I didn't want to repeat harmful cycles mirrored to me by my parents. Similarly, Bec grew up in a toxic household and never wanted to become her mother. On top of this she was told she likely wouldn't be able to have children. Bec shares her health journey navigating hormonal contraception, and how it caused an aftermath of health issues leading her to reject all artificial and unnatural things in her body. She reflects on how she felt unsure of her purpose, and had malcontent towards life without a clear mission, bringing her to heal her feminine mother wound and accept the calling for motherhood.  This is a deeply personal episode I think you're going to love.  START YOUR SHADOW WORK⚡️ Connect with Pete on InstagramConnect with Pete on Facebook

John Callanan has spent over 20 years facilitating rites of passage rituals and ceremonies for young boys at Arne Rubenstien’s Rights of Passage Institute, where they run camps to support the making of men.  He’s a successful businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and property developer. He’s well known locally for establishing the highly regarded Northern Rivers Community Foundation, as well as the Byron Shire Community land trust, providing much needed housing for the financially disadvantaged. He’s also an accomplished pilot and aerobatics pilot, flying expertly at the age of 70.  In this episode John explains the ripple effect of boys going back to their community as changed men after the camps, and how the changes manifest in their social milieu and the world. He explains what it means to be an ‘elder’, and why he has devoted himself to a life of service in his community. He also goes on to highlight the values that distinguish boy's psychology and men's psychology.  We share our own personal stories of transitioning into manhood after discovering rites of passage late in our 40s and 50s. Discussing how facing aspects of our hidden shadows played a vital role in our journey to masculine empowerment.  ⁠⁠START YOUR SHADOW WORK ⁠⁠⚡️ Connect with Pete on Instagram Connect with Pete on Facebook Others links: Power house programs: https://powerhouseprograms.org.au/ The Rites of Passage Institute:  https://ritesofpassageinstitute.org/

In this week's episode my executive producer, Quinika Davis, is back in the studio to explore psychedelics, our humanity, the mind and existence. What is the soul? What is the shadow? Who are we really? How does it all fit together? What started out as an episode intended to focus on psychedelics alone, evolved into an at times, tense discussion exploring our contradictory viewpoints on spirituality. We review the promises and pitfalls of psychedelic assisted therapy, drawing from personal psychedelic experiences and research based evidence. The distinction between a “bad trip” and a “good trip” is explained, with both phrases recontextualized to challenge the common misconceptions.  This is a deeply philosophical episode. Let’s dive in.  ⁠⁠START YOUR SHADOW WORK ⁠⁠⚡️

In today's episode, Mental Health Coach Megan Pasierbek shares her journey navigating a bipolar type 2 diagnosis in her 20s that left her feeling hopeless and overwhelmed with a lack of support from a corrupt healthcare system.  Megan provides a beacon of hope for individuals who feel they deserve more than a life-long prescription, encouraging the exploration of alternate, holistic approaches to not only manage mental health, but thrive regardless of a diagnosis.  Through her own trial and error, she discovered the secret to a deeply fulfilling life lived with bipolar is found through honouring genuine friendship and human connection, understanding the direct correlation between gut health and brain health, the neurological benefits of exercise, proper nutrition, breathwork, and the benefits of plant medicines.  This episode holds raw, uplifting conversations surrounding mental health, and brings to light radical treatments challenging the status quo. Connect with Megan here ⁠⁠START YOUR SHADOW WORK ⁠⁠⚡️ “Grain Brain” and “Brain Maker” Dr David Perlmutter  “Med Free Bi-Polar” Aspen Morrow 

Today Pete is joined by Andrew Campbell, a SHADOWBOXING™ graduate and qualified counselor, specializing in supporting male perpetrators of domestic violence. Andrew shares his journey of becoming a counselor, offering insight into his personal experiences navigating abusive relationships, discovering his boundaries, and identifying family dynamics. He explains how the SHADOWBOXING™ course enabled him to embody another level of ethics, authenticity, spirituality and truth, and ultimately supported him to pass his knowledge and wisdom about masculinity to other men and emerging generations of boys, empowering them to become the best version of themselves, too. Andrew demonstrates his advanced counseling skills and elite level of expertise as Pete offers a personal anecdote the two unpack. This is an unmissable episode packed with professional insights! ⁠⁠ START YOUR SHADOW WORK ⁠⁠⚡️

This episode features Stuart Shugg, a SHADOWBOXING™ graduate, professional dancer, dance teacher and hemp farmer, as he vulnerably shares how he took control of the unconscious motivations leading his life, and dissipated harmful behavioral patterns sabotaging his relationship with his partner, and himself. Stuart embarked on the course to find a deeper connection with others and discovered upon completion that his relationships were revolutionized, finally feeling appreciated by his father and accepted in his conservative country hometown, despite his sexual orientation. You won't want to miss Stuart's raw and inspirational story! ⁠⁠START YOUR SHADOW WORK ⁠⁠⚡️

Trapped in a foreign country, fresh out of a failed relationship and navigating a shared business with her ex-partner, SHADOWBOXING™ graduate and entrepreneur, Monica Pacheco, shares how hitting rock-bottom allowed her to access decades of unresolved trauma and ultimately, transform her life. Monica shares how through her journey of shadow work she abolished self-limiting beliefs, transformed her people-pleasing habits, gained new insights about her manipulative tendencies and transformed her relationship with alcohol. Monica is a powerhouse woman with an amazing capacity to face discomfort and take full-responsibility for the state of her life. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about self-love and liberation. ⁠⁠START YOUR SHADOW WORK ⁠⁠⚡️

David Heilpern is a retired magistrate, author and Dean of law at Southern Cross University. Together we explore the nuances of the current drug law reform, including the medicalization and decriminalization of such. David addresses his growing concern for mental health in Australia, advocating for harm reduction and highlighting the importance of increased funding and accessibility for appropriate education. This is a timely and important conversation for the times we’re living in, and one I believe everyone will benefit from. Enjoy this thorough, and intelligent, conversation about drugs. ⁠START YOUR SHADOW WORK⁠ ⚡️