Future Tripping: Recent Episodes
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.
We want to take a moment and thank you for joining us for Season Two! This community means so much to us. Truly.
And Guests it has been such a privilege to engage in these conversations with you each week.
Many thanks, again, to Olivia Pi-Sunyer who is an incredible joy to collaborate with and without whom we couldn’t do this. And, to Tom Stiles for such skill and steadfastness and to Freya Burrows White for all the social media help. Thank you again everyone and we are looking forward to more in 2024!
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 our final episode of Season Two, we are in conversation with Abbey Brown. As Technical Lead for the Clean Fuel Standard with the Washington Department of Ecology, Abbey is on the front line of working for structural and systemic changes. She is wise beyond her years and we are very grateful to her for joining us to talk about how to sustain ourselves, collectively and individually, even when we care deeply and even when things can feel, or are, dire.
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 we are joined by Stacey Moniz. As a beloved community member who is deeply rooted on the island, Stacey generously shares with us where things stand currently and helps us understand the complicated and entrenched forces that contributed to this disaster unfolding as it did. Stacey & Laura discuss grief & loss, the ineffable pain that continues to course through the island, the profound strength and devotion of her family, friends, colleagues, and fellow community members and - importantly - what we can all learn from this tragedy.
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.
Sex & hookup culture is what Dr. Lisa Wade and Laura talk about this week. Having written t-h-e book on hookup culture, American Hookup: The New Culture of Sex on Campus, we couldn’t be in better hands for this ever more important and deeply relevant conversation. Because hookup culture intimately ties to so much else in our society, this conversation is meaningful whether or not you, or someone you care about, is on a campus. Dr. Wade has a great amount of expertise but remains accessible, feels strongly but remains credible. An extremely tough balance to strike. For everyone who will be helped by your work, thank you, Dr. Wade!
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.
Sleep! It’s something we all do & yet so many of us don’t understand, exactly, why it’s critical and how to truly get good/restorative sleep. Dr. Rafael Pelayo has spent decades of his career studying & treating sleep issues and disorders. This was both a lot of fun & very informative as Dr. Pelayo knows so [!] much about sleep and it seems like there is not a sleep issue that’s eluded him during his long career. We’re so grateful to Dr. Pelayo for providing us with such concrete guidance and many practical do’s & don’ts.
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.
Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior remain widely misunderstood. We are fortunate to be joined this week by Sarah Weber who has worked for years as an art therapist and mental health counselor. While many listening may not have ever felt the experience of obsessing about something, you likely know someone who does. Now and then or regularly. Sarah walks us through so much practical and instructive knowledge and guidance. We really appreciate her joining us to help further our understanding of this realm of worry and all the different ways it can manifest.
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.
Former NFL wide receiver & Super Bowl Champion with the Seattle Seahawks; current founder of the Family First Community Center; philanthropist; and CEO Doug Baldwin sits down with Laura this week. Doug’s openness and commitment to authenticity allow them to discuss, in detail, vulnerability and what it means to bring our whole selves to our lives. Originally filmed as an on-camera interview, we wanted to help you access it in your pod feed as well. We are deeply grateful to Doug for offering so much of himself in 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.
This week we are doing something a little bit different. A wonderful colleague of ours requested, given everything going on in the world, a very short Q & A session that she could share with others who may be struggling. This is our attempt at that! A video portion can be found on our site as well. We hope it’s helpful.
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.
Culture writer Kate Lindsay is with us this week to talk about everything from whataboutism and opinion fatigue to our online presence from when we are born until after we die. Kate’s experience with all angles of being online combined with her astute observations make this such an accessible conversation. There is so much I don’t know about social media and this was such a fun and informative romp. I don’t take for granted all I learned from her this week! I so appreciate Kate sharing her vast knowledge and incredibly interesting insight with us.
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.
Today I have the privilege of talking with Lily Levitt. I first heard Lily share a bit about her life when talking with her father, Steven Levitt, on his podcast People I Mostly Admire - part of the Freakonomics network. In our conversation, she powerfully shares about her struggle with, and recovery from, disordered eating. I am extremely grateful she was open to joining us so we can learn from her tremendous wisdom and admirable honesty.
instagram: @recoveryandiscovery
Peers.net
National Alliance for Eating Disorders
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mother of four, this week we get to talk with Connie Burk about non-precious parenting. What it looks like, why it can be so sustaining, and why maintaining one’s sense of humor through it all is critical. Long time advocate and activist; community leader; Co-author of Trauma Stewardship, there is no shortage of directions this conversation could have gone, but we know Connie’s wisdom and insight will be a balm for anyone who has ever cared for a child.
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.
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.
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.
As a colleague and friend, Nate and I have spent years talking about the importance of having a Plan B in life. Very fortunately, one of Nate’s Plan B’s led him to the incredible work at Athlete Ally. Their mission is to end homophobia and transphobia in sport and to activate the athletic community to exercise their leadership to champion LGBTQI+ equality. Nate shares with us about their extremely impactful work and we go a bit further into why we think having a Plan B is so invaluable. Anytime, but especially now, I really appreciate getting to have this conversation with Nate.
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.
Stella was 14 when she died and yet her life has left an indelible legacy on everyone who was blessed to know her. Today, we have the privilege of talking with her older sister who was with her from when the diagnosis was received until she passed away. The family was blessed with an incredibly loving community and a deep bench of support and yet, there is nothing quite like the sibling bond when it comes to a loss of this magnitude and the ensuing heartbreak. We are honored that Charlotte was willing to share so honestly and candidly in this conversation. Her wisdom, insights, and advice are a gift to all of us - whether or not we've ever lost someone.
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.
From ancient forest bathing to modern biome boosting, we’re hearing more and more about our gut health. Our conversation with Dr. Christopher Lowry helps us begin to understand the very important implications of maintaining one’s gut health and how it has major ramifications not just for our physical health but our mental health as well. Dr. Lowry’s research focuses on stress-related physiology and behavior with an emphasis on the role of the microbiome-gut-brain axis in health and well-being. And not just physical health but our mental health as well.
His research is absolutely fascinating, and you’ll leave this week’s episode with very concrete and accessible steps toward enhancing your overall health. Learning to trust your gut takes on a whole new meaning!
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 we are getting to see how transforming trauma into art can be truly life-affirming. Joined by filmmaker, artist, writer, and activist Eliaichi Kimaro, we learn how metabolizing one’s overwhelm can lead to enduring beauty. Years ago, Eli moved from full-time work as an advocate and activist to becoming a filmmaker. Her award-winning documentary A Lot Like You has won many awards and toured film festivals around the world. As Director of 9elephants Productions, she uses art and video to bring stories of struggle, resistance and survival to a broader audience. This conversation takes us from Eli’s familial roots in Tanzania and Korea to the next generation as Eli sought to both make sense of her history and create something enduring to offer future generations. We are reminded over and over, as Eli shares her wisdom, as to why art - the creation and maintenance of it - can be an essential act of liberation.
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.
There are many long-held cultural practices that have new science bolstering them, and cold water immersion is definitely one of those. Matt Soule is Washington state’s only Level 3 Wim Hof Method instructor and has been studying and practicing strategies to help master one’s stress response for years. In this conversation, Matt and Laura walk through very practical, accessible, concrete ways to reset one’s nervous system - all with safety as the absolute priority. Because of Matt’s expertise, he’s also able to offer a great deal of insight into both the physiological benefits as well as the deeper lessons there for us to learn. Having Matt translate the art and science around this was a real gift.
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.
ADHD, despite many advancements, remains widely misunderstood. We are so fortunate to be joined this week by expert Lesley Todaro, the Co-founder of the Hallowell Todaro ADHD Center. We get all [all that can fit into an hour that is!] our questions answered. Approaching this entirely from a strengths-based perspective, we learn what, exactly, ADHD is and gain a clearer sense of the misinformation that surrounds it. Lesley compassionately talks about both what’s beautiful and what’s challenging for all involved and offers listeners extremely concrete strategies for being as constructive and wise as possible. We truly appreciate the opportunity to do such a deep dive with Lesley on this incredibly important topic.
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.
We, personally, don’t know anyone who is not buckling under the weight of Decision Fatigue and Cognitive Overload. Laura has the privilege of being in conversation with Dr. Luc Schneider this week. We learn that a good decision is not necessarily one that has a good outcome, but rather one that has been made through a good decision making process. Dr. Schneider explains what that entails and generously answers all of Laura’s questions as they relate to decision fatigue and how to balance being thorough with not obsessing or perseverating. We learn how overconfidence and underconfidence play into how we decide things and touch on the role of vulnerability and why it’s so important to not be isolated in our decision making. Given how ubiquitous this fatigue is, we are thrilled to be able to offer Dr. Schneider’s insights with the hope of lightening everyone’s load a bit.
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.
Cultivating and maintaining self-respect in the face of societal headwinds can be extremely difficult and feel like a real reach on any given day. That’s the subject of this week’s conversation between Laura and recent college graduate, and soon-to-be medical school student, Celeste Coler. They start by talking about the fraught process of being accepted into, or rejected from, schools and jobs. From there, Celeste shares beautifully about navigating recent loss and trauma in her life. Being mixed race there’s lots to talk about in terms of being a part of predominantly white institutions, and they end on an inspiring note with Celeste describing the incredibly important work she and her peers have done to promote a culture of consent and sex positivity in college. One can’t walk away from this conversation without feeling a lot better about today’s current landscape.
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.
We continue our launch of Season Two talking with Flynn Coleman about the urgency of humanely designed artificial intelligence, what it means to work for social and environmental justice in a sustainable way, and why it’s critical to not neglect joy & beauty. Flynn is an international human rights attorney, author, and artificial intelligence expert. Having spent years at the forefront of conversations on the urgency of humanely designed AI, Flynn and Laura talk about how quickly the current landscape is changing and the larger implications of what it means to do work that will never be completed in one’s own lifetime. They explore the importance of being kind, flexible, and curious with oneself when making choices of how to spend one’s time and where to direct one’s attention. And with Flynn living in Florence, Italy, they affirm the importance of creating space for beauty, whether that is art, multilingualism, or connection with loved ones. We are delighted to learn from Flynn’s incredible life experience and while parts of their conversation are particularly relevant to the here and now, even more of it is timeless.
Learn more about Flynn's work here.
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 our inaugural episode of Season Two, Laura talks with Daniel Pink. Pink has authored 5 New York Times bestsellers, and for more than two decades has explored and researched behavior and creativity. In this conversation, they dive into his latest research on regret - why this ubiquitous human experience is one to turn towards, not away from. They talk further about what constitutes a meaningful life and weave in concrete tips on cultivating creativity and maximizing motivation. We are thrilled to launch our second season with his insight and optimism.
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.
We wanted to take a moment to really thank you, our listeners, for helping this podcast thrive! We have just wrapped Season One and will be back in early 2023. We so appreciate you, and spending this time with all of you each week has been a treat. Thank you for joining our community and we look forward to diving into the new year with you.
For any suggestions, please do reach out to us at traumastewardship.com. Again, thank you!
In our final episode of Season One, Laura speaks with Robin Brulé. Written about in The Age of Overwhelm, Robin’s mother and close friend were murdered while drinking coffee and reading the morning paper in their home. Robin speaks about her path from the day that forever changed her life through today and offers listeners encouragement to take time, truly take time, to grieve and mourn, and shares why having realistic expectations of oneself is critical. She and Laura also talk about the incredibly important work Robin does to help survivors of domestic violence access the financial tools necessary to become financially independent and stable. Robin embodies what a beautiful and meaningful life can look like, even in the aftermath of indescribable heartbreak.
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.
When reflecting on the early days of the pandemic, something forever memorable is Achut Deng’s story as reported on the New York Times podcast The Daily. Journalist Caitlin Dickerson met Achut when trying to give voice to some of the workers in the United States who were most vulnerable when it came to coronavirus exposure. Achut is a survivor of the Sudanese civil war and lived in a refugee camp for years. After coming to the U.S. she eventually found herself working at a meat packing plant in South Dakota. She is a single mom to her three sons and as a result of the outpouring of concern generated by that early reporting, Achut has just written her first book. Caitlin, now at The Atlantic, recently featured Achut and her memoir Don’t Look Back, and to say the past couple years have been transformative for Achut is a true understatement. When so much can seem so overwhelming in life, being in Achut’s presence is a salve to one’s spirit.
Achut Deng's memoir, Don't Look Backis on sale now.
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 Freedom Siyam. Freedom has been a classroom teacher, principal, adjunct faculty member and so much more! For decades he’s also been a community organizer for social justice and international human rights causes both in the U.S. and the Philippines. Freedom shares honestly what he sees kids going through and his colleagues going through. By looking closely at the systems and structures that make up education, he offers his analysis of a few reasons why we are where we are today. He has real and compassionate advice for those coming into the field as well as those who have already dedicated themselves to this noble work. And no conversation with Freedom is ever complete without some good laughter.
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.
Join Laura as she talks with former public defender and current policy expert, Krystal Rodriguez. Krystal has spent her entire career focusing on how to represent, defend, advocate for, and shift systems to better serve folks from marginalized and underserved communities. In this conversation they discuss her incredibly interesting and critically important work on bail reform and closing Rikers Island. She generously shares her insightful self-reflection and the subsequent rough road she traveled as she enacted her Plan B. And they talk about the importance of understanding what being personally connected to one’s career means for one’s life - inside and outside of work. Krystal is widely sought after for her expertise, depth and breadth of experience, respect for those she serves, powerful leadership, and - of course - sense of humor. Laura’s admiration of Krystal runs deep and we know that what she has to share will be a gift for our listeners.
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 we are joined by two experts on people’s perceptions of the world and their influence on our actions. Laura has been an admirer, and drawn on the work of, Dr. Gilovich and Dr. Davidai for years, and during their conversation today, they generously indulge Laura as she asks them to apply their research and own personal practices to Laura’s own work in trauma, vicarious trauma, overwhelm, and systematic oppression/structural supremacy. They cover everything from enduring regret to the headwinds/tailwinds asymmetry. With humor and candor, they relay their pioneering research in very accessible ways and leave the listener with a tremendous amount to think about and a number of concrete take-aways.
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’s conversation is with activist, community builder, lawyer, and DEI leader Lezlie Griffin. Through her work with Earthworks, Lezlie supports employees in their devoted efforts to prevent fossil fuel and mining initiatives, and to change and enforce laws that hold companies responsible for the pollution and harm that they cause. Lezlie offers us sage insight and advice on how we can find ways to navigate our own overwhelm around the climate crisis and all the inequities, exhaustion, and despair it can carry with it. She and Laura discuss solastalgia, the importance of staying present and not future tripping, why pacing oneself is critical, and how the seemingly small things do actually make a difference. While communities around the world are under water, on fire, and experiencing record weather patterns, we owe a debt of gratitude to Lezlie - and all of her colleagues in the field - who bring their best to fight this fight every day and continue to envision what is possible.
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.
Join Laura this week as she talks with an esteemed leader in the Anti-Violence and Domestic Violence fields, Deadria Boyland. Having done this work for over 30 years, Deadria brings her wealth of knowledge to the conversation and together they discuss how we can recognize manipulation, control, and abuse in our own relationships as well as in relationships of loved ones and those around us. Whether it’s a blossoming relationship in middle school or a long-held one by older adults, warning signs are discussed and strategies are offered. Importantly, Laura and Deadria remind us that abuse in relationships can happen to anyone and that it’s imperative we reflect on our own judgments and stereotypes. And because no conversation with Deadria is complete without laughter, they find the levity where they can, even within this complex and critically important topic.
National Network to end Domestic violence https://nnedv.org/
National Domestic Violence Hotline https://www.thehotline.org/tel:1.800.799.7233
Futures Without Violence https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/
Love is Respect https://www.loveisrespect.org/get-involved/tdvam/
Teen Dating Violence https://www.teendvmonth.org/
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 Kendall Titus, a wise beyond her years entrepreneur and college student. Kendall shares her thoughts about navigating overwhelm, in college and beyond. They discuss loss and grieving, with Kendall offering concrete strategies that have been helping her over the past year. And they talk about sympathetic joy and all that can come from that practice. We also get to hear about Womxn Ignite, co-founded by Kendall and her BFF from high school, and written about in Forbes. Given all the headwinds facing young adults today, this conversation will inspire and - we are sure - be a joyful part of your day!
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 is in conversation with psychiatrist, bioethicist, assistant professor at Columbia University, and author, Dr. Carl Erik Fisher. Dr. Fisher, through his long career, extensive research, and personal experience of being in recovery, shares the critical truth that addiction has spanned history, and is something that exists in all of us, with no bright line that separates us from them. He explains that approaching addiction recovery in that dichotomous way is at best ineffective and at worst dangerous and deadly. He offers that simple solutions like a War on Drugs, more law enforcement, and cutting off supplies don’t address the reality that drug problems arise from multiple intersecting causes like systemic oppression, the failures of the American health system, pharmaceutical empires, and the lack of basic human rights and needs like housing, healthcare, and education. Together, he and Laura discuss how addressing addiction cannot come from control or eradication which don’t get to the root of the problem. Instead, we need to look at addiction from a place of inquiry, curiosity, and self-compassion, and with an acceptance that suffering is a part of life, which allows us to develop coping skills and psychological flexibility, and to find support and community - and a path to recovery.
Whether listening to the depth and breadth of Dr. Fisher's knowledge through this conversation, reading his exceptional book, or keeping up with him through his own podcast, we believe everyone has something meaningful to learn from him.
https://www.carlerikfisher.comTo 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 award-winning author, lawyer, and strategist Deepa Iyer. Deepa and the organization she works with, Building Movement Project, create building blocks for activist organizations to translate their desires to create change into concrete practices they can implement. These two activists connect on their belief that how we do the work is just as important as what the work is, and that we can't delegate social change work to people in the nonprofit sector or to activists. We all have important roles to play, no matter what our jobs and identities are. They talk about Deepa’s upcoming book and how to maintain hope, even amidst all that can feel daunting and overwhelming.
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 dives into the world of tech and Trust & Safety. Trust and Safety refers to teams that work to prevent online harm. This can include anything from predatory behavior like child sexual abuse and violence to mental health crises such as suicidal ideation. As technology evolves, Trust and Safety teams are always evolving to combat new threats and care for those in crisis. Some of the content within this episode is detailed and explicit.
Laura is joined by Maggie Cook, an expert in this field. They discuss Maggie’s pioneering work at Facebook and her move to Door Dash (all opinions are her own). They talk about their experiences collaborating in an effort to mitigate harm to employees as a result of exposure to traumatic content. Maggie offers listeners powerful advice on how to know when it’s time to go and shares a grounding tenet that if we’re facing something hard, we definitely shouldn’t do it alone. Any of us who engage with anything online - ever - owe Maggie and her colleagues our gratitude.
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 dives into a conversation about race, spirituality, teaching inside and outside of prisons, and what we have yet to learn from hip hop with Dr. Derik Smith. Professor Smith talks about his own self-identity leading to his quest for knowledge and studies in African American literary culture, and shares his deep belief in creating learning communities where principles of justice and equal intellectual footing are centered and commonalities are found. It’s not only the subject matter that Professor Smith teaches about that makes him such a gift to his students and colleagues, but also the heart and dedication with which he goes about it. We are so grateful to have spent this hour with him.
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.
Join Laura this week as she talks about long-term grieving, cumulative loss, and the transition to college and adulting with Alexander Soukakos, a graphic artist and design student. Alex lost his mother soon after his birth and generously shares with us insights about his years of experience navigating grief and loss. They also discuss the challenges of transitioning from high school to college and living on one’s own. He offers concrete advice for young adults and those who love them. Together they agree that we should never underestimate the small things that get us through a hard day and the importance of asking for help, early and often.
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 we are so grateful to be joined by New York Times best-selling author and Executive Producer and writer of the Hulu series - and Emmy nominated! - Dopesick. Beth Macy and Laura discuss the arc of Beth’s life and career and the enormous challenges of maintaining one’s own equilibrium when surrounded by extreme despair. Beth’s devotion to giving voice to those who are so often disregarded and forgotten is unparalleled and it was a true honor to have her join us during her book launch week. For everyone who has found themselves questioning how they can keep going with the work of making the world a better place, 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.
Adulting. There’s really not a prescribed age when it starts or when it ends. In this week’s episode, Laura talks to critically acclaimed author, teacher, activist and parent, Julie Lythcott-Haims. They talk about Julie’s decades of experience with both young adults and their parents/guardians and how, often, less is more. Julie beautifully speaks to one of the themes of her work with young adults which is “You matter.” Unconditionally. Not when this or if this. Just you. Yourself. They connect on their backgrounds and intersecting paths, their work, and their hope for doing all they can to alleviate overwhelm, and the roots of overwhelm, for anyone who finds themselves mired in adulting. Whether you want to grow up, don’t want to grow up, or do or don’t want that for someone else, 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.
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 connects with former U.S. Ski Team member, non-profit founder and girls’ advocate, Jilyne Jarvis. Together they explore the realm of self-confidence and Jilyne talks about her professional competitive years and the consequences of a culture with a hyper focus on performance, outcome and external validation. Determined to change things, Jilyne co-founded an organization that supports girls in confidence building and learning to accept fear and mistakes as essential stepping stones towards learning and growth. Jilyne is a gift to countless young people and it was such a joy to have her join us!
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 fellow podcaster and mental health advocate Cameron Rogers, aka Freckled Foodie. On her multiple platforms, Cameron shares authentic content about wellness, mental health, motherhood and popular culture. In this episode, she and Laura discuss her choice after a life-altering accident to pivot from Wall Street to Content Creation where she is able to be her real self and create community for others. She and Laura touch on a number of topics that continue to hold stigma for some and delve into how to change that, individually and collectively.
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.
I think we can all relate to feeling depressed and anxious some of the time or a lot of the time. In both breadth and depth, this episode covers a lot of ground. Laura talks with psychiatrist Dr. Ashley Covington who practices with a holistic and integrated approach, including using ketamine assisted psychotherapy. During a time when so many people around the world are understandably struggling, Dr. Covington and Laura remind us that we’re in good company and that there is an abundance of strategies for tending to oneself and each other.
Ketamine retreat website: tranquil-trip.com
IG: atranquiltrip
tiktok: tranquilmd
website: tranquilmd.com
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): https://nami.org/About-Mental-Illness
National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Dial 988
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 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 In
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 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.
In this episode Laura is in conversation with Dr. Alexa Albert, an expert on narcissism. They do a deep dive into what narcissism is, where it most often comes from, and how it manifests in a variety of relationships. Alexa shares her belief in the importance of “Getting a PhD in knowing yourself,” as navigating narcissism can be confusing, painful, and even - at times - dangerous. Listeners will leave with tangible and concrete strategies, and we hope this episode sheds some meaningful light on what so many of us have been - at one point or another - impacted by.
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.
Having meaningful goals and high expectations of ourselves - while remaining realistic and compassionate - is a delicate balance. This week Laura talks with Olympian and U.S. National Ski Team Champion, author, and mom, Libby Ludlow. They discuss her tremendous achievements, range of regrets, the merit in having a failure resume, and how living according to one’s personal values [as opposed to as if every day is your last] can help mitigate overwhelm. No need to have ever even seen snow for this conversation to resonate deeply.
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 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.
In this episode Laura speaks with Mallory, a US Air Force veteran, flight attendant/trainer, and PhD candidate. They discuss the onslaught of new and overwhelming challenges that those in the aviation industry are facing, and the lack of systemic support. Mallory describes how isolating and dehumanizing the job can feel and she offers us all a checklist of things we can do to make everyone’s travel a little bit better.
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.
Tatum Dahl is a Social Media Maven and Influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram and millions of likes on Tik Tok. A recent college graduate, she has years of experience navigating public opinion and public scrutiny. In the often-overwhelming landscape of young adulthood, navigating one’s life privately can be daunting enough. In this episode Tatum and Laura talk about both the privilege and challenges of being in the spotlight on social media for millions to relate to, learn from, and - not infrequently - judge. She shares strategies for balancing the highlight reel nature of social media with being one’s authentic self, and for finding oneself after losing oneself in little, or big, ways.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.
How do we stay fully present, find joy in the moment and future plan, but not trip? Michele Storms, the Executive Director of ACLU WA, balances these coexisting necessities for progress with her tremendous leadership and wisdom. In this episode, Laura and Michele talk about how to keep colleagues hopeful and sustained through a commitment to a workplace culture that honors recharging, restoring, resourcing, and leading by example. The two social justice activists share how honoring their full range of feelings - including despair, anger and exhaustion - is critical. And, we are reminded to notice what’s good around us, really notice, whenever and however we can.
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.
For most teenagers, standing at the threshold of adulthood is both exciting and overwhelming - especially right now with so much uncertainty in the future. In this episode, Laura talks with Welela, a high school senior and first-generation Ethiopian- American, about the fraught landscape of young adulthood. She shares with Laura the impact family, friends, traditional Ethiopian values, reflection and prayer have on her life. And how with humor she’s able to mitigate the overwhelm that feels ever-present, whether due to social media, being over-scheduled, or the push towards perfectionism.
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.
Remaining optimistic in the face of our current climate crisis can seem like an impossibility. In this episode Laura talks with world-renowned scientist Dr. Vance Vredenburg about everything from the origins of his love of nature as a child in Mexico, to his fight to save a species, to becoming one of the first scientists to recognize the sixth mass extinction. Together they discuss the importance of using scientific knowledge for positive impact and change, and how small accomplishments can keep overwhelm at bay.
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.
Transitions are often overwhelming. In this episode, Laura and Flynn dive in, covering grief to growth, pandemic isolation to reconnection, and adolescence to young adulthood. Flynn, a college student in NYC, shares about being the only trans person in his high school, surviving sexual assault, losing his beloved mother, and moving across the country to start film school. Together they reflect on how small strategies can have big impacts on mitigating overwhelm and bringing new perspectives.
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 a voicemail.
This week Laura talks to Elizabeth, a trauma ICU nurse, about the extreme lack of support for healthcare workers who are exposed to trauma, grief and loss day after day - for years - as they care for patients. Elizabeth shares the challenges of working within this trauma while also navigating her daily life and the world around her. Whether living with Post Traumatic Stress, a heightened startle reflex, panic attacks, or intentionally distancing from their own loved ones for the benefit of public health, she describes the fracturing impact of all that is unfolding. Laura shares about her own years working in a level one Trauma Center and emphasizes how reconciling daily workplace exposure cannot be about self care, but instead must come from changes in healthcare systems and structures.
Through their conversation, they offer us strategies to sustain ourselves during our own challenges, with humor and an abiding sense of humanity.
This week’s conversation is with Lily Cornell Silver. Lily is a college student, musician and devoted mental health advocate. This episode brings you our first of many episodes with adolescents and young adults, the people who hold the future of our world in their hearts and hands. Lily is the host of the podcast Mind Wide Open, created in honor of her father, the beloved musician Chris Cornell, to destigmatize conversations around mental health and to encourage action in supporting and sustaining oneself through all that we encounter in life. Lily and Laura discuss Lily’s experiences navigating grief, trauma and overwhelm, and Lily shares what she’s found to be helpful in the aftermath of loss and how she has interrupted isolation around despair, including when that moved into the realm of suicidal ideation. They discuss trauma mastery and rising to the challenge of being compassionate with others while also being self-respecting and realistic. Join Laura and Lily as they strategize on living in the moment and maintaining hope for the future, even in the face of broken systems and immense uncertainty.
Welcome to our inaugural episode! Join Laura and Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist Ed Yong as they talk about bearing witness to complex societal issues and what Ed does to keep going. He shares what it's been like to navigate the vicarious trauma that comes from increased and prolonged exposure and the challenges of trying to maintain his own equilibrium. Listen to hear what Ed and Laura suggest as strategies to be present in the work that needs to be done to bring scientific truth and human stories to the world, and how to sustain oneself while you do it.
Join Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Rich Francey as they discuss what the Future Tripping podcast is all about. In this short episode, Laura’s old friend Rich interviews her and she shares with us a little bit about herself, her work, and why she created this podcast. They reflect on the state of overwhelm so many of us are experiencing right now, and how we can identify strategies for staying present and trying not to future trip.
Welcome to Future Tripping. Do you feel overwhelmed right now? Do you know anyone who doesn’t? Laura van Dernoot Lipsky is an internationally renowned trauma expert and bestselling author of Trauma Stewardship and The Age of Overwhelm. For over three decades she has helped people and systems 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.