The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages | 025 | Pastor Shawn Have you ever felt like you didn't truly belong anywhere? In this inspiring episode of the Belonging Podcast, Melissa Kay sits down with Pastor Sean to explore identity, neurodiversity (ADHD), belonging, authentic living, faith, leadership, and the power of radical acceptance. Pastor Sean shares his personal journey...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages |Episode 024 | Kathleen White What happens when your need for love, acceptance, and belonging leads you to become a people pleaser? In this powerful episode of the Belonging Podcast, Melissa Kaye sits down with Coach Kathleen White to discuss codependency, toxic relationships, childhood trauma, boundaries, self-worth, and the journey toward...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages |Episode 023 | Kara Stonehouse  What if joy not fear, guilt, or outrage was the key to creating lasting change? In this inspiring episode of The Belonging Podcast, host Melissa Kaye sits down with Kara Stonehouse, founder of Love Organized, to explore how communities can create meaningful transformation through belonging, collective intellig...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful conversation, host Melissa Kaye sits down with Dr. Li-Mei Lin, a world-class neurosurgeon who spent decades at the pinnacle of medicine before stepping away from the operating room to explore a deeper question: What does it truly mean to belong - to yourself? Dr. Lin shares her remarkable journey from elite achievement and high-performance success to a life center...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages | Frankie Edwards | Episode 21 What happens when humans lose connection with their body, nature, community, and their true sense of belonging? In this deeply emotional and inspiring episode of the Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages, host Melissa Kaye sits down with Frankie Edwards, a nature-based nervous system specialist and founder of Abu...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages | Liana Cassar | Episode 20 In this insightful episode of the Belonging Podcast by Elevate Villages, host Melissa Kay sits down with Liana Cassar, former Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica and current advisory board chair of the Oasis Leadership Network. Together, they explore the powerful connection between leadership, democracy, belonging...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages | Episode 019  Guest: Rebecca Justus, Ethical Leadership Coach and Mentor In this episode, we explore one of the most important and often misunderstood topics of our time, Leadership. But not just leadership… 👉 Ethical Leadership Melissa sits down with Rebecca Justus, a coach and mentor in ethical leadership, to unpack what it truly means t...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 018 Guest: Just in Time for Foster Youth, San Diego, CA There’s a difference between being supported… and truly belonging. In this episode of The Belonging Podcast, Melissa sits down with Diane and Don from Just in Time for Foster Youth to explore what happens when young people are given something many have never experienced before: consistency, care, and a place where the...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Melissa sits down with Joseph Yoo, a Korean American priest, storyteller, and advocate for belonging. They explore what it truly means to feel seen, loved, and accepted. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why many people feel like they don’t belong The real meaning of peace (beyond silence) How to stay open in difficult conversations...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages with Cullen Wallace | 016 This episode of the Belonging Podcast is a deeply honest and powerful conversation about loneliness, mental health, and what it truly means to belong. Cullen Wallace shares his life growing up in Alaska, the importance of deep friendships, and the reality of struggling silently. From dealing with depression and vuln...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages with Behi Shafiei | 015 This episode of the Belonging Podcast is one of the most powerful and emotional conversations we’ve had. Behi Shafiei shares her incredible journey. Growing up in Iran, losing her sister in a fight for justice, and rebuilding her life in a new country. From surviving oppression to creating financial freedom, her story...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages with Maria Travieso | 014 In this powerful episode of the Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages, host Melissa Kaye sits down with Maria Travieso, Christian influencer, content creator, minister, and cancer survivor. Maria shares her deeply personal story of navigating divorce, identity loss, and a life-changing cancer diagnosis, and how faith,...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages with Sam Jockel | 013 In this powerful episode, host Melissa Kaye sits down with Sam Jockel, CEO and Founder of ParentTV and producer of the powerful parenting documentary “SEEN.” Together they explore what it truly means to be seen, understood, and to belong. Not only as children but also as parents navigating the emotional challenges of ra...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages with Aabha Gupta | 012 In this deeply reflective episode, Melissa sits down with holistic nutritionist and EFT practitioner Aabha Gupta to explore a powerful question: What if belonging isn’t just social, but physiological? Born in India and having lived in the United States and Canada, Aabha shares her personal journey of identity shifts, i...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages | Founders Log #2 | Episode 011 In this special Founder’s Log, Melissa Kaye celebrates a major milestone, 10 episodes completed! She takes time to reflect on everything she’s learned about belonging, relationships, grief, leadership, and creating safe spaces. But this time, the tables turn. Melissa’s best friend Cassidy Patrick (aka Gurlflex...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages with Natalie F. Masters | 010 Are we truly separate, or have we just designed our world that way? In this episode of the Belonging Podcast, Melissa Kaye sits down with Natalie F. Masters to explore how we can move from isolation to deep, systemic connection. Natalie F. Masters (Director of Platform and Learning at nRhythm) explains why our m...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages with Jim Morris | 009 In this powerful episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages , Melissa Kaye sits down with TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, and master human connector Jim Morris for a deeply honest conversation about love, belonging, and human connection in a distracted world. Jim shares how belonging begins with loving yourself , wh...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages 008 | Bryn Bamber In this episode, Melissa Kaye sits down with Bryn Bamber , a somatics practitioner, to explore what it actually means to belong to yourself, not as an idea, but as a lived experience in the body. Together, they unpack how dissociation, anxiety, and perfectionism can be survival patterns rooted in early caregiving dynamics,...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast 007 – Leah Silvestre Franklin The High Cost of Fitting Into Someone Else’s Box A conversation about leadership, belonging, and coming home to yourself In this episode of the Belonging Podcast, Melissa Kaye speaks with Leah Silvestre Franklin, a leadership coach and expert in organizational development. They explore the themes of belonging, authenticity, and t...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast 006 – Angela Sage Larsen Love is the Only Way Out Prison, Refugees, and the Radical Power of Belonging Love is not soft. It is not passive. And it is not optional. In this powerful conversation, Melissa Kaye sits down with Angela Sage-Larson, a woman whose life and work are rooted in compassion, faith, and proximity to suffering. Together, they explore: What...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages – 005 | Toy Jefferson In this episode of the Belonging Podcast, we welcome Coach Toy Jefferson, a remarkable figure known for her resilience and leadership. The conversation delves into Toy's journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a mentor and coach who empowers others. Toy shares her experiences of feeling like an outsider du...

Send us Fan Mail The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages -- 004 | Jill Valentine In this episode of the Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages, host Melissa Kaye welcomes Jill Valentine, co-founder and impact coach of UGO Impact, an organization dedicated to transformational travel.  Jill shares her journey into the world of intentional travel, emphasizing how it can lead to personal growth and a dee...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Belonging Podcast, host Melissa Kaye welcomes guest Hilary Van Welter to explore the multifaceted concept of belonging. They discuss how belonging is influenced by personal experiences and the seasons. Hilary shares insights on the importance of co-creation in building community and fostering deeper connections. The conversation emphasizes the need for a hol...

Send us Fan Mail In the premiere episode of the Belonging Podcast, host Melissa Kaye and guest Michael Potterf explore the concept of belonging, its significance, and how it can be fostered through storytelling and community. They discuss the journey of launching the podcast, the importance of authenticity, and the technical aspects of podcasting. Michael shares his personal experiences growing up...