The Beauty We Love

In this episode of The Beauty We Love, I’m joined by the luminous Intissar Ben-Halim; a psychotherapist, teacher, mother, and wise companion on the path of healing.We talk about what it means to raise decent, whole human beings in a world shaped by patriarchy, the transformative power of community, and the beauty that can be found and felt in silence. Intissar shares how her work is less about "fixing" and more about journeying alongside people in the most tender, human parts of life.This conversation is a reflection on finding beauty in the messy middle, honoring the "I can’t" moments, and discovering what’s possible when we don’t go it alone. If you’re navigating change, caregiving, or simply seeking more connection and meaning in your life, this one’s for you.Learn more about Intissar on Psychology TodayConnect with her on LinkedIn

In this episode, I welcome author,coach, and systemic constellations facilitator Michelle Bias to talk about her powerful memoir String Theory: A Life. We explore the themes of intergenerational trauma, healing, storytelling, grief, personal reinvention, and what it means to belong to oneself, to one’s lineage, and to the world.Michelle opens up about her journey from a career in film production to therapeutic work rooted in systemic constellations. She shares how her book came to be, how it shaped her healing, and how she's coming to take her place beside it. With profound insights on trauma recovery, ancestral legacies, and the tender process of reclaiming your life, my hope is that this conversation will resonate with anyone seeking to alchemize pain into purpose.You’ll hear Michelle read aloud from two especially moving passages of her book and reflect on how memory, grief, and identity can shift over time. Whether you’re navigating your own healing path or supporting others in theirs, this episode offers a grounded, poignant reminder that transformation begins with small steps, and that our past doesn’t have to define our future.Topics Covered:What is Family Constellation work?Intergenerational trauma and systemic healingPostpartum after a creative milestoneLetting go of the idea that “healing” must be linearHow grief stays with us and how we grow with itThe many careers Michelle has held and how they now support her workShame, survival, and transforming the narrativeIntegrating all parts of ourselves, even those we once rejectedBelonging, legacy, and the significance of kindnessConnect with Michelle: 🌐 michellebias.com 📖 String Theory: A Life available on Amazon and in select bookstores in OklahomaOK So Story Slam → Tulsa-based storytelling events co-founded by MichelleConnect with Ellen: 🌐 ellebrowning.com Subscribe to the newsletter for thoughtful updates and workshop invites

In this episode of The Beauty We Love, I talk with Christine Wamble; licensed marriage and family therapist, former preschool teacher and bartender, storyteller, and someone with a deep-rooted capacity for presence. Christine shares her non-linear path to becoming a therapist, shaped by significant grief,curves in the road, a bold ‘say yes’ approach to life, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity.We talk about her work in family therapy and secondary trauma, what it means to be truly present with someone, and the healing that comes not from fixing, but from simply witnessing. Christine opens up about her own history of trauma and loss, the friends who accompanied her through it, and the incremental ways she rebuilt trust with herself and others.We explore the power of letting go, the slow and sacred work of becoming who we really are, and the kind of legacy Christine hopes to leave; one rooted in love, honesty, and presence.Whether you’re in a career pivot, navigating your own healing, or supporting others on their journey, I hope you’ll find something beautiful in this vulnerable and real discussion.To learn more about Christine and her work, visit her website.

In this episode of The Beauty We Love, I’m joined by the luminous Caroline Ashurst; licensed acupuncturist, fertility coach, and founder of The Fertility Formula. Caroline is a trusted, grounded voice in the world of women’s health and holistic healing. We talk about her path from personal healing to professional practice, and how honoring ritual, slowing down, and reconnecting to ourselves can change everything from fertility journeys to our sense of vitality.Caroline shares how ancestral healing, self-trust, and cultivating presence shape her work and life. We talk about transitioning from a brick-and-mortar acupuncture practice to the online coaching space, the vulnerability of visibility, and how allowing (rather than forcing) often opens the door to the transformation we seek. If you’re a holistic practitioner, coach, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is full of wisdom and honesty.We also touch on postpartum depression, reclaiming ritual, and redefining success on your own terms. It’s a conversation about nurturing ourselves so we can support the nurturance of others.To learn more about Caroline’s work, visit:https://www.restorativeharmony.comTo learn more about Ellen’s work, visit:https://ellebrowning.com

In this episode of The Beauty We Love, I talk with DJ Turner, coach, strategist, and founder of Scaling Wellness, about what it really takes to build a thriving massage or wellness business beyond the solo practitioner model.We explore:DJ’s journey from structural engineer and touring musician to location-independent entrepreneurWhy fully booked isn’t always the finish line, and what’s beyond itThe real operational, leadership, and mindset shifts needed to grow an ethical, million-dollar wellness businessHow DJ helps massage therapists scale without burnout, exploitation, or loss of purposeThe power of being mission-driven, embracing freedom, and breaking generational ceilingsWe also talk about the privilege of healing work, the reality of late-stage capitalism, and why decolonizing both wealth and wellness matters.Whether you're a solo practitioner dreaming of expansion, or a wellness entrepreneur ready to build something bigger than yourself, DJ’s insight and clarity are not to be missed.Resources & Links:DJ’s website: www.scalingwellness.comDJ on Instagram: @scalingwellnessThe Scaling Wellness Podcast: available on all major platformsThe Beauty We Love is hosted by Ellen Browning-Lafferty. Subscribe and leave a review to support the show.

In this very special episode of The Beauty We Love, I sit down with my mother, Sharon Browning, an attorney, teacher, spiritual guide, and founder of Just Listening. We talk about her life's work: cultivating just, equitable, and heart-centered listening as a tool for connection, healing, and social transformation.This conversation is both deeply personal and universally relevant. We explore how Sharon created Just Listening following personal loss, what it really means to listen justly, and how showing up with presence (not answers) can shift everything.We also talk about her many career changes, from lawyer to professor to nonprofit founder, and how she followed the thread of what she loved most. Her insight on legacy, creativity, and what it means to live a life of service is meaningful to me, and I hope it touches something in you too.In this episode, we explore:How Sharon founded Just Listening after a major life transitionWhy listening is more than active listening; it’s a presence practiceReal-life examples of listening transforming relationships, juries, and prisonsWhat it means to listen without judgment, fixing, or egoSharon’s thoughts on vocation, grief, beauty, and legacyAbout Sharon:Sharon Browning is the founder of Just Listening, a collaborative social enterprise that trains individuals and organizations to listen more deeply, compassionately, and justly—especially with people on the social margins. She’s also my mother, and one of my greatest teachers. Learn more about her work at justlistening.net.

In this moving and expansive conversation, I sit down with internationally renowned facilitator and psychotherapist Emily Blefeld to explore how we can uncover the unseen forces that shape our lives — and reclaim the intuitive, creative, and healing gifts that are often buried under generations of trauma.Emily shares how she helps therapists, bodyworkers, and intuitive entrepreneurs integrate ancestral wisdom, energy medicine, and systemic constellations to live and work from a place of alignment. Together, we explore what happens when we stop trying to “fix” ourselves and instead remember who we already are.If you're a holistic practitioner, seeker, or healing professional eager to step into deeper truth, our hope is that this episode will speak to you.In This Episode:The difference between therapy and systemic constellationsWhy so many healers carry fears of visibility and how to work through themReal-life examples of healing inherited trauma through the ancestral fieldEmily’s personal journey of intuitive awakening and letting go of old identitiesThe power of “going fearward” and following the call to recreate yourselfAbout Emily Blefeld:Emily is a psychotherapist, systemic constellations trainer, and international speaker who works at the intersection of ancestral healing, intuition, and consciousness. She helps intuitive professionals integrate their gifts and release patterns that keep them hidden or stuck.Connect with Emily: 🌐 seeingwithyourheart.com 📧 [email protected] 📣 Instagram: @seeingwithyourheartConnect with Ellen: 🌐https://ellebrowning.com/ 💬 Free consult: Book here

In this conversation, I sit down with family therapist and writer Lakshmi Krishnan for a wide-ranging and quietly powerful reflection on what it means to heal; across generations, across continents, and across the invisible spaces between language and the body.Lakshmi shares her journey from South India to Canada, from a young girl raised in silence to a clinician who helps others find their voice. We talk about her work with clients living with eating disorders, and how their symptoms often speak in code, expressing what hasn’t yet been given words.She offers insight into the slow, relational nature of true recovery, the legacy of a mother’s sudden death, and the quiet resilience required to move forward one step at a time. This episode is for anyone supporting others through pain, or navigating their own.In this episode, we explore:Why eating disorders often emerge as the body’s way of speaking what can’t be saidThe limitations of “tools and strategies” in the face of deep emotional painHow trauma, grief, and culture live on in our nervous systemsWhat it takes to accompany someone through the long arc of recoveryThe power of naming what was never named—and sitting patiently until the words comeWhy real healing is often slow, creative, and profoundly humanAbout Lakshmi:Lakshmi Krishnan is a registered clinical social worker, family therapist, and writer based in Calgary, Canada. With decades of experience, she brings a relational and intergenerational lens to her work. She’s also a gardener, a piano student, and someone who continues to learn. You can read her writing and learn more at www.lakshmik.com.Connect with Ellen: 🌐 ellebrowning.com 📬 Subscribe to the newsletter for thoughtful updates and workshop invites

In this heartfelt episode of The Beauty We Love, I sit down with Tazeem Jamal—Master Esthetician, spa industry veteran, and sought-after coach—to explore the journey of building a meaningful business rooted in passion and service.Tazeem shares stories from her nearly 40-year career, how she made the brave leap from spa ownership to coaching, and what it takes to stand out in a crowded marketplace without losing your values. From the importance of attention to detail, to the legacy of mentorship, this episode is a powerful reminder that success is about showing up fully and authentically—again and again.Whether you're in the healing arts, a beauty professional, or a creative entrepreneur, it’s my hope that you’ll walk away with clarity, inspiration, and actionable insight.In this episode, we explore:Tazeem’s early career and her rise in the spa industryWhy she transitioned from esthetics to coachingThe value of leadership and mentorship in a service-based businessHow to develop the “Know, Like, and Trust” factorStaying driven without burning outThe importance of family, resilience, and self-beliefConnect with Tazeem Jamal: 🌐 https://tazeemjamal.com 📸 Instagram: @spabizcoachFB Group: 💎Spa Success~Marketing, Retail Sales & Profitability w/ Spa Coach TazeemBuy Tazeem’s Book: Spa Diaries: InSPArational Stories of Spa & Beauty ProfessionalsConnect with Ellen Browning Lafferty: https://ellebrowning.com/ 📸 Instagram: @fearlesshealer

Can a virtual art gallery improve your mental health? Can listening to music help you focus, cope, and thrive? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Katherine Cotter from the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project at the University of Pennsylvania to explore how everyday artistic engagement—whether music, museums, or creative hobbies—impacts human wellbeing. We unpack surprising research findings, how creativity shows up in unexpected places, and why engaging with art doesn’t require an MFA. If you're craving more joy, meaning, and connection in your life or work, this conversation offers fresh insight into how the arts can support you—right where you are.To learn more about Dr. Cotter’s work, visit:https://www.humanitiesandhumanflourishing.org/https://sites.google.com/view/katherinencotter