Bridges Between Us

Themes: Developmental Trauma, Writing, Creativity, Neurobiology  Summary: Emily Aube is a storyteller who keeps it real. She works online and in person with clients from all over the world. She teaches a holistic approach to overcoming developmental trauma and regularly writes about the many depths of life including how to build a meaningful life as a neurodivergent highly sensitive person. S...

Themes: Psychological Flexibility, Acceptance Commitment Training, Mindfulness, Language, Relational Frame Theory  Summary: When I started mapping out this podcast, I created a short list of dream guests and near the top of that list was Dr. Steven Hayes. Dr. Hayes is a psychologist, researcher, writer, and developer of Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Relational Frame Theory, and Functional Co...

Themes: Emotions, Psychology, Research, Neuroscience, and Language  Summary: Dr. Lindquist's work shows us that we don't just use language to express emotions, we use language to shape out emotional experience. In this episode, she and Matt drill down into big questions are what emotions are, what the function of the mind is, and why getting clear on our foundational understanding of those...

Themes: Power of Story, Culture Transformation, Education, Neuroscience of narrative Summary: Welcome to the kick-off episode for Season 2! This week I’m talking to Dr. Angus Fletcher, professor and author of Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature, about the science behind the great stories across time. Story is a powerful technology for spurring personal growth...

Themes: Empowerment, Podcasting, Pathly, Transformation, and Community   Summary: What if we had spaces that were dedicated to empowering us to live our fullest lives? What if we had communities that were committed to creating solutions for modern problems rooted in modern science? In this episode, Matt closes out Season 1 by sitting down with Pathly co-founder Mathew Lazarus to reflect on the pur...

Themes: Time management, joy, community, and journaling.  Summary: Dr. Elaine Kiziah is a friend who I’ve learned from for years now. She teaches, writes, and coaches on soulful approaches to time and life management — and about how to use journaling as a tool for transformation and spiritual deepening. Elaine is an award-winning trainer, and has over 20 years of experience in facilitation an...

Themes: Workplace culture, organizational assessment, start-up businesses, Web3, Well-being  Summary: Today we’re talking with entrepreneur Charley Miller. He was a co-founder of Touchcast, he’s served as the Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Louisville, and most recently he’s the founder of OrgVitals, a business that works with organizational consultants to help businesses build cult...

Themes: Bypassing, spiritual community, toxic positivity, shadow work, & communal responsibility  Summary:  Zack Alexander is a Shadow-Work and Men’s Coach. He is passionate about helping people explore the unconscious-self and discover the mechanisms held within the subconscious that is driving unhealthy behavior and actions which are often rooted in unprocessed childhood wounding. Zack comes fro...

Themes: Energy psychology, trauma, EFT, tapping, feminine and masculine energetics.   Summary:  Catherine has worked as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Energy Psychology Practitioner/EFT, Certified Neurokinesis Practitioner, Certified Dream Coach® and Dream Coach Group Leader, Passion Test Facilitator, and Reiki Master. In this episode Catherine and Matt talk through her story of tran...

Themes: Behavior management, nervous system, parenting, Polyvagal theory, & education reform.  Summary: Over her decades as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Mona Delahooke has routinely counseled distraught parents who struggle to manage their children’s challenging, sometimes oppositional behaviors. These families focused on correcting or improving a child’s lack of compliance, emotional out...

Themes: Philosophy, Wisdom, Truth, & Leadership Summary: Tom is one of the world's top public philosophers and pioneering business thinkers. He's the author of over 30 groundbreaking books and is a legendary speaker whose electrifying talks reengage people around their deepest values and reignite their passion for work and life. Matt and Tom talk through some big questions in this episode...

Themes: ADHD, Mindfulness, Dopamine, Meditation  Summary: Dr. Zylowska is a co-founding member of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center where she led the development of the Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) for ADHD, a meditation-based training in self-regulation. She is the author of The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD. In this conversation she sits down with Matt to talk about mind...

Themes: Sex Therapy, Sexuality, Relationships, Trust, Intimacy.  Summary: Figures published in the Journal of Sex Research tell us that most people think about sex 10-20 times a day on average. Yet, despite sex being a healthy and important aspect of human life, talking about sex can be so vulnerable, scary, and anxiety-provoking that many simply don't. In this episode, Matt talks with Michelle Bu...

Themes: Psychological Flexibility, Insubordination, Authenticity, and Belonging Summary:  Todd Kashdan is an expert on well-being and psychological flexibility. His most recent book is an exploration of dissent, progress, hope, and authenticity. Matt and Todd dive into what psychological flexibility is and how we cultivate authenticity. Todd prides himself on offering highly practical and research...

Themes: Mindfulness, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Anti-racism, Diversity Summary: John is a Teacher of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and is an active member of the Greater Richmond community, the primary focus of his work has been on racial equity and reconciliation initiatives, as well as facilitating community dialogues, board service, and teaching mindfulness. He has also bee...

Themes: Addiction, Drug Overdoses, Opiates, Neurobiology, and Grief  Summary:  Since losing a son to opioids in 2014, Dr. Abubaker, an oral surgeon, has been fighting to change how we deal with pain and talk about addiction. Matt struggled with opiate addiction when he was younger and as a counselor has worked with clients and families struggling with addiction. In this episode Matt and...

Themes: Forgiveness, Flourishing, Forgiveness VS Reconciliation Summary: Dr. Worthington is a licensed clinical psychologist, an active researcher and speaker, and has published over 40 books and around 500 articles and scholarly chapters, mostly on forgiveness, humility positive psychology, marriage, family, religion and spirituality. Forgiveness is a choice and as Dr. Worthington would say, &quo...

Themes: Mindfulness Meditation, Flow, Performance, The Peavey Project, Relationship-Centric Mindfulness, & Grief.  Summary: Every teacher has a teacher. Jake and Collin sit down with Matt in this episode to talk about how learning about mindfulness from their teacher Alex Peavey radically impacted their life. That impact continues to flow through to today as they have since co-founded The Peav...

Themes: Mindfulness Meditation, Inspiration, Transformation, Loneliness, & Community. Summary: We are lonelier and more disconnected than we have ever been. Philip Davidson, a leader in the mindfulness meditation community in Richmond, Virginia, joins Matt to talk about the relationship between mindfulness, loneliness, community, wellbeing, and inspiration. Philip talks about why he stepped in...

A short solo episode of Matt sharing thoughts about the feeling of financial scarcity.