The Connected Community: Exploring Possibility

Have you ever found yourself giving so much to others that somewhere along the way, you lost sight of yourself? Are you giving from a place of genuine love and connection, or from a deeply ingrained belief that love, acceptance, and belonging must somehow be earned?   In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, host Nicky Yazbeck is joined by her husband, Adam Yazbeck, for an exploration o...

  In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast: Exploring Possibility, host Nicky Yazbeck welcomes Harmony Kwiker, MA, LPC, ACS, a psychotherapist, author, educator, and founder of the Institute for Spiritual Alignment and The Awakened Therapist approach. Together, they explore why so many of us struggle to create fulfilling relationships, how childhood attachment wounds influence our adult...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast: Exploring Possibility, Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Bria Tavakoli, LPCC, a sex and relational therapist specializing in intimacy, sexuality, and relationships at Evolving Intimacy Psychotherapy. Bria is also the creator of Sex and Psychedelics 101 and brings nearly two decades of experience in yoga, meditation, and embodiment into her therapeutic...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast: Exploring Possibility, I sit down with Britt Ritchie, a doctorate-prepared psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of Mind Alchemy Mental Health in Denver, to explore ADHD in women and why it is so often missed until later in life.   We talk about the ways ADHD can look different in women, particularly those with inattentive or combined presen...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast: Exploring Possibility, Nicky sits down with Grizz Berr for a conversation about psychedelics, ayahuasca, plant medicine, and the growing movement toward legalization. While psychedelic medicines continue to gain mainstream attention, Grizz offers a different perspective: What could be lost when sacred plant medicines become legalized, commerciali...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast: Exploring Possibility, host Nicky Yazbeck sits down with clinical herbalist, Ayurvedic practitioner, and functional nutrition counselor Lila Swanberg for a fascinating exploration of Ayurveda, mental health, gut health, spirituality, and our relationship with disease and healing.   At the center of the conversation is a deceptively simple questio...

What happens when one of the most popular weight-loss medications collides with the realities of aging, metabolism, and muscle health? In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, Nicky sits down with Dr. Corey Winn, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, strength specialist, and movement expert with over 15 years of experience helping people build stronger, healthier bodies.   Dr. Winn specializes...

Host Nicky Yazbeck welcomes Roger Peterson, an artist, musician, writer, and construction consultant, for a conversation about love, grief, healing, and the unexpected growth that can emerge after profound loss.   After the death of his wife, Brandy, Roger found himself moving through a grief that changed the way he understood life, love, spirituality, and connection. In this episode, Roger shares...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, host Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Peter Berv, a certified Human Design analyst, trauma-informed guide, teacher, and shamanic practitioner whose lifelong journey into healing began after a birth injury set him on a quest to understand human potential, transformation, and authentic living. Over the years, Peter devoted himself to studying spiritual...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, Nicky and Adam Yazbeck explore the deeper meaning of ego, identity, and the journey of becoming fully human. Rather than viewing ego as something inherently negative, they unpack its essential role in developing a grounded sense of self and why true spiritual growth requires a healthy, integrated ego rather than bypassing it.   Together, they dis...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Melissa Kim Corter for a deeply reflective conversation on the dark night of the soul and the role of shadow work in personal transformation. Together, they explore how periods of darkness, often marked by loss, illness, or identity collapse, can become catalysts for profound healing when approached with awareness and...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Ania Halama for a conversation on working with ayahuasca in a way that is responsible, informed, and deeply intentional. After eight years living in Colombia and a decade in relationship with the medicine, four of those in service, Ania shares what most people don’t hear: the real preparation, the risks, the differenc...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, host Nicky Yazbeck chats with transformational coach Ben Milston for a deeply honest conversation about breaking free from conditioning, healing emotional wounds, and reconnecting with your authentic self.   Ben shares his powerful journey from childhood struggles and depression into a path of self-discovery, emotional healing, and personal empow...

Dr. Joel Schwartz is a licensed clinical psychologist based in San Luis Obispo, California, with a private practice focused on complex and often misunderstood cases. He has worked across a wide range of settings, including colleges, clinics, a federal prison, and residential treatment centers, bringing depth and real-world experience to his work with diverse populations.   Joel is a thought leader...

In this special episode of The Connected Community Podcast: Exploring Possibility, the microphone turns toward host Nicky Yazbeck as she is interviewed by Bethany Shipley. The conversation offers listeners a deeper look into Nicky’s personal and professional journey, from her decades of work as a licensed clinical social worker and yoga teacher to her exploration of holistic and alternative healin...

Connect with me: https://nickyYyoga.com https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity       Keywords: Shadow work, inner work, self discovery, transformation, inner healing, deep healing authentic self, self awareness, integration

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Human Design analyst and guide Ellen M. Laura for a conversation about the future of humanity, the significance of the year 2027, and how to stay centered in times of collective uncertainty. Trained directly by Human Design founder Ra Uru Hu, Ellen brings decades of experience translating complex systems into practica...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, host Nicky Yazbeck meets with Shaneh Woods, founder of Prosperity First, CFO, and author of the upcoming book Profit Is Protest. Together, they explore a radically reimagined relationship with money; one that blends strategy and soul, numbers and nervous systems, spreadsheets and self-trust.   Shaneh invites listeners to move beyond traditional i...

Two weeks ago, I realized I was doing exactly that. I was smiling through upset, pretending I was okay. My husband gently called it out: spiritual bypassing. It’s when we wear a mask of happiness, even when we’re struggling inside. We avoid emotions like anger or sadness because we’ve been told they’re 'not spiritual enough.' But here’s the truth: real healing happens when we feel, not when we sup...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, host Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Erica Ballard, women’s wellness coach, intuitive eating guide, and self-described lover of both science and woo, for an expansive conversation about intuitive eating, body wisdom, and the path toward true self-acceptance. With a Master of Science from Tufts University School of Medicine, certifications in integra...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, Nicky Yazbeck sits down with KerryAnne “Ray” Kelley for a thoughtful conversation on trauma, embodiment, and the deeper mechanics of change. Ray shares her lived and professional experience as a trauma-informed, nervous-system-informed practitioner and the creator of the Blueprint Breakthrough, which is a framework designed to reveal how early im...

In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, host Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Scott Berman, founder of SkyCave Retreats, the first darkness retreat center in the United States. Scott spent nearly a decade living in solitude across the remote wilderness of Mount Shasta, California, and Southern Baja, Mexico, fasting, meditating, and immersing himself in the stillness of nature. These years...

In this episode of The Connected Community: Exploring Possibility, Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Christine Renee, founder of Moon Rising Shamanic Institute, for a deeply grounded conversation on Tantra, shamanic spirituality, energy awareness, and embodied awakening. With over two decades of experience in the spiritual and healing arts, Christine serves as a bridge between worlds, guiding seekers t...

In this episode of the Connected Community Podcast, Nicky Yazbeck and Shantel Ochoa delve into the profound topic of conscious grieving. Shantel is a conscious grieving guide and the facilitator of a weekly support community dedicated to healing through loss with intention, presence, and spiritual awareness. Her work was born from the profound spiritual downloads she received following the passing...

In this episode, host Nicky Yazbeck welcomes expert guest Adam Yazbeck, a nurse practitioner with a unique background spanning pediatric emergency medicine, intensive care, trauma work, and holistic mental health. Adam breaks down the science of psychedelics, explaining their etymology, how they affect brain function, and why they can enhance neuroplasticity, support trauma processing, and expand...