Beyond Trauma

In a timely conversation following the Meta verdict and rising concern about technology’s mental health impact, I sit down with Shannon Algeo to explore what we call the death of friction — how smartphones, social media, and AI are reshaping human attachment, empathy, and psychological well-being. We discuss how social norms have shifted—largely without our awareness—since the rise of the smartpho...

In this episode, I’m joined by Hannah Rama, LMHC , to explore the patterns of perfectionism and overfunctioning that many high-achieving women—especially those in helping professions—quietly carry. Women who are capable, driven, and deeply committed to caring for others often find themselves taking on more and more responsibility. While these traits can lead to professional success and meaningful...

In this episode of Beyond Trauma , I’m joined by Sarah Peyton to explore the transformative practice of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and how it invites us to see the “flow of life” moving through each person. We discuss why communication becomes so difficult when nervous system reactivity, attachment patterns, and unmet longings come into play. Sarah explains how self-compassion helps us stay gr...

In this episode, I sit down with Lawrence Susskind —city planner, mediator, and MIT professor—to unpack how consensus actually gets built in complex, high-stakes settings. From urban planning to Arctic governance, Larry shares what it takes to bring the right people to the table—especially those with less formal power—and how they can meaningfully influence decision-makers. We explore what it mean...

What happens when politics begins to tear families—and communities—apart? In the wake of the murder of Charlie Kirk, I spoke with Bill Doherty —family therapist, author, and co-founder of Braver Angels—about how political polarization is straining relationships and what it takes to begin repair. Drawing on family and couples therapy, Bill explores how the dynamics of divided households mirror our...

In this re-aired episode, I’m joined by Greg Nardi (E-RYT 500, C-IAYT) for a nuanced conversation about what trauma-informed yoga actually means — particularly when viewed through the lens of yoga therapy . Greg shares how yoga supported his own healing from childhood illness, anxiety, and depression, and how decades of study — including extensive training in yoga therapy, long-term study in Mysor...

Yoga teachers shape experiences that can either support healing or inadvertently cause harm—yet most yoga teacher trainings still leave graduates profoundly unprepared . In this episode, Certified by Unprepared: The Dangerous Gaps in Yoga Teacher Trainings , I sit down with my friend and colleague Michelle Lehrman to pull back the curtain on why so many YTT programs miss the mark. Despite teaching...

In this solo episode of Beyond Trauma , I guide you through the creative visualization and journaling practices from My Bliss Book to help you intentionally “map” the year you want—across all the categories that make a life feel whole: spirituality & personal growth, education, professional goals & wealth, romantic partnership, friendships & family, health, and travel & recreation...

This episode dives deep into the often-overlooked intersection of money, identity, and emotional well-being with financial trauma expert and empowerment speaker Rahkim Sabree . Together, we explore how financial trauma shapes our behaviors, relationships, and sense of freedom—and how these patterns can be passed down through families, communities, and systems. Rahkim shares powerful insights on: H...

In this first of a two-part series, Lara Land sits down with Ron Souers—ADHD advocate, podcast host of Don’t Mind Me, I’m Different, and author of The Self Discovery—to explore the lived experience of ADHD and the unexpected strengths that come with it. Ron shares his personal journey with ADHD and depression, from the challenges of racing thoughts and emotional dysregulation to the harmful impact...

In this powerful episode of Beyond Trauma, I sit down with therapist and CMI™ practitioner Estefana Johnson to explore why we get stuck in loops, triggered by small things, and repeating the same patterns—despite our best efforts to change. Together, we dive into: The three tiers of trauma memory and why self-talk or breathing techniques don’t always work How culture and past experiences shape pre...

Julie McGuire shares her journey from suicidal depression to discovering purpose through the mountains. Using her mantra, “let me see how far I can get,” Julie illustrates how life’s hardest experiences can become tools to help others, even when our lives don’t turn out as we envisioned. Through her story, she demonstrates that you don’t have to be the best at something for it to be meaningful, an...

In this energizing episode of Beyond Trauma, Lara Land sits down with coffee scientist and author Shawn Steiman to explore the surprising intersections between coffee, culture, and mental health. From morning routines to religious rituals, coffee has long been more than a beverage—it’s a way of connecting, bonding, and even healing. Together, they unpack the pros and cons of caffeine, including it...

In this rich and compassionate conversation, Dr. Mercedes Okosi shares her clinical insights on healing complex trauma—what works, when, and why. We explore her go-to modalities like Prolonged Exposure and Narrative Therapy, and why using the present tense and senses is so powerful when revisiting painful memories. Mercedes breaks down the counterintuitive truth about avoidance, how to prevent emo...

What causes estrangement between parents and adult children—and is reconciliation truly possible? In this powerful and nuanced conversation, psychologist and author Dr. Joshua Coleman unpacks the changing landscape of the modern family. We explore how cultural shifts and even well-meaning therapy can unintentionally contribute to family cutoffs, and what parents can do—now—to prevent or repair dis...

In this episode of Beyond Trauma , Lara Land sits down with psychotherapist Carly Ann to unpack practical, compassionate strategies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that help us shift negative thought patterns and calm anxious minds. From spirals of self-doubt and perfectionism to managing unmet needs and breaking free from judgment, this conversation is full of real-life tools you can star...

In this heartfelt episode of Beyond Trauma, Lara Land welcomes renowned sex therapist Wendy Maltz to explore how couples can reconnect and reclaim their bond—especially after stress, trauma, or disconnection. Wendy offers compassionate insights and trauma-informed practices that help deepen connection, improve communication, and heal sexual wounds. Whether you're partnered or on a journey of p...

What if your dreams were trying to show you what you’re not ready to say out loud? In this illuminating conversation, trauma therapist and dreamwork expert Dr. Leslie Ellis joins Lara Land to explore the powerful role dreams play in emotional healing. Together, they uncover how dreams give voice to suppressed feelings, internal conflicts, and unresolved trauma—and why they deserve a central place...

In this enlightening episode of Beyond Trauma , Lara Land is joined by Dr. Alex Dimitriu , a double board-certified expert in psychiatry and sleep medicine, to explore the powerful intersection between trauma, mental health, and sleep . Together, they unpack how trauma disrupts our ability to rest and regulate, why sleep is often the first casualty in a dysregulated nervous system, and how healing...

This episode is a re-air from the podcast Xanyland: Comedians on the Coach , hosted by my friend and fellow therapist, Alicia Racine Fink. In this conversation, Alicia explores comedian, boxer, writer, dancer and illustrator, Gracie Canaan 's decade-long mental health quest. In this raw and uplifting episode, Gracie shares how she invites all her parts- manic, depressed, creative, and messy in...

In celebration of Pride Month, in recognition of the heightened risks for the transgender community, and because this is one of my favorite conversations to air on Beyond Trauma, I'm re-airing this talk with Jacoby Ballard . We discuss a wide range of topics, including: processing our feelings and finding our way to forgiveness what it means to "call in" the importance of self-love in...

In this solo episode, I share some of my favorite moments and guests of my third year of podcasting, as well as some "backstage" insider info. I reflect on and expose my latest wellness practices and some shifts in my priorities. I also reveal what you can expect next on the Beyond Trauma Podcast! Beyond Trauma is a labor of love! If you value the insights you encounter on this platform, p...

Can kindness actually make us healthier? In this eye-opening episode of Beyond Trauma, Dr. Kelli Harding , physician, public health expert, and author of The Rabbit Effect, shares groundbreaking research on how our social world—especially our capacity for kindness—shapes our physical health outcomes. Dr. Harding helps us redefine kindness, not as a soft extra, but as a scientifically supported for...

In this profound episode of Beyond Trauma, I sit with renowned breathwork teacher and author Max Strom to explore the breath's transformative power in releasing trauma, healing grief, and reclaiming emotional well-being. Together, we dive into: The fears and misconceptions people hold about releasing emotion through breathwork—and why it’s safer than you might think How group work can provide...

In this episode of Beyond Trauma, I sit down with Amber Mitchell , The Astro Lotus, to explore how astrology can serve as a powerful tool for self-understanding and healing. We go beyond sun signs to discuss the psychological depth of birth charts, the role of planetary cycles in personal transformation, and how astrology can help us navigate relationships, trauma, and life’s biggest transitions....