Unmasked - a Beyond Worthy Podcast

In this episode of Unmasked, Rachel Peck welcomes Jiatong, a recent graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University’s Spirit, Mind, Body Master’s program. Jiatong describes herself as curious, loving, and grounded, and shares how curiosity has shaped her life—from teaching herself to read as a child to choosing an unconventional path through education and beyond. Jiatong reflects on growing up i...

Rachel Peck welcomes Ella Rose, her classmate in Columbia University’s Spirit, Mind, Body psychology master’s program. Ella Rose describes herself as conscientious, charismatic, and curious, sharing how perfectionism and a need for control have shaped her life. She reflects on working in corporate insurance for three years despite feeling anxious and “dead” inside, ultimately leaving to pursue a m...

Rachel Peck reunites with former high school teammate Averie Collins, a Stanford soccer alum and NWSL veteran who became the first Montanan to play in the league, later worked as a product manager at fintech startup Range, founded The Locker Room, and now works at Just Women’s Sports. Averie describes herself as an athlete, Montanan, and connector, reframing “athlete” as a lifelong identity rooted...

Rachel Peck welcomes Fatim Belarbi to Unmasked. Fatim is currently a grad student at Columbia University studying psychology with a focus on spirit, mind, and body. Fatim describes herself as a mother, a dreamer, and spiritual. She shares how she learned to stop shutting down her dreams and intuition—listening to her body as an early guide—through experiences like solo travel to a spiritual retrea...

What happens when someone who never wanted attention suddenly finds herself teaching yoga to thousands of people? In Part 2 of my conversation with Kirra Michel, we explore visibility, vulnerability, success, productivity, and what it means to keep moving toward something even when you're scared. Kirra opens up about becoming a Peloton instructor despite being an introvert who never intended...

What happens when we begin to peel away the identities, stories, and labels we've collected throughout our lives? In Part 1 of my conversation with Kirra Michel, Peloton yoga instructor and teacher of yoga, meditation, and movement, we explore the process of unbecoming—and what it means to rediscover who we are underneath the roles we've played. Kirra shares her journey of moving beyond...

Rachel Peck welcomes Caroline Aitchison to Unmasked, beginning with grounding breaths before exploring the three words Caroline uses to describe herself: intuitive, compassionate, and creative. Caroline shares how she learned to clear intellectual “noise” to reconnect with intuition, including a dark night of the soul at 19 while studying political science at NYU that led her back toward psycholog...

Rachel Peck welcomes Ann Sheridan, aka "Aunt Ann," to Unmasked. Ann joins from Kauai, where she splits her year between Hawaii and Wisconsin. Ann describes herself as curious, optimistic, and a reader, and shares how recovering from a severe leg break has challenged her optimism through repetitive physical therapy while also deepening her gratitude for healthcare, family, and supportive...

In this episode of Unmasked, host Rachel Peck welcomes Alex Kinaj, who describes himself as rooted, relational, and reflective. Alex shares how years of traveling, after dropping out of college amid an existential ache for meaning, eventually gave way to valuing depth, community, and “roots,” especially through his Spirit Mind Body Master’s program at Columbia. He reflects on India’s impact, the c...

Beyond achievements, Tori describes herself as passionate, confident, and loud. In this episode, Tori reflects on her experience as a collegiate goalkeeper and captain at Florida Southern College, sharing how confidence, leadership, and resilience shaped both her time on the field and the person she is today. She opens up about the unique pressure of playing goalkeeper, navigating failure in a pos...

Rachel Peck welcomes bestselling author and Haven Writing Retreats founder Laura Munson to Unmasked, sharing their unexpected family connection through Rachel’s grandmother, artist Fay Peck, and Chicago roots. Laura discusses why she prefers asking “What do you like to do?” over “What do you do?” and describes her love of nature, foraging, horses, reading, and writing. Centering her book The Wild...

Rachel Peck welcomes her brother-in-law, musician and new dad Noah Paul Harrison, to Unmasked. Beyond achievements, Noah describes himself as kind, tough, and fervent. Noah shares how being “soft” has required he learn to be more direct. He reflects on becoming a father to five-week-old twins, the shock of first being told there was one baby, and the honor and strain of parenting with strong famil...

Rachel Peck welcomes her mother, Lauren Peck, to Unmasked. Beyond achievement, Lauren’s three words are sameness, unsameness, and love. Lauren explains “sameness” as a spiritual center rooted in the idea that all people come from one origin, and “unsameness” as constant change and creativity; she defines love as an action that motivates her passions and resilience. She shares childhood in Illinois...

Content Warning: This episode includes a brief mention of suicidal ideation and mental health struggles.  Beyond achievements, Marissa describes herself as ambitious, empathetic, and resilient. Marissa unpacks how women are often punished for ambition, how perfectionism created a “go and crash” cycle, and how learning to create her own box has been both scary and liberating. She shares practices t...

Beyond achievements, Kristin describes herself as a poetess, healer, and “girlosopher.” A fellow master's student in Columbia University's Spirit Mind Body Psychology program, she reflects on identity, voice, and the process of unmasking who we are beneath labels others place on us.  Kristin shares how writing and poetry became a bridge between her rich inner world and a public self that...

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation and mental health struggles. Rachel Peck welcomes Shirley Stack to 'Unmasked - a Beyond Worthy Podcast' and shares how they met through Shirley’s granddaughter, Erika, during a rainy visit in Avila Beach. Shirley describes herself as adventuresome, fearless, and loving life, tracing this mindset to a cerebral hemorrha...

Beyond achievements, Jamie is accepting, passionate, and curious. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in Psychology with a focus on Spirituality, Mind, and Body at Teachers College, Columbia University. In this episode, Jamie shares how growing up in a self-directed, Sudbury-style school shaped their love of learning, openness to different perspectives, and fascination with people&a...

Beyond achievements, Onima considers herself curious, orderly, and sensual. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in Psychology with a focus in Spirituality, Mind, and Body at Teachers College, Columbia University. In this episode, she starts by sharing how she needs both external and internal order to feel at peace and how structure helps her hold spirituality’s “gray” areas. Rachel...

Rachel Peck welcomes her dad, David Peck, to Unmasked - a Beyond Worthy podcast as he visits New York after becoming a new grandfather to twins. David describes himself as sporty, provocative, and a dreamer, sharing his lifelong passion for competition through hockey, lacrosse, squash, motocross, and especially windsurfing, plus how he’s adapted to chronic back pain from scoliosis. He explains “pr...

Beyond the achievements, Plearn is passionate, introverted, and a dreamer. In this episode, she shares what introversion truly feels like for her, the experience of being misunderstood, and how deep listening helps others feel seen and understood. Plearn reflects on leaving an eight-year corporate marketing career to pursue a master’s in psychology and education focused on spirituality, mind, and...

Beyond the labels, Alex is multilayered, compassionate, and intellectual (plus animated). Alex shares the many chapters that have shaped him, from growing up in New York City and training in the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Choir, to studying at Penn, working in corporate marketing at PepsiCo, and pursuing music in both New York and Los Angeles. He explains how turning music into a career led to...

Beyond the labels, Marielle is devoted, loving, and silly. In this episode, we discuss VIA character strengths from positive psychology and what drew Marielle to the Spirit Mind Body Program during a season of grief and misalignment while working in media, including Barstool Sports. Marielle reflects on identity, labels, and spirituality. She shares how deeply she feels, how acupuncture and writin...

Beyond the labels, Rachel is expansive, tough, and intentional. In this solo Q&A episode, she answers listener questions and shares more of her own story - how Unmasked came to be, her transition from collegiate soccer into life beyond sports, and what she’s learned through experiences of loss and change. She also opens up about maintaining meaningful relationships, what authentic living looks...

Beyond the labels, Andrew is empathetic, curious, and driven. In this episode, he opens up about what it means to embrace sensitivity as a man in today’s world and how his experience with HeartMath meditation has led to greater spiritual awareness. We also discuss social media as a dangerous highlight reel, deleting Instagram, AI bots in podcasting, and more!  Connect on LinkedIn: Andrew Siegel  S...

Beyond the labels, Grace is caring, devoted, and driven. In this episode, she shares her journey through competitive athletics as both a ballerina and collegiate rower, offering an honest look at the pressures that come with high-performance environments. We talk about the prevalence of body image struggles in sport, the toll of being overworked, and what it means to feel disconnected from your bo...