Human Awareness

A while back, I was at a workshop, and Jennifer DeRuff performed a spoken-word piece called Coming Home. It touched me pretty deeply - and I wasn’t alone. So I invited Jennifer to try something new on the podcast - instead of a full interview, I invited her to come and perform the piece into a microphone, so we could share it with the wider HAI community. So, who is Jennifer? Among many other thin...

Today, we are thrilled to have a profound conversation with Marci Graham, on the topic of patriarchy and how it is everywhere around us. Marci is one of the HAI facilitators, bringing a unique perspective shaped by her personal journey and professional experiences. This episode promises to be an eye-opening exploration of patriarchy's pervasive influence in our lives, as we delve into her rece...

They say that there are only two things that are certain in life: Death and taxes. It turns out, you can dodge your taxes, but the other one is harder to avoid. In this episode, we get into a beautiful conversation with our guest Jaclyn Vouthouris , talking about finding solace in the setting of the sun, the changing of the seasons, and all things that die, change, and continue on the cycle once a...

In this episode, we speak to psychologist and startup whisperer Kari Sulenes to figure out what it takes to bring your full self to work. What does it mean to be vulnerable, curious, and showing allyship? Kari is a co-founder of Pilea , an Integrative leadership coaching and organizational consulting collective that provides coaching to startups, VC funds, and accelerators. Pilea is an expression...

In this episode, we go deep into jealousy and the story of Sumati, who went on a journey from deep, core-wound level jealousy and came out the other side teaching others how to manage their jealousies. For over twenty years, Sumati Sparks has been coaching people of all relationship configurations, gender expressions, sexual orientations and cultures to create successful consensual, ethical non-mo...

For our third episode in season five, Julia joins us to talk about travel, building community, and how yoga of the mind helped her connect with the humans around her more deeply. Julia Tindall has been a community builder, teacher and traveler for the past 30 years. She taught yoga and tantra workshops at Harbin Hot Springs, Esalen and around the world up until Covid time, but now focuses on commu...

In this episode, we speak with Naomi, who works as a therapist, and believes that love isn’t nearly as big of a mystery as many of us seem to think. Naomi wrote a book, AffairyTales , about an intense period in her life when she lost her daughter and her husband in the span of a couple of weeks - and the work she has done to rebuild from there. She is a registered Psychotherapist and Clinical Supe...

In this episode, we speak with Leah, who was eager to talk about radical self-acceptance, and the path she took to get there. Leah is passionate about guiding women to empower themselves to take a leadership role in their lives, speak their truth mindfully and with integrity in all situations, so they can get more of what they want! Leah Diamond is a Mindful Leadership and Meditation Teacher, a Pu...

Hello all! It's been a hot minute since we've done a Human Awareness episode, but guess what... We're baaaaack. This time, we're joined by one of the most freshly baked HAI facilitators, Tony Holmes, who came to talk to us on a Monday immediately after facilitating a Loving Yourself workshop for HAI. As you might expect, they are still glowing from the Room of Love, and the wonderful warmth of thi...

We are back with Kate's last episode for a while! Recorded on the very last day of her tenure as HAI's marketing director, we reflect on how much we've grown and changed over these past four seasons of podcasts.  Worry ye not, though, dear listener: Kate is going on her honeymoon and taking a break after completing her therapy degree, but Haje is continuing to carry the torch for the rest of...

Join us for a rich and stimulating conversation about what our guest, Carolyn Arnold, calls her “dating experiment.” She takes us through her process of setting up the experiment, and we get a peek into the valuable lessons she learned as she set out to date 50 different people after she had turned 50 years old. Kate and Haje also share some of their dating experiences and we explore what it would...

When Leah first showed people her podcast, one of her early listeners gasped - but good girls don't talk about sex! - and, of course, that became the name of her podcast. She hastens to add that the podcast isn't just good girls - and, in fact, not just girls, either. She joined us on the Human Awareness podcast for a most delightful episode talking about body image, emotional pressure, and how sh...

In our season finale for season 3, your hosts Kate and Haje end up talking about loving brightly, healing shame, the power of new relationship energy (NRE), and the nature of boundaries and how they can be held with kindness. We also talk about showing up for people who need us while not being fully resourced ourselves, and how it's possible to communicate through situations like that with grace,...

In this episode, we talk with Sarah Belzile about the joys of reconnecting with nature in a deeper sense than you might be used to - what happens when we open our heart to the deeply erotic within ourselves - and the natural world around us? Sarah Belzile is passionate about the exploration of pleasure as a spiritual practice and loves to facilitate eco-erotic experiences. She has served as an adm...

When Patricia was diagnosed with cancer, she found ways of processing her grief and recovery with art - and soon made it her life's mission to help others do the same. In this episode, she talks with Kate and Haje about how creativity, the healing process, and how all forms of art can be used to shift the experience of one's journey with cancer, pain, and illness.  Patricia is a publisher, au...

There’s a special kind of bravery associated with knowing what you want - and then daring to ask for it. In this episode, Haje interviews Marcia, about the wants and needs of humans, and how to dig deeper into the likes and wants lurking inside us. Marcia is an internationally recognized speaker, writer, coach, and expert on sexual communication, relationships, and women’s empowerment. Her primary...

"I've always been told I give great hugs, and I really wanted to share them with people.” Dr. Yoni Alkan explores the beauty of hugs, cuddles, and other forms of non-sexual touch. On this episode of Human Awareness, we talk about Cuddle Party®, being a Cuddlist®, and the importance of sharing touch with other human beings. We all may recognize the value of affection - but what if we lived in a wor...

Is there a space for being ‘real’ in the world of Instagram and the endless hunt for dopamine hits in the world of Social Media? In this episode, Kate talks with Sarah Yates Mora about the highs and lows of being a heart-open human being in the universe of influencers, internet trolls, and endless distractions. They talk about how to tame the “dragon mom” inside, and how to find an authentic conne...

Can aging deliver us from the limitations of youth? Does sex and intimacy really get better with time?  In this rich and fun conversation, Laurie presents her lifetime evolution towards more free and enjoyable sex – but also, how she learned to enjoy aging. Spoiler-alert: they go hand in hand. Laurie has a Masters degree in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology. Her ca...

In this episode, Kate and Haje interview Arielle Brown. Reducing this episode to ‘phone sex’ is like saying that a three-Michellin-star meal is about ‘absorbing nutrients’ - what was meant to be a Valentines-themed guide to how to make erotic connection happen from a distance turned into something far deeper - and far yummier - than we would have dared hope for. We think you’re going to love this...

Frank Mondeose joins Kate and Haje in this episode to talk about marriage. We talk about the history of marriage, and whether the social circumstances have shifted far enough that marriage itself still makes sense. We get deep into a conversation about what marriage is, how it serves us, and whether it run its course as an institution. As you can imagine, all three of us have a lot of thoughts and...

In this episode, we talk about the importance of experiencing and expressing your emotions in a non-destructive way. Primarily, we take a deep look at jealousy. Why do we feel jealous? What can we do to embrace this feeling and use it for good in our life and our relationships? As we talk about jealousy, themes of self-worth, beauty, belonging, and even our relationship to our pets emerge and illu...

Wrapping up our second season, your hosts Haje and Kate get into a delightful conversation reflecting on how the past 20 or so episodes have gone - and what we’ve learned along the way. It’s a wonderful, connected conversation. May I Have This Dance will be taking a little break - but we’ll be back later in the year!

Dixie De La Tour is a sexual folklorist, professional storyteller, podcaster, teacher, storytelling coach, community builder and most of all, a facilitator. She is also the Founder, Curator & Host of the Award-winning storytelling series, Bawdy Storytelling that’s been lauded for its transformational, relatable, empowering performances. In this episode, Haje and Kate talk to Dixie to discover...

Today we have a very special episode to offer in which Haje interviews Kate, AND her mom, Kirby. You can feel the love palpitating in all directions during this intimate, inspiring conversation about raising children with mutual trust, open communication, and the understanding that human beings evolve over time.