Becoming Human AF Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Steph and Steph are joined by our friend Christine (Bio Energetics Master Practitioner), who reconnects us with the most fundamental healing practice—one that has been with us since birth: breathing.

It seems so simple, yet bringing your awareness back to your breath can create powerful shifts.

Whether you’re navigating personal challenges or feeling overwhelmed by the world around you, there is one thing you can do right now to ground yourself—breathe. Take a deep breath. Then another. And repeat.

We also dive into a topics like intentionality, staying grounded through all emotions, and, of course, the bioenergetic synchronization technique (B.E.S.T)

If you loved this episode, be sure to check out Christine’s website for free resources, opportunities to work with her remotely or in person, and details on hiring her for your next retreat.

Follow Christine @christine.parker.rmt @energyrebel.adventures

Work With Christine:

https://www.christineparkerrmt.com/

https://www.energyrebeladventures.com/

In this episode, Steph and Steph explore the art of self-advocacy. What does it really mean? Why is it so challenging yet so crucial to creating the life we want? And how can something as simple as asking questions strengthen our self-advocacy skills?

We dive into all this and more, sharing real-life stories and anecdotes about what self-advocacy looks like in action!

In this episode, Steph & Steph are joined once again by homeschooling mamas Ileana and Nancy, AND public school art teacher, Kelly Montgomery, for our first ever roundtable discussion between people on both sides. 

We’re not going to lie, we were nervous when we hit the record button. 

All three women are extremely passionate about what they do. 

But as the conversation unfolded, and the ladies shared their thoughts about curriculums, learning opportunities, timelines & standardization, something beautiful happened. 

They found common ground in their deep passion for education, and their unwavering commitment to giving their kids the best possible learning experiences. 

Although the ladies shared very different perspectives on various topics (ie reading at grade level vs living math), this common thread empowered us to keep the conversation civil, respectful and enjoyable for everybody. 

In fact, by the time the conversation wrapped up, everybody had gained a new understanding & appreciation for the other side!

We’re calling this conversation a major win!

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If you loved this episode, be sure to go back to parts 2 and 3; and of course go follow Nancy, Ileana, and Kelly.

Follow Kelly: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtfullyflawed/

Follow Ileana: @iamileanaodile

https://www.instagram.com/iamileanaodile

Follow Nancy @online_elementary_tutor

https://www.instagram.com/online_elementary_tutor

traditional education? 

In this episode, Steph & Steph are joined by public school art teacher, Kelly Montgomery for the second installment of our education mini series.

With 19 years of experience as a public school educator under her belt, and a burning passion for what she gets to do everyday for work, we knew Kelly was the perfect person to have this conversation with from the moment we connected with her.

Throughout this thought provoking conversation, Kelly shares with us:

• the many resources that the public school system provides for her students; their parents and the faculty 

• the community aspect of the school system and why it’s so fundamental for these kids 

• Some of the biggest wins & challenges she’s  experienced in 19 years of teaching art to teenagers

• the important role that mutual respect, trust & passion have played in her classroom 

…and so much more. 

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if you loved this chat with Kelly, be sure to connect with her on Instagram or Threads, and check out her Etsy shop as well! (She makes the COOLEST journals!)  

Follow Kelly: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtfullyflawed/

Shop Kelly’s Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/thoughtfullyflawed/?etsrc=sdt

In this episode, Steph & Steph are joined by two very special guest(s)!

Ileana (Eclectic Homeschooling Mama & Soul Purpose Coach) and Nancy (Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum + Reading Tutor) join us for a powerful discussion about homeschooling! 

This insightful conversation was the perfect way to begin diving into our very first deep dive series, which is all about EDUCATION. 

We talked about things like:

- How & why did each of them get into homeschooling? Why do they continue to feel so passionate about it? 

- What are some of the different ways of homeschooling?

- What are some of the unexpected challenges they’ve faced throughout their homeschooling journey? 

- What are some common myths & misconceptions about homeschooling?

- How can parents begin planning & researching homeschooling as a potential option for their children? 

...and so much more.

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& if you loved this chat with Ileana & Nancy, be sure to hit them up on Instagram to learn more about their homeschooling journeys & to join their communities!

Follow Ileana: @iamileanaodile

https://www.instagram.com/iamileanaodile

Follow Nancy @online_elementary_tutor

https://www.instagram.com/online_elementary_tutor

In this episode, the two Steph’s pause to reflect on how much we’ve both learned & grown since we started this podcast.  We get into what was happening in our lives when we started this, and how the conversations we’ve been having here, have had massive impacts on both of our lives.  So many lessons, golden nuggets, and breakthroughs have come out of simply speaking our minds & then getting the opportunity to listen back to the conversations… It’s wild that we’ve only been doing this for a few months and we cannot wait to see where we are - and where you guys are - in a year from now.  This is probably our most powerful conversation yet because it’s the one where we tied it all together with a bow & integrated the lessons. Pretty mind blowing!  All that said, we’d love to hear from you: what has this podcast got you thinking about? Stay tuned, because after this episode, we’re finally diving into the issues - starting next week!

In this episode, the two Steph’s finally unpack one of the key questions that inspired this podcast in the first place: why are we SO divided as a society?  We ask questions like: When did we first notice the division? What was going on in our lives then vs now?  What have we heard, seen, observed, learned & experienced since then that confirms society has continue to become more divided?  How can understanding history & having difficult, but honest conversations reduce the divide & help us heal?  All that & more on this epsiode of Becoming Human AF Podcast!

In this episode, the two Steph’s are joined by author, speaker & fellow podcaster Marsha VanW for one of the most powerful discussions we’ve ever had on this podcast.

We talked about how to stand strong in owning your voice when having hard conversations — with yourself, and with others. 

So many golden nuggets were dropped. Our minds our blown. We can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this one! 🔥

PS - Marsha's got OODLES of helpful resources to help you reframe your story & get started with having those tough convos. Including her own podcast which is ranked in the top 1.5% of the WORLD.

Do yourself a favor and check her out:

Follow Marsha on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marshavanw/

Listen to Marsha's Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/own-your-choices-own-your-life/id1445904739

Snoop around Marsha's Website:

https://www.marshavanw.com/workwithme

In this week's episode, the 2 Steph's are joined by our friend Meleah Rose, to continue the discussion we had about the book, The Body Keeps the Score.

As a Neurosomatics Mentor & Breathwork Facilitator, Meleah is the perfect person to discuss questions like:

- What does it actually MEAN to feel your feelings?

- What does it actually LOOK like to feel your feelings?

- Why do most people avoid feeling their feelings, and what happens when we signal to our body that it is safe to do so?

- How can we give ourselves the space to feel our feelings, even when life is busy?

- How can we separate ourselves & our identities from our (temporary) emotions?

...and so much more.

This particular episode was a real treat; we were both so excited to have Meleah on, because she has helped both of us unpack a lot of our own emotions over the years, through her work as a healer.

If you loved hearing Meleah's insights & thoughts, we cannot recommend reaching out to her enough. In addition to her breathwork membership & coaching packages, Meleah has tons of free resources, all geared toward helping you optimize your mind, manage your nervous system; and feel your feelings in a safe & healthy way.

Reach out to Meleah here: https://www.instagram.com/meleah.rose/

In this episode, the two Steph’s are shifting gears again, to talk about how all of the foundational stuff we’ve talked about so far, feels in our bodies. We speak at length about the book The Body Keeps the Score, by renowned Boston-based Psychiatrist, Bessel van Der Kolk.  The book came highly recommended to both the Steph’s, and at the time of this recording, Steph Laffey had finally started reading it after avoiding it for years. She was only 70 pages in, but as she likes to say, her brain was one giant pretzel already. Since recording this episode, Steph Taylor also started reading the book. So expect a followup episode next week, with a very special guest!  In the meantime, in this episode we discussed questions like: What does “the body keeps the score” mean to both of us? Why were both of us afraid to read this book? What does it mean to “know what you know and feel what you feel?” What are some examples of our own bodies “keeping the score”? All that & more on this epsiode of Becoming Human AF Podcast! We'd love to hear your thoughts on our bodies keeping the score. How has this theme shown up in your life?  REFERENCES: Our friend, Julie Cyvonne microdosing mentor for professional women The Body Keeps the Score (book) by Bessel Van der Kolk, M.D.