Lia Avellino, LCSW, serves as the CEO of Spoke Circles and is a relational and somatic psychotherapist specializing in anti-oppressive interventions. With a focus on modern love, women's wellness, and individual empowerment, Lia's expertise extends to her role as an advisor at the Well Relationship Columns for Well+Good, where she contributes valuable insights and serves as a media commentator. Her commitment to utilizing experiential learning frameworks and bringing the science and ethos of therapy into community settings has established her as a prominent figure in the field. Lia's extensive experience and dedication to empowering individuals make her a trusted resource for navigating and managing spiraling thoughts, providing practical strategies and guidance for those seeking to overcome these challenges.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:05 - The Illusion of Internal Solutions

00:02:20 - Depathologizing the Human Experience

00:05:24 - The Function of Behavior

00:09:26 - Embracing Uncertainty and Discomfort

00:13:36 - Connecting with Leah

Connect with Lia Avelino

Website: spokecircles.com

Instagram: @lialoveavellino

Instagram: @spokecircles

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Today’s expert is Amy Bonaduce-Gardner.

Amy is a nervous system coach and the owner of prism movement studio. She has been a teacher for 25 years and has taught everyone from preschoolers to olympic athletes. With a degree in psychology and training in movement and dance, Amy has taught in both the public school system and in private practice. Her work focuses on the relationship between the nervous system and physical and emotional well-being, providing relief for clients with unresolved physical and emotional challenges.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:01:57 - A Nervous System Perspective

00:06:57 - Tools for Getting Unstuck

00:13:18 - Acknowledging Our Thoughts

00:13:47 - Embracing Stuckness

00:14:03 - Normalizing Human Experience

Connect with Amy Bonaduce-Gardner

Website: prismmovement.com

Instagram: @prismmovementstudio

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Megan Hellerer the founder and CEO of Coaching for Underfulfilled Overachievers, and the author of the new book, Directional Living: The Underfulfilled Overachiever’s Guide to Fulfillment in Work and Life, which outlines a framework for a brand new paradigm for career fulfillment in the 21st century. After checking all of the traditional boxes of success—graduating at the top of her class from Stanford and spending 8 years as a Google executive—and still finding herself deeply unhappy, she quit her “great-on-paper” job with no plan. Megan has led hundreds of Underfulfilled Overachievers, including representative AOC, to transform their lives by transforming their careers. Now, her mission is to provide others with the support and guidance that she needed and couldn't find when she herself was struggling.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:04:57 - Universal Experience of the “Bathroom Floor Moment”

00:11:29 - Introducing Directional Living

00:18:06 - The “Not That” Experiment

00:21:57 - The Myth of Certainty

00:29:16 - The Illusion of Fixed Passion and Purpose

00:30:45 - The Power of Curiosity in Decision-making

Connect with Megan Hellerer

Website: meganhellerer.com

Instagram: @meganhellerer

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Anu Gupta (he/el) is a lawyer, educator, scientist, and the Founder of BE MORE with Anu. He founded BE MORE in 2014 after witnessing the social and financial harms of bias to individuals, organizations, and communities firsthand. He foresaw the numerous possibilities available when people have access to mindfulness practices and scientific wisdom. He synthesized his skills as an attorney, research scientist, and a meditation teacher to build programs centered on advancing equity and belonging unlike any that existed before. Anu has logged over 10,000 hours of meditation and developed BE MORE’s approach after 15 years of research that was funded by the National Science Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation, the American Heart Association, among others.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:02:08 - Anu's Journey

00:10:10 - Ancient Wisdom and Social Connectivity

00:15:47 - Writing as a Process of Self-discovery

00:20:02 - Primary and Secondary Identities

00:26:38 - Moving Beyond Dualities

00:29:00 - Navigating Bias in the Workplace

00:31:27 - Hope in Challenging Times

Connect with Anu Gupta

Website: anuguptany.com

Instagram: @anuguptany

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Dana Balicki is a renowned transformational coach and guide, recognized for her expertise in slow down medicine, which integrates inner work and collective action. With a background spanning over a decade as an activist and organizer in anti-occupation and anti-globalization movements, Dana has impacted numerous individuals by facilitating the release of societal programming and fostering subversive curiosity. Her podcast, Crying in My Tea, has garnered acclaim for its profound exploration of the complexities in living an examined life. Dana's extensive experience and insightful perspective uniquely position her to provide valuable insights on sustaining activism without burnout.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:02:42 - Connection to Activism

00:07:37 - Sustaining Activism

00:12:16 - Cultivating Hope

00:15:12 - Balancing Inner Peace and Activism

00:18:22 - Community Care and Support

Connect with Dana Balicki

Website: danabalicki.com

Instagram: @danablix

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

In this episode, Amina delves into the importance of getting your needs met, particularly in the context of purpose-driven work. Amina emphasizes the impact of honoring one's needs not only on personal well-being but also on the ability to positively influence those around you. When we aren’t getting our needs met there is usually a story or subconscious barrier there. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who is struggling to prioritize their needs, featuring actionable steps to overcome self-imposed limitations and achieve financial well-being.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:02:21 - Meeting Your Needs to Thrive

00:03:52 - Importance of Money in Meeting Needs

00:08:44 - Advocating for Needs

00:11:27 - Giving Back and Supporting Others

00:12:32 - Fear of Destabilization and Sabotage

00:15:43 - Understanding and Overcoming Unmet Needs

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Xenia Marie Ross Viray is an imagination healer, multi-dimensional artist, and community weaver known for her work in facilitating workshops and writing. As the founder of "Myths of Creation," her focus lies in reconnecting communities, ideas, and art forms at the intersection of creativity, spirituality, and systems thinking. Today, we dive deep into the world of Human Design. It’s a body of work you’ve heard me mention quite often throughout this podcast and this is the first episode that does a deep dive into it. If you love astrology and the esoteric and want more clues / intel about your purpose, this episode is for you.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:02:09 - Xenia's Career Journey

00:06:25 - Introduction to Human Design

00:16:49 - Integrity of Human Design

00:20:54 - Xenia's Human Design Chart Reading for Amina

00:27:18 - Embracing a Chorus of Voices

00:31:18 - The Four Categories of Purpose

Connect with Xenia Marie Ross Viray

Website: mythsofcreation.com

Instagram: @MythsofCreation

Special link to book readings (for our subscribers only) https://calendly.com/mythsofcreation/human-design

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Paola Atlason is a holistic nourishment teacher based in New York City. With a certification as a wellness practitioner since 2017, Paola's expertise in mindful eating and spirituality spans over two decades. Having struggled with her own mental and physical health, she is passionate about helping her clients live happier, healthier, and freer lives. Paola's approach, often described as a blend of nutritionist, spiritual teacher, and counselor, focuses on developing self-trust with ease, beauty, and joy, aligning bodies, minds, and spirits.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:06:29 - Building Self-Trust

00:13:05 - Wellness Industry Shift

00:18:09 - Journey to Self-Discovery

00:21:30 - Parts Work and Entrepreneurship

00:26:39 - Building a Financial Parachute

00:27:57 - Self-Compassion and Balancing Energy

Connect with Paola Atlason

Website: Paolaatlason.live

Instagram: @paolaatlasonwellness

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai