Episodios

  • Cosmic Connections

    Cosmic Connections
    Jun 18 2025

    Episode 76: Cosmic Connections

    In this special crossover episode, we’re sharing Episode 3 of cosmic cheer squad—our new podcast from the Positive Disintegration Network. Chris and Bee are joined by a very special guest: Emma Nicholson, co-host of Positive Disintegration, for an in-person, around-the-table conversation recorded in Madison, Wisconsin.

    Together, they reflect on:

    * How they became friends and collaborators through the theory of positive disintegration

    * The idea of cosmic pockets as a way to hold intense feelings until it’s safe to process them

    * Inner critics, intrusive thoughts, and how to rewrite old narratives

    * Parenting yourself while raising others

    * Emotional trampolines, anti-cults, and resisting illegitimate authority

    * Why the Gravitron might be the perfect metaphor for development

    Plus: Bee’s legendary toffee, Aussie accent jokes, trench coat metaphors, and the beginnings of a truly cozy counterculture.

    💫 It’s part reunion, part origin story, and all heart. Come sit with us.

    Links from this episode

    Find Emma online:

    * Tragic Gift (blog)

    * Adults with Overexcitabilities (YouTube)

    * Adults with Overexcitabilities (Facebook group)

    * Positive Disintegration (Instagram)

    We referenced:

    * Cosmic Pocket

    * Sneaky Stimming

    Positive Disintegration:

    * Episode 33: A Personal Journey of Self-Discovery, with David Sweeney

    * Episode 37: Self-Directed Education with Marni Kammersell



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe
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    46 m
  • Authenticity, Community, and Creative Unmasking

    Authenticity, Community, and Creative Unmasking
    May 27 2025

    In Episode 75, Chris and Emma were joined by Gordon Smith, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Coach, and Creative from Gifted and Growing in Asheville, NC. Together, they explore how community, creativity, and authenticity support the journey of positive disintegration.

    Gordon shares how his rediscovery of giftedness helped him make sense of his life and deepen his work with clients. The conversation dives into the challenges of unmasking in front of others—especially family—and how the safety of group spaces can empower people to become more fully themselves. Gordon introduces his unique group offerings and the powerful “Magnum Opus” exercise that facilitates self-discovery through poetry and flow state.

    This episode touches on key Dabrowskian themes, including the transformation of internalized shame, the shedding of masks, the role of community in personal growth, and how creative practices support authenticity. We reflect on how our disintegrations have unfolded and offer heartfelt encouragement for listeners on their journeys.

    Topics Include:

    * Gordon’s journey back to giftedness and the theory of positive disintegration

    * The importance of self-knowing and depathologizing difference

    * Creating safe spaces for unmasking and self-expression

    * Using creativity and community to support growth

    * Reflections on grief, parenting, and nervous system healing

    * How discovering language for our experiences can be transformative

    Resources from this episode

    * Visit Gordon’s website: Giftedandgrowing.org

    * Gordon Smith, LPC (Facebook)

    * More about Yunasa

    Connect with us

    * Positive Disintegration on Substack

    * Visit the Dabrowski Center website

    * Facebook

    * Instagram

    * The Positive Disintegration YouTube Channel

    * Adults with Overexcitabilities group on Facebook

    * The Tragic Gift blog by Emma

    * Email us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.com

    * Please consider donating to the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

    * Find Positive Disintegration Merch

    If you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you!



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe
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    1 h y 4 m
  • Live from Wisconsin, Part 2

    Live from Wisconsin, Part 2
    Apr 29 2025

    Episode 74 includes Part 2 of our very first in-person podcast special. After years of collaborating across continents, Chris and Emma finally sat down together face-to-face in Madison, Wisconsin. In this spontaneous, laughter-filled continuation, we’re joined by Bee Mayhew and Pam Ryan for a warm and off-the-cuff conversation about friendship, imagination, healing, and what it really means to be ourselves.

    In this episode:

    * The power of community and co-regulation for people who’ve long felt “too much”

    * What happens when deep thinkers stop masking and start mirroring each other

    * A kitchen full of neurodivergent magic and mirroring

    * Finding safety, resonance, and spiritual alignment in community

    * From shared values to shaping new realities—how our friendships have become frameworks

    We reflect on how much we’ve grown, how much we’ve healed, and how profoundly we’ve changed by allowing ourselves to show up as our true selves, together.

    Big news: Chris and Bee have launched a brand new podcast together—✨ cosmic cheer squad ✨

    Visit cosmic cheer squad on Substack

    Follow @cosmiccheersquad on Instagram

    It’s a show blending resistance, storytelling, transformation, and soul-friend energy.

    Links from this episode

    Bee’s Substack:

    * Pragmagination

    Pam’s groups on Facebook:

    * Rogue Valley Brainery & Ludoteca

    * Voodoodleydooers

    Connect with us

    * Positive Disintegration on Substack

    * Visit the Dabrowski Center website

    * Facebook

    * Instagram

    * The Positive Disintegration YouTube Channel

    * Adults with Overexcitabilities group on Facebook

    * The Tragic Gift blog by Emma

    * Email us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.com

    * Please consider donating to the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

    * Find Positive Disintegration Merch

    If you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you!



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe
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    47 m
  • Live from Wisconsin, Part 1

    Live from Wisconsin, Part 1
    Apr 15 2025

    Welcome to a very special episode of Positive Disintegration! For the first time ever, Chris and Emma sat down together in person to record—not virtually, not over Zoom or SquadCast, but face to face in the heart of Madison, Wisconsin. In this warm and unscripted special, we reflect on our friendship, the podcast’s evolution, and the joy (and awkwardness!) of finally being in the same room after three years of collaboration.

    In this episode:

    * Behind-the-scenes stories from Emma’s trip to the U.S.

    * Meeting Michael Piechowski and getting hosted with tea and cookies

    * Visiting the Henry Vilas Zoo, hanging out with James, Jason, and Jack—and, of course, the infamous hound dog, Champ

    * Reflections on growth, healing, and laying new paths

    * Creating the Positive Disintegration Network and dreaming forward into 2025

    * How their work and friendship have evolved over years of podcasting together

    * Early glimpses of new projects: cosmic cheer squad and PDA: Resistance and Resilience

    ✨ This is part one of a two-part special to our listeners—an intimate conversation full of laughter, reflection, and visioning for what’s next.

    Links from this episode

    Tragic Gift

    Adults with Overexcitabilities

    Upcoming podcasts Chris mentioned:

    The cosmic cheer squad podcast is coming soon with Bee Mayhew from pragmagination

    PDA: Resistance & Resilience is coming later this spring with Marni Kammersell from Wandering Brightly

    Connect with us

    * Positive Disintegration on Substack

    * Visit the Dabrowski Center website

    * Facebook

    * Instagram

    * The Positive Disintegration YouTube Channel

    * Adults with Overexcitabilities group on Facebook

    * The Tragic Gift blog by Emma

    * Email us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.com

    * Please consider donating to the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

    * Find Positive Disintegration Merch

    If you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you!



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe
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    47 m
  • Healing Through Writing

    Healing Through Writing
    Feb 24 2025
    In episode 72, Chris and Emma talked with Dr. Lil Jedynak—a memoir writing coach, multi-potential creative, and gifted adult—who helps people tell their life stories through the lens of autoethnography.Lil shares her journey of self-discovery, from uncovering her giftedness at 60 to finding new frameworks for understanding her life, such as Dąbrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration. We explore how writing became a tool for her healing, integration, and personal growth and how she now guides others on their own storytelling paths.We dive into:* How early experiences of invisibility, perfectionism, and cultural expectations shaped Lil’s understanding of her giftedness.* The role of autoethnography in making sense of one’s life story and deepening self-awareness.* The interplay between tall poppy syndrome, perfectionism, and the fear of failure.* The power of embracing past struggles as part of personal development.* How creativity, intuition, and personal reflection help gifted individuals integrate their complex identities.* Alternative ways to process and express self-discovery beyond writing.This conversation is full of insight into the lived experience of positive disintegration and how we can turn our personal narratives into sources of strength. Whether you love to write or prefer other forms of self-expression, there are many ways to make meaning of your story. Join us for an inspiring discussion that celebrates authenticity, creativity, and the art of storytelling.Resources from this episode* Website: drlilconsults.com* Substack: Lil’s Substack* Lil’s session from DC2024 on YouTube: Fame and FragilityJoin us at the 2025 International Symposium on Autoethnography and NarrativePeople mentioned:Lotte van Lith — A Lot of Complexity & Episode 9 Jennifer Harvey Sallin — InterGifted & Episode 23Sheldon Gay — I Must Be BUG'N Pod & Episode 63Books mentioned:* Living with Intensity – Susan Daniels & Michael M. Piechowski* Personality Shaping Through Positive Disintegration – Kazimierz Dabrowski* Bright Adults: Uniqueness & Belonging Across the Lifespan – Ellen Fiedler* Writing as a Way of Healing – Louise DeSalvoConnect with us* Positive Disintegration on Substack* Visit the Dabrowski Center website* Facebook* Instagram* The Positive Disintegration YouTube Channel* Adults with Overexcitabilities group on Facebook* The Tragic Gift blog by Emma* Email us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.com* Please consider donating to the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.* Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe
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    1 h y 16 m
  • Suicide, Stigma, and Support, Part 2

    Suicide, Stigma, and Support, Part 2
    Jan 15 2025
    *Content Warning: This episode contains a discussion about suicide, which may be distressing to some listeners. Click here for resources.In episode 71, Chris and Emma continue the conversation with Dr. Stacey Freedenthal, a suicidologist, therapist, author, and professor at the University of Denver. In this second installment, we delve deeper into the complexities of suicidality, exploring chronic suicidal thoughts and the stigma surrounding suicide. We talk more about what to say and what not to say to someone who is suicidal and how to support those in emotional pain. Stacey shares valuable insights and practical resources for those navigating these challenging experiences. Chris and Emma reflect on their personal journeys and the power of connection in moments of despair. This candid discussion provides essential perspectives for anyone seeking to better understand suicide, reduce stigma, and foster compassion.Resources from this EpisodeSpeaking of SuicideStaceyFreedenthal.comHelping the Suicidal Person: Tips and Techniques for Professionals (book for professionals)Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts: What Family, Friends, and Partners Can Say and Do (book for laypeople)Frank King, A Matter of Laugh or Death (YouTube)r/SuicideWatch (Reddit)ChronicSuicideSupport.comAlternatives to SuicideWarmLineWildflower AllianceLive Through ThisChris’s story on Live Through This (Interview date: February 26, 2015, Denver, CO)Connect with usPositive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe
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    38 m
  • Suicide, Stigma, and Support, Part 1

    Suicide, Stigma, and Support, Part 1
    Jan 6 2025
    *Content Warning: This episode contains a discussion about suicide, which may be distressing to some listeners. Click here for resources. In episode 70, Chris and Emma talk with Dr. Stacey Freedenthal, a suicidologist, therapist, author, and professor at the University of Denver. We discuss the deeply important but often stigmatized topic of suicide. This is part one of a two-part series that explores the intersection of suicide and Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration, offering listeners tools for empathy and connection in the face of despair.Stacey shares her personal journey with suicidality, the experiences that led her to dedicate her career to this work, and the insights she’s gained through her research, teaching, and practice.Together, we explore the stigma surrounding suicidal thoughts, the ways people can hide their pain, and how well-intentioned responses often fall short. Stacey emphasizes the need for what she calls “brave listening”—creating a safe space for honest conversations without judgment or quick fixes. Chris and Emma also reflect on their own experiences and share perspectives on navigating these tough but crucial discussions.Resources from this episodeSpeaking of Suicide StaceyFreedenthal.com Helping the Suicidal Person: Tips and Techniques for Professionals (book for professionals)Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts: What Family, Friends, and Partners Can Say and Do (book for laypeople)A Suicide Therapist’s Secret Past (NY Times article mentioned, behind paywall. Click for PDF)Stacey mentioned the following image from her book’s cover.We mentioned Episode 8: Surviving DisintegrationThomas Joiner’s Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (Wikipedia)Connect with usPositive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe
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    42 m
  • Myth, Neurodivergence, and Transformation

    Myth, Neurodivergence, and Transformation
    Dec 10 2024
    In episode 69, Chris and Emma talked with Lian Brook-Tyler, shamanic healer, teacher of unity, podcaster, and co-founder of the Be Mythical podcast. In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, we dive into the intersections of mysticism, neurodivergence, spirituality, transformation, and awakenings—connecting these profound experiences to Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration. We explore:* How neurodivergence can shape mystical and spiritual experiences.* The connection between shamanic practices, inner work, and positive disintegration.* The importance of doing the work of inner transformation and embracing the unknown.* The parallels between psychological and spiritual frameworks in understanding human development.Lian’s mythical journey truly began when she was ruptured open to Spirit with the sudden death of her father—which led to her mysteriously recovering from 15 years of chronic pain, panic attacks and anxiety. That inexplicable transformation inspired her to leave a leadership role in the corporate world to immerse herself in discovering what creates pain and struggle, and conversely, how to create a life overflowing with love, magic, beauty and truthLian also shares how her work at Be Mythical, together with co-founder Jonathan Wilkinson, supports old souls and visionaries on initiatory journeys of self-discovery, using myth and ancient wisdom to find purpose and truth. Their work, Be Mythical, is an alchemy of ancient ways for modern days. It weaves together eclectic wisdom teachings and natural traditions such as rewilding, magic and animist spirituality, embodiment, and self-illumination into a soul-led, heart-centred, sovereign path of reclaiming your wildness, actualising your deepest gifts, to live fully and die complete.Here is the Tree of Life image Lian discussed during the episodeLinks from this episodeBe Mythical websiteBe Mythical podcastBe Mythical episodes we mentioned:* “Over-excitability”: A more truthful and constructive perspective on neurodivergence? (episode with Chris)* How to know if you're really "Doing The Work"? Sara J. Sanderson interviews Lian Brook-Tyler Positive Disintegration Episode 29: The Disintegrating DuckCourses: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeperFree fb group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1694264587546957Fb page: https://www.facebook.com/bemythicalYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeMythicalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/be.mythical/Moonly Newsletter: https://www.bemythical.com/moonlyConnect with usPositive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you!Tuesday, December 10, 2024, is Colorado Gives Day. Please consider donating to the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and help support the Dabrowski Congress, other events, and our archive. This year, a generous anonymous donor has pledged to match gifts up to $2,500 USD. Thank you for supporting our work! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe
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    1 h y 5 m
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