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This is a topic that we've been planning to talk about for quite some time and (ironically!) it finally became very alive for us.  In our chat about Lauren's "love affair with death" (her words!) we talk about the role of death in transformation  -- what it means to allow our old stories and beliefs to die.  We also talk about our relationship with our own eventual physical death and what that means for how we live.  Join us for a lively conversation about death!

We're back!  After a Covid-induced hiatus, we're back and talking about aliveness.  What happens when we follow our sense of what's most alive in the moment and create from that space?  What does this mean for our work, our passion projects, our family life?  How does this idea of "aliveness" interact with our relationship with time?  And, how might we learn from and with our children about this?  

This episode has been a long time coming! Two years ago in Episode 16, we had our first conversation on education with Dr. William Spady, the father of outcome based education. He said that only a quarter of learners learn best in the traditional academic way, which is truly astonishing how few of us are thriving in the school setting. This sparked the question, what about the rest of learners? How do people learn and how can we better support them in schools?  We’ve done a whole series on Reimagining Education and explored some of the groundbreaking new approaches to schooling. However, at its most fundamental, we’ve been trying to understand what the learning styles are, and that time is finally here! Joining us as we explore these questions and delve into the 8 learning styles is one of our favorite returning guests - parenting coach, long time educator, and self-proclaimed joyous parent - Sivanne Lieber. In this episode we talk about: The 8 learning styles and how they can be used in the classroom and at home.Why some people consider learning styles to be a “myth” or “debunked” and why this isn’t necessarily true. How understanding the learning styles can help us empower our children and ourselves in our learning.Resources for discovering more about the different learning styles and where different learners can shine.How learning and playing are often one and the same! Links so you can explore more: Get Sivanne’s Learning Styles Guide at www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Learning-Styles-Guide-6646024 and check out the rest of her store at www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Joyous-Journey-Learning-Hub. For more on Sivanne and the Play Revolution, visit www.thejoyousparent.com! To explore more topics on education, listen to our Reimagining Education Series and our first episode on education, Episode 16: Powerful Possibilities in Transforming Education and Empowering Our Kids.

For beginners, the act of meditating can feel intimidating and complicated. You might feel like you can’t quite get it right or are doing it “wrong”, but this week’s guest helps us rethink the notion that there’s a right and a wrong way to meditate. Helping us demystify meditation is Gloria Gonzalez, Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher, and Lauren’s good friend! Join us as we explore the art of mediation and we hope you find some inspiration for how to start or expand your practice.  In this episode we talk about: How Gloria found meditation and became a certified mediation teacher.Meditation’s connection to the body.How to allow the judgment that can come up in our mediation practice to pass through us and not let it impede us.The simplicity in sitting, observing, and surrendering.How your meditation practice is yours to create and that’s there’s no right or wrong way to do it. About Gloria Gonzalez Gloria Gonzalez lives near Houston, TX with her four greatest teachers, her two boys and her two cats. Self-discovery has been a life-long passion for Gloria. She has practiced meditation on and off for 25 years, even spending 7 weeks at an ashram in India. She became a certified meditation teacher during the 2020 Covid lockdown, and her passion is demystifying meditation. You can find her, the lessons she is learning, and links to her social media accounts at sitobservesurrender.com.

Grief, death, and loss can be such painful subjects to discuss, understand, and live with. We may struggle under the weight and pain to process our grief, as well as that of those around us, but life cannot exist without death.  This week we are honored to once again be in the presence of Sherri Doucette, yogi, lifespan doula, and founder of Litehouse Wellness, as she shares her professional and personal wisdom surrounding grief. When we last spoke to Sherri in Episode 69, we intended to discuss grief and gratitude, but found ourselves centering solely around gratitude instead. Now, we return to the conversation around grief, and as we so perfectly demonstrated in our last conversation, the struggle we can have as individuals and a society to hold space for it. In this episode we talk about: The importance of embracing grief and creating space for it so we can thrive along our life’s journey.How we can be there and support others in their grief and pain.The difference between sympathy and empathyHow when we compartmentalize ourselves, we hide away parts of our humanity.The beauty in allowing ourselves to be held and to hold others through our pain and suffering. About Sherri Doucette Sherri Doucette, founder of Litehouse Wellness, as featured on ABC’s/WFAA Daybreak at 8 and Good Morning Texas, NBC and BET, is a native of Los Angeles, CA and a long-time resident of Dallas, TX.  Litehouse Wellness is a 501c3 non-profit purposed to strengthen the African American family & community by bridging the wellness accessibility gap for underserved communities, particularly Black men, using contemplative practices and preventative health education. Sherri recognizes that implementing these scientifically proven, resiliency-building restorative practices is key to healing ongoing trauma and building sustainable resistance against oppressive systems and institutions.  Sherri is a certified yoga & meditation teacher (200Hr RYT / 300Hr MTT), reiki II practitioner, mindfulness consultant, life-span doula and speaker. She studied social work at Clark Atlanta University and trained with international master yoga and meditation teachers. In 2020, the critically acclaimed WFAA feature on Litehouse Wellness, Broga = Yoga for the Brothers was nominated for an Emmy award and won the National Association of Black Journalism (NABJ) Excellence Award. Links so you can explore more: Learn more about Litehouse Wellness  and Sherri at www.litehousewellness.org on Facebook and Instagram @litehousewellness and Twitter @litehouseheals. Check out our first episode with Sherri, Episode 69: Healing, Slowing Down, and Giving from Our Overflow!

Inspired by Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, Amy and Lauren explore the idea of authentic connection. We discuss how the roles we inhabit and the stories we construct around who we are “supposed” to be can hold us back from deeper connection. Joined by Lauren’s husband and life partner, Brett, we delve into what it means to be truly authentic, in our relationships and within ourselves. In this episode we talk about: Lauren and Brett’s love story, their struggles along the way, and the transformation inside their relationship towards more authentic connection. How our relationships with others also includes our relationship with ourselves.How we can let go of the mental constructs and false stories we develop around our relationships and the roles we are “supposed to” play, by giving ourselves permission to choose what we want rather than what we think we have to.That showing up authentically isn’t always a happy or easy conversation, but ultimately can lead to deeper, more fulfilling relationships. That when you’re disconnected from yourself and your truth, you’re also disconnected from others.

It’s Thanksgiving week and what better way to celebrate than by talking about giving and gratitude! This week our conversation found itself centering around the Rumi quote, “Never give from the depths of your well, but from your overflow,” as we explore how our gratitude, unconditional love, and healing can all come from a place of overflow.  Joined by the inspiring Sherri Doucette, founder of Litehouse Wellness, we delve into the possibilities life holds when we let our needs be met, as Sherri shares her amazing personal journey giving back to her community and participating in collective healing. In this episode we talk about: How in grief we can also find gratitude.The importance of giving from our overflow and allowing ourselves to not only give, but to receive gratitude and unconditional love as well.The value of slowing down and holding space for rest.Sherri’s journey creating a safe space for black men through Broga. How collective healing starts with individual healing. About Sherri Doucette Sherri Doucette, founder of Litehouse Wellness, as featured on ABC’s/WFAA Daybreak at 8 and Good Morning Texas, NBC and BET, is a native of Los Angeles, CA and a long-time resident of Dallas, TX.  Litehouse Wellness is a 501c3 non-profit purposed to strengthen the African American family & community by bridging the wellness accessibility gap for underserved communities, particularly Black men, using contemplative practices and preventative health education. Sherri recognizes that implementing these scientifically proven, resiliency-building restorative practices is key to healing ongoing trauma and building sustainable resistance against oppressive systems and institutions.  Sherri is a certified yoga & meditation teacher (200Hr RYT / 300Hr MTT), reiki II practitioner, mindfulness consultant, life-span doula and speaker.  She studied social work at Clark Atlanta University and trained with international master yoga and meditation teachers. In 2020, the critically acclaimed WFAA feature on Litehouse Wellness, Broga = Yoga for the Brothers was nominated for an Emmy award and won the National Association of Black Journalism (NABJ) Excellence Award. Links so you can explore more: Learn more about Litehouse Wellness at www.litehousewellness.org on Facebook and Instagram @litehousewellness and Twitter @litehouseheals. For more words of wisdom from Rumi, check out the Rumi Oracle Deck.

Have you ever felt two seemingly contradictory feelings or thoughts at the same time? It can be confusing, frustrating, and make us feel like we have to choose between those feelings or thoughts, but do we really have to fight against the contradictions? This week Amy and Lauren explore how we can live in - and love - the contradictions that are inherent to life and find beauty in both/and. In this episode we talk about: Breaking down false dichotomies and holding space for all things.How are inner child and adult self can contradict each other and the benefit of learning to hold space for both.Why judgement can stand in the way of our truth.The seemingly contradictory nature of life and death.How embracing the contradictions inherent to life can help us find “clarity.” Links so you can explore more: We also invite you to email us if you have questions about something that we talked about or would like to share your journey with us. We'd love to hear from you at [email protected] or [email protected]!

Calm and content reflect the opposite of some of the more volatile, unpleasant, and high energy feelings like anger, anxiety, and fear that we’ve discussed in prior episodes. Often seen as a desired destination on the feelings spectrum, calm and content are pleasant, but can be more difficult to embody than other feelings. So how do we get there?  This series has been an invitation to feel all of your feelings and connect authentically in the moment with all parts of yourself. While we leave the door open for more feelings, for now, we conclude the Feeling Our Way to Wholeness Series with calm and content and we thank you for joining us on this journey towards wholeness!  In this episode we talk about: Where calm and content sit on our spectrum of feelingsHow calm and content connect to flow.How judgement and other unpleasant feelings can prevent us from embodying calm and content.Some of the ways we can better connect with our feelings and grow closer to spaces of calm and content.The multifaceted and interconnected nature of our feelings and the importance of accepting what is present and true for you. Links so you can explore more: Be sure to check out the rest of the Feeling Our Way to Wholeness Series if you missed an episode and check out our Feelings Blueprint: Self-Assesment Tool at  https://www.soulpathparenting.com/feelings-blueprint-self-assessment-tool to help you contextualize your relationship with your feelings on your own journey towards wholeness! We also invite you to email us if you have questions about something that we talked about or would like to share your journey with us. We'd love to hear from you at [email protected] or [email protected]!

Play - it’s fun, it’s joyous, it’s creative, it’s good for our bodies and souls - so why don’t we do it more often? Why are work and play considered polar opposites? And why is play largely confined to early childhood?  This week we join the Play Revolution with parenting coach, educator, play enabler, and self-proclaimed joyous parent, Sivanne Lieber! Tune in as we explore the power of play and the ways we can all benefit from a little more joy in our lives. In this episode we talk about: The true essence of play.Play as the work of childhood AND adulthood.How to bring play back into parenting. The paradigms that unconsciously stand in the way of play.How we might co-create something new with our kids that doesn’t come from what we’re supposed to do, but rather from freedom, choice and inner knowing. Links so you can explore more: For more on Sivanne and the Play Revolution, visit www.thejoyousparent.com!

One of the things that most lights us up here at Soul Path Parenting is talking about what’s possible. In our Reimagining Education Series we’ve been focusing on what's possible in education, and this episode’s guest wrote an entire book about exactly that called, What School Could Be. Ted Dintersmith spent his career in innovation before becoming a change agent in education, focusing on reimagining school to keep pace with the tsunami of innovation that is reshaping society.  This begs the question, what does school really need to do for our children? What is the purpose of school? And how should we educate our children in a world where computers and machines are replacing humans, not just in tasks that are simple and repetitive, but in increasingly complex jobs? Tune in as Ted helps us answer these questions and points us back to our most valuable strength, that which makes us most human. In this episode we explore: Schools current purpose and what it could be when we envision the future.The increasing role of machines and technology in the labor force and our lives, and what that means for our children’s learning and future jobs.What type of learning and information really resonates with kids and is more likely to stay with them throughout their lives.The importance of letting our children follow their interests and passions.Why college might not be for everyone and the problem with college admission standards.Why we should foster and value human creativity. Links so you can explore more: For more on Ted and his groundbreaking work visit www.WhatSchoolCouldBe.org and www.teddintersmith.com or follow him on Twitter @dintersmith. For more episodes like this, check out our Reimagining Education Series at www.soulpathparenting.com/reimagining-education-series.

In this installment of the Reimagining Education Series, Lauren is joined by prolific author and lecturer, Alfie Kohn, described in Time magazine as “perhaps the country’s most outspoken critic of education’s fixation on grades [and] test scores.” Some of Alfie’s most popular books include Punished by Rewards, Unconditional Parenting, Beyond Discipline, and The Myth of the Spoiled Child.  Join us as Alfie and Lauren discuss what it means to be a reflective rebel and how we can make trouble by questioning the false dichotomies and assumptions that are so prevalent in education. In this episode we talk about: The false dichotomy of punishment and reward and other common false assumptions in education.What’s wrong with education’s focus on tests, grades, and homework.What is deep modeling and how educators and parents can embody it.Why it’s important to see children as having autonomous desires.That if our goal is to raise generous, caring, curious, creative, and compassionate life long learners, then our education system must change. Links so you can explore more: For more on Alfie and his spectacular works, visit www.alfiekohn.org If you have any questions about this episode’s topic feel free to email Lauren at [email protected] or join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram! For more episodes like this one, check out our Reimagining Education Series at https://www.soulpathparenting.com/reimagining-education-series