Future Tripping

This week Laura talks with Shaq Williams, a physical and spiritual coach, trainer, and practitioner. From growing up in Trinidad to moving to the States; transitioning from soccer to boxing to yoga; and shifting from being withdrawn to outgoing, they cover a lot of ground. Shaq shares what he’s learned as a result of family pain, being unhoused, and erecting unscalable walls around his heart. Toge...

Perfection may sound great, but there is more and more evidence that striving for perfection significantly disadvantages one’s ability to navigate life’s ups and downs – which we all inevitably have. This week, Laura talks with writer, teacher, attorney, and mother of five, Gail Cornwall, about the importance of striving for excellence but not perfectionism. They discuss the research around center...

This week Laura talks with her friend and colleague Matt Reddam. Matt is a survivor of complex childhood trauma and now works with children, families, schools and systems in a variety of roles. He lives in Butte County which experienced the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history. Matt shares his belief that creating connection - even when there are differences and division...

This week Laura talks to the internationally renowned DJ and Director of On-Air Programming at KEXP Radio, John Richards. As Host of The Morning Show, John talks openly about mental health while playing music for his listeners. During the pandemic he tripled his listenership as people flocked to his unique radio space where he regularly assures them that, “You are not alone.” In their conversation...

Teaching, and working in schools, is incredibly difficult under any circumstances. During Covid, it has become exponentially so. This week, Laura talks with Naomi Fuentes, a high school teacher in Odessa, Texas. Odessa is known by many as the home of Friday Night Lights and was highlighted in The New York Times podcast The Daily at the beginning of the pandemic. Naomi was prominently featured thro...

This week, as the NBA finals are underway, Laura talks with Dr. William Parham, the inaugural Director of the Mental Health and Wellness Program of the National Basketball Players Association. Dr. Parham is a Psychologist and Professor of Counseling at Loyola Marymount University, and together he and Laura explore many of the current, and historic, forces that impact the mental health of NBA playe...

In this episode, Laura talks with Jayla Wilson. Having known each other for years, they head into previously uncharted waters discussing race, gender, class, and so much more. Studying English Literature and Environmental Science in college, Jayla speaks about the various intersections in her life that have been both challenging and growth inducing: being Black, a woman, an athlete, an environment...

This week, Laura talks with Brother Chân Pháp Hữu. Brother Hữu is a Zen Buddhist monk, Abbott of Plum Village in France, international educator, and long time attendant to the venerable Thích Nhất Hạnh. They discuss how as a boy in Canada, he first met Thích Nhất Hạnh and was so moved by his teachings that he moved to Plum Village at age 13 to become a monk. The two community builders and friends...

This week Laura is in conversation with Dr. Chamberlain. An abortion provider, ObGyn and Medical Director, he has dedicated his career to women’s healthcare. Having been friends for over 25 years, they discuss how he sustains his kindness, compassion, and perspective, even amidst 80 hour weeks. He generously shares his evolution from being raised with conservative values to now being resolute in t...

Join us this week as Laura talks to her beloved and brilliant mentor, Dr. Jon Conte. Jon is one of the world’s foremost experts in trauma and child abuse prevention. Sought out for decades for his expert witness testimony, he has also been the Director of The Joshua Center on Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, and is a Professor Emeritus of Social Work at the University of Washington. Together he and...

In this episode Laura is in conversation with Dr. Alexa Albert, an expert on narcissism. They do a deep dive into what narcissism is, where it most often comes from, and how it manifests in a variety of relationships. Alexa shares her belief in the importance of “Getting a PhD in knowing yourself,” as navigating narcissism can be confusing, painful, and even - at times - dangerous.  Listeners will...

Having meaningful goals and high expectations of ourselves - while remaining realistic and compassionate - is a delicate balance. This week Laura talks with Olympian and U.S. National Ski Team Champion, author, and mom, Libby Ludlow. They discuss her tremendous achievements, range of regrets, the merit in having a failure resume, and how living according to one’s personal values [as opposed to as...

In this not to be missed episode, we are joined by a very special guest. Laura talks with 6-year-old Casey and their mom, Abigail, about being non-binary and gender expansive. Casey generously shares with us their insights, experiences and advice for other children and adults. We even get some book recommendations! Abigail then offers us a window into their family’s journey and what it means to he...

In this episode Laura speaks with Mallory, a US Air Force veteran, flight attendant/trainer, and PhD candidate. They discuss the onslaught of new and overwhelming challenges that those in the aviation industry are facing, and the lack of systemic support.  Mallory describes how isolating and dehumanizing the job can feel and she offers us all a checklist of things we can do to make everyone’s trav...

Tatum Dahl is a Social Media Maven and Influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram and millions of likes on Tik Tok. A recent college graduate, she has years of experience navigating public opinion and public scrutiny. In the often-overwhelming landscape of young adulthood, navigating one’s life privately can be daunting enough. In this episode Tatum and Laura talk about both t...

How do we stay fully present, find joy in the moment and future plan, but not trip? Michele Storms, the Executive Director of ACLU WA, balances these coexisting necessities for progress with her tremendous leadership and wisdom. In this episode, Laura and Michele talk about how to keep colleagues hopeful and sustained through a commitment to a workplace culture that honors recharging, restoring, r...

For most teenagers, standing at the threshold of adulthood is both exciting and overwhelming - especially right now with so much uncertainty in the future. In this episode, Laura talks with Welela, a high school senior and first-generation Ethiopian- American, about the fraught landscape of young adulthood. She shares with Laura the impact family, friends, traditional Ethiopian values, reflection...

Remaining optimistic in the face of our current climate crisis can seem like an impossibility. In this episode Laura talks with world-renowned scientist Dr. Vance Vredenburg about everything from the origins of his love of nature as a child in Mexico, to his fight to save a species, to becoming one of the first scientists to recognize the sixth mass extinction. Together they discuss the importance...

Transitions are often overwhelming. In this episode, Laura and Flynn dive in, covering grief to growth, pandemic isolation to reconnection, and adolescence to young adulthood. Flynn, a college student in NYC, shares about being the only trans person in his high school, surviving sexual assault, losing his beloved mother, and moving across the country to start film school. Together they reflect on...

This week Laura talks to Elizabeth, a trauma ICU nurse, about the extreme lack of support for healthcare workers who are exposed to trauma, grief and loss day after day - for years - as they care for patients. Elizabeth shares the challenges of working within this trauma while also navigating her daily life and the world around her. Whether living with Post Traumatic Stress, a heightened startle r...

This week’s conversation is with Lily Cornell Silver. Lily is a college student, musician and devoted mental health advocate. This episode brings you our first of many episodes with adolescents and young adults, the people who hold the future of our world in their hearts and hands. Lily is the host of the podcast Mind Wide Open, created in honor of her father, the beloved musician Chris Cornell, t...

Welcome to our inaugural episode! Join Laura and Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist Ed Yong as they talk about bearing witness to complex societal issues and what Ed does to keep going. He shares what it's been like to navigate the vicarious trauma that comes from increased and prolonged exposure and the challenges of trying to maintain his own equilibrium. Listen to hear what Ed and L...

Join Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Rich Francey as they discuss what the Future Tripping podcast is all about. In this short episode, Laura’s old friend Rich interviews her and she shares with us a little bit about herself, her work, and why she created this podcast. They reflect on the state of overwhelm so many of us are experiencing right now, and how we can identify strategies for staying prese...

Welcome to Future Tripping. Do you feel overwhelmed right now? Do you know anyone who doesn’t? Laura van Dernoot Lipsky is an internationally renowned trauma expert and bestselling author of Trauma Stewardship and The Age of Overwhelm. For over three decades she has helped people and systems find their way through really hard times. In this podcast, we will have conversations about what to do in t...