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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(With AI assistance:) *Content Warning*:

This episode contains open and honest conversations about suicide, grief, and mental health. While we aim to support awareness and healing, some content may be triggering for listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional or call a local support line. In the U.S., the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available at 988. You are not alone.

In this raw and courageous conversation, I sit down with Thomas Brown—artist, mental health advocate, and founder of RisePhoenix.org—to explore one of the most difficult, personal, and often stigmatized topics: suicide. What emerges is not just a discussion about pain and loss, but a heartfelt journey into awareness, integration, and the deep work of healing through mindfulness, art, and presence.

Thomas shares his own lived experience with suicide—not in abstract or clinical terms, but from the real place where inner crisis meets the human need for connection. With deep honesty, we discuss what it means to show up for ourselves and others in moments of despair, and how acknowledging the full spectrum of the human experience can open a path toward wholeness.

We unpack how our culture often avoids the difficult conversations—especially around mental health—and how platforms like his Inner Monologue podcast aim to give voice to what’s often kept in silence. Thomas speaks about the delicate balance of showing up publicly in these conversations while protecting the sacredness of what cannot always be put into words.

Throughout the episode, we explore:

• The difference between talking about suicide and integrating the experience
• How to sit with heavy emotions without judgment
• The importance of reclaiming language around grief, healing, and inner awareness
• Using art, creativity, and solitude as therapeutic practices
• Recognizing our own "warning signs" with compassion rather than shame
• The spiritual and existential layers beneath mental health narratives
• How community, even a quiet one, can support lasting integration

We also touch on the significance of contemplative spaces like the desert, and how slowing down can allow us to hear the truths that often go unnoticed. Thomas reflects on what it means to “follow your bliss” not as escapism, but as deep attunement to your own inner world.

This episode isn’t a how-to guide or a set of neat answers. Instead, it’s a living, breathing exchange about what happens when you face the darkest moments of life and decide to stay—to listen, to heal, and to help others do the same.

http://www.risephoenix.org

https://www.tiktok.com/@rise_phx

https://www.facebook.com/risephoenix2012

https://www.instagram.com/_rise_philosophy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(Ai assist:) In this conversation, Phyllis Levitt, a psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience, discusses her book 'America in Therapy' and the importance of collective mental health in addressing societal issues. She explores the impact of childhood trauma, the dynamics of family systems, and the role of therapy in healing both individuals and communities. Levitt emphasizes the need for multi-level interventions to address the roots of violence and dysfunction in society, advocating for education on mental health and the importance of love and belonging in fostering healthy relationships.

00:00 Introduction to Phyllis Levitt and Her Work

03:06 The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Life

06:04 Understanding Family Systems and Community Dynamics

08:45 The Role of Symptom Bearers in Society

12:00 Addressing Psychopathy and Perpetrators in Power

15:01 The Need for Psychological Education

17:57 Multi-Level Interventions for Healing America

20:57 The Core Issue: Injury to Love and Belonging

24:04 Understanding Love and Belonging in Families

28:49 Navigating Judgment and Discernment

36:05 The Impact of Media on Family Dynamics

45:34 Self-Responsibility and Healing

Takeaways:

• Phyllis Levitt emphasizes the importance of collective mental health in societal healing.
• Childhood trauma significantly impacts adult behavior and relationships.
• Family systems theory can help understand societal dynamics and dysfunction.
• Therapy serves as a crucial tool for healing individual and collective trauma.
• Identifying symptom bearers in society can reveal underlying issues.
• Psychopathy and power dynamics complicate societal healing efforts.
• Multi-level interventions are necessary for effective change.
• Injury to love and belonging is a core issue in human dysfunction.
• Healthy relationships are built on love, acceptance, and support.
• Discernment is essential in navigating judgment and compassion.

https://www.phyllisleavitt.com

https://www.facebook.com/phyllis.leavitt

https://www.twitter.com/PhyllisLeavitt2

https://www.youtube.com/@phyllisleavittpodcasts1053

https://www.instagram.com/phyllis_e_leavitt

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-leavitt-630179255

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In this conversation, Banya Lim, a multi-generation healer and acupuncturist, shares her insights on the connection between the body, emotions, and energy. She discusses the importance of the meridian system in understanding physical ailments, the role of the sun in health, and how past life memories can influence current well-being. Banya emphasizes the need for intention in healing practices and the significance of listening to our bodies. The discussion also touches on karma, the nature of time, and the journey of self-discovery and healing.

00:00 Introduction to Banja Lim and Her Work

02:09 Understanding the Meridian System and Energy Practices

05:36 The Role of the Sun in Health and Energy

09:49 Exploring Emotional Connections to Physical Symptoms

14:24 The Body as a Memory Bank

17:58 Listening to Our Bodies and Intuition

22:21 Past Life Regression and Healing Connections

26:03 Exploring Past Life Memories

29:44 The Role of Discernment in Healing

32:39 Understanding Memory and Awareness

36:46 The Purpose of Contrast in Life

40:37 Embracing Wholeness and Non-Judgment

45:22 The Power of Internal Focus

50:31 Unlocking Energetic Blockages for Success

Takeaways

• Banya Lim is a multi-generation healer and acupuncturist.
• The meridian system connects physical ailments to emotional states.
• The sun plays a crucial role in our health and energy.
• Listening to our bodies is essential for healing.
• The body holds memories of past experiences and lives.
• Setting intention is key in healing practices.
• Karma and contrast are fundamental to the human experience.
• The world reflects our internal state.
• Healing requires addressing both physical and emotional blockages.
• Self-discovery is a journey that involves embracing all aspects of ourselves.

https://banyalim.com -- sign up for a free Clarity Session to have better understanding of the program and experience mini-coaching session

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Cynthia Hauk and I explore the intersection of mindfulness and art, discussing how creative practices can enhance self-care and emotional expression. Cynthia shares her journey into combining mindfulness with art, the importance of non-judgment in creative practices, and specific techniques like breath doodling. They also delve into the challenges of maintaining mindfulness in art creation and the holistic approach to teaching these practices to others. The conversation concludes with resources for further exploration and the significance of granting oneself permission to create freely.

00:00 Introduction to Mindfulness and Art

02:14 Cynthia's Journey into Mindfulness and Creativity

04:25 The Intersection of Mindfulness and Art

06:23 Mindful Art Practices and Techniques

10:33 Exploring Breath and Creativity

20:54 Doodling with Breath: A Guided Practice

31:00 Teaching Mindfulness and Art to Others

37:13 Final Thoughts and Resources

Takeaways

• Cynthia supports individuals through mindfulness meditation and art practices.
• Combining mindfulness with art can enhance emotional expression.
• There are both formal and informal ways to practice mindful art.
• Breath doodling is a simple way to integrate mindfulness into art.
• Mindfulness helps regulate the nervous system and access creativity.
• Distractions are common in creative practices; returning to the breath is key.
• Teaching mindful art involves creating a supportive environment.
• Practices can be adapted to individual needs and experiences.
• Permission to create without judgment is essential for self-care.
• Mindful art practices can lead to deeper self-awareness and insights.

Download the Free Mindful Art for Workbook, including tips and prompts to get started with a calming and creative practice for self-care:

https://learn.mindfulcreativemuse.com/mindful-art-workbook-for-self-care

https://mindfulcreativemuse.com

https://facebook.com/mindfulcreativemuse

https://twitter.com/mindfulcreativemuse

https://pinterest.com/mindfulcreativemuse

https://youtube.com/c/mindfulcreativemuse

'https://instagram.com/mindfulcreativemuse

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiahauk

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