West of Wonderland

Why does January feel so insane? We think we're doing everything right for ourselves, and then we usually hit a wall. What are those walls like this time around? How are we being intentional about slowing down to complete the year of the snake, before the next one kicks into gear in February? PS. Give us your ideas for our membership: https://wonderlandandco.typeform.com/wow-membership

Laura and Bay talk new year shenanigans, even though they're adamant that this is not the time of year to push, rush or take a ton of action! Winter is for slowing down! That said, we can allow ideas to germinate, allow time for reflection, and set ourselves up for the coming seasons. What planners are we buying! What techniques are we using for vision boarding! How much are we crying about winter...

Laura and Bay get together for one last podcast episode in 2025, to celebrate the 6th Annual West of Wonderland New Year's Gathering and go down one rabbit hole after another as they wind down the year. Did you get to attend this year's workshop (or are you having fomo for missing it)? How are you turning the page and taking lessons from this past year? Sending you New Year's well-wishes from all...

What a decade this past year has been! Laura and Bay look back over the past 12 months to compare notes from this time last year to where we are now. Objects in the mirror are closer than they appeared, it seems. Bay discovers in real time what this year really meant for her (not what she expected).  What are you doing on December 30th? Oh right: joining Laura & Bay for the 6th Annual West of Wond...

This year seems to open at its close; join Laura and Bay as they debrief the power of intentionality in winter, whether tramping and tromping are legitimate verbs in the English language, and cousin tug-of-wars. PS. Get ready for the 6th annual West of Wonderland Magical New Years Party!

Turns out that there is a section in the West of Wonderland theme park that is vaguely French-themed. This episode is jam packed with important questions and stories, such as: what kind of footwear do you wear when you're sightseeing and/or at a Disney Park? What was it like for Laura to approach and play the first ever show with her band, Little Sister? It also turns out that when dreams become s...

Deep in autumn 2025, Bay and Laura discuss their feelings surrounding Thanksgiving this year, inclusive of recipes, history, respect and reverence. What can we bring and give without adding shame or pressure to those who need support or resources? This episode includes other fun tidbits, like what made Grimby so upset this week and what will Laura's husband be enjoying cooking this year?

What day is it in West of Wonderland? Who even knows, who even knows. Laura and Bay connect over Remembrance Day and Veterans Day this year, discussing their nations' respective relationships to military service. On an incredibly different note, Bay had a fantastic creative adventure. When have you had a community experience of shared joy recently?

It's the shadow season time of year, people! Bay and Laura discuss all things dark season, like Adult Sleep Training, Ghost Jokes and more. Bay has distilled a fresh Essence for Laura, and they break down this foundational ontological concept for West of Wonderland listeners. Follow West of Wonderland Podcast for more Adult Sleep Training tips that do and don't work! PS. Bay reads The Egg by Andy...

Bay and Laura compare notes on the epic clash between feeling like they're in Autumn Wonderland™ and having to deal with the consequences of the time change yet again! Join them as they discuss the intimate ups and downs, and some great practices to ease the burden of change. PS. How much maple candy have YOU eaten straight from Vermont? 

What happens when Laura and Bay take a working stay-cation after Falling Inn? A deluge of magical things, of course! Bay sees her first-ever show on Broadway in the most magical fashion, and Laura cries her eyes out for three hours in Orchestra Row A eating free chocolate frogs. 10/10. Want to get on the list for our future retreats? https://westofwonderlandconsulting.com/wow-retreats/ 

Laura, Bay and Rocket sit down to debrief the incredible, first-ever, heart-opening and magical West of Wonderland Retreat: Falling Inn Vermont! It was magical, it was unexpected, it was deeply restful, it was powerful! Want to be the first to know about West of Wonderland retreats? Get on our list! https://westofwonderlandconsulting.com/wow-retreats/ 

Bay and Laura are 3 days away from Falling Inn! What are the woodland creatures up to where YOU are right now? What are some things you've done that you're proud of, but also sad about, and why? It's hard to be wholeheartedly excited about anything due to capitalism right now. Laura and Bay draw some lines and discuss how right they are about what the Disney Company should be doing! 

How many Velocicoaster mugs do you have? Did you know that Self Care Is Pretty™ and Your Feelings Make Sense™? Laura shares more with Bay about the evolution of her band and the stuff it's churning up, but in a positive way™. Still no band name, and still one space open at Falling Inn! 

Look, none of us are trees. In this day and age, if something feels foolish to you, but you still long for it, you absolutely must fight for it. More on this week's episode of West of Wonderland. P.S. Falling Inn is sooooo soon! Wanna come? 

When there's a lot to rage about in the world, what do you do with that energy in you? Bay and Laura connect about the intellectual, emotional and physiological experience of being a human being right now. Tenderness. Critical conversations with ourselves. Getting connected to us, so as to connect with more integrity to those around us. PS. Snorffuly dorffuly. 

Just a liiiiil more follow-up from Laura about the Elizabeth Gilbert memoir, and West of Wonderland continues its journey into obsessions, addictions and collections, just like Ariel in her grotto. Bay and Laura connect over their shared experience of recent change. Change is hard for everyone, but how are YOU when you hit the need for change in your relationships, and the things your relationship...

Part Two of Laura and Bay's discussion about obsessions, collections and addictions, and all the crossroads between these complex topics. Laura works through just what doesn't sit well with her about Elizabeth Gilbert's latest memoir, and they explore the terrain of Essence-based versus Survival Mechanism-based collecting and such.

What can YOU explain and justify away, simply because you love it so (not inclusive of a certain evil rich author we all know about)? Bay and Laura discuss the geography of social media and how it influences us when it comes to the thing we love. Speaking of things we love: where are the lines between collecting as a hobby versus an addiction? How do you navigate these waters when you love somethi...

What kind of hoops did YOU have to jump through to see Jurassic World Rebirth this summer? Hopefully not the same as Bay . . . ;) We meet our hero back at the local cinema, where she was promised free tickets due to an unfortunate incident (see Episode 211). What did we all like, love, hate, tolerate and wonder about after the latest installment in the Jurassic franchise? What does Michael Crichto...

Bay's re-designing her home office, so of course, she and Laura need to discuss all topics relevant to that, like, are you in a season of "it's a goal" having a question mark, a period or an exclamation point? What does your relationship with sharing reveal, about yourself and others? How do you think people would respond if you had an elk on your face? All this and more in today's episode. P.S. F...

West of Wonderland has a resident Moana - do you? Bay and Laura welcome friend-of-the-podcast Cass McFadden on today's episode. They discuss all the things, like self-walking cats, martyrdom and of course, courage. Cass has a fascinating history and an infinitely curious nature, so of course there's a lot to talk about! She's been partnering with Bay and Laura to bring coaching to women leaders in...

Bay went to see How to Train Your Dragon at her local cinema, and maybe had more of an adventure than she was expecting. Hear the whole messy story and investigate questions such as, when is leadership needed in service of community, instead of about yourself? What would YOU do if you were in Bay's (literal) shoes? P.S. Falling Inn Vermont Retreat: https://wonderlandandcompany.com/fall-retreat 

Excitement, anticipation, fear, nerves, adrenaline. What did Laura get up to this past weekend? Oh, was it walking in one of her dearest held dreams? Yes. Yes it was. Bay and Laura discuss the high points and the vulnerable aftershocks of Laura's performance with her band at the 2025 Rosendale Street Festival in Rosendale, NY. P.S. Falling Inn Vermont Retreat: https://wonderlandandcompany.com/fall...

Welcome back to West of Wonderland Land! Did Laura go back to the scary lake? You know she did. Did she also use this discussion of a body of water to bring up how much she loves certain water rides? You know she did. PS. Retreat Waitlist: http://bit.ly/46Jkl5F