Christina and I discuss her mom’s journey with cancer and how Christina has navigated her death. We also discuss all the loss she has witnessed as a paramedic, my brother’s car accident and my own experience of loss, culty health beliefs (like Christina’s experience of Scientologists), the things people say during grief that are not helpful, feeling angry and “irrational” feelings after loss, the role of paramedics in choosing when someone dies, organ donation, and the spiritual aspects of loss and death. We also talk about not giving all your trust to doctors, how to help people cope with grief, & many more things!

Christina is a paramedic first responder, nurse, and new mother of an 8-month-old boy. She spent many years deeply immersed in all things yoga, meditation, and Eastern medicine. Having lived in four states across both coasts and the Midwest, she has gained insight from her experiences in both traditional healthcare and New Age practices.

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Holly and I talk about growing up in South Dakota, her evangelical Christian upbringing, hell houses (like haunted houses for Christian children), and how she got kicked out of her Christian high school for asking questions. We discuss how aspects of her experiences were culty, her transition into a more New Age spirituality, and how we feel suspicious of people who claim to channel God. We discuss if the Bible can be trusted, why I am Christian and why Holly is not, the trend of New Age people turning Christian, and the impending return of traditional values in our society.

Holly Crawford is a writer, editor, and word witch who lives for a good story and a strong cup of coffee. She’s the lead editor at Reality Sandwich, where she curates content on psychedelics, consciousness, and counterculture. With deep roots in the cannabis world and a soft spot for all things mystical, she brings heart, humor, and a little chaos magic to everything she touches. Holly lives in Seattle with her husband, stepdaughter, two opinionated cats, and a smooshie-faced dog named Oliver. You can find her on Instagram @m_sungreen, on Substack, or somewhere between the veil, the algorithm, and the orcas of Puget Sound.

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Raphaëlle wasn’t planning on homeschooling her kids, but when she discovered what her son was learning in public school she decided to explore other options. We discuss why so many people are pulled to homeschooling nowadays, the history of education in North America and how it is set up to produce obedient workers rather than creative thinkers, and what other opportunities are possible. We also talk about our own experiences in public schools, the importance of community in raising children, food budgeting and planning, and the judgements that people have around homeschooling.

Raphaëlle is a homeschooling, married mama of two who was completely immersed in her work as a real estate agent before having children. Then she flipped her world upside down as she started on her healing journey. Her old life slowly came apart and things unfolded beautifully. These days, she is interested in conscious parenting, child development, relationships, yoga and spirituality, psychology and personal growth. She enjoys deep conversations, reading and writing, nature, and learning. She is putting more energy into creating a business in which she can serve others and help them create a life that is in alignment with their deepest values. It’s what she is in service to preserving in her children and what she can help you find if you have lost it.

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