Beyond Traditional Activism: The Medicine of Our Ancestors with Amber McZeal

Does joy sometimes feel hard to access? Ever find yourself focusing more on where you’re suffering or experiencing pain? Or perhaps you find it easy in this season of your life but want to experience joy even more? In the last micro-episode of Season 3, Jennifer guides you to amplify joy on three different levels: the gross, subtle and causal. She encourages you to enhance the experience of joy, even amidst pain and includes a suggestion to explore the Buddhist practice of Tonglen if you’re facing difficult times. If you play with this practice and have an insight you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you! Links & resources—For more practices, offerings and writing from Jennifer, subscribe to Jennifer’s newsletterFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedInEmail Jennifer with any questions or observations- [email protected] Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

We’ve been talking about “feeling more” so we can access more wisdom in our leadership, but what if we’re really good at avoiding pain?  In the final week of season three of the Tension of Emergence, Jennifer delves into the question of how to work with personal and collective pain with the co-founder of Mobius Executive Leadership and expert in trauma-informed development, Amy Elizabeth Fox. Together they break down the illusory binary between the personal/professional, individual/collective and pain/joy. They also share—Three stages of working with pain and how to transmute pain into possibilityHow the privatization of healing has gotten us into troubleWhy communal witnessing can shift everythingTune in for an in-depth exploration of how to work with personal and collective pain so that you can access more joy, presence and liberation. Links & resources—Mobius Executive LeadershipConnect with Amy Elizabeth Fox on LinkedINFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedIn and get her weekly Substack here Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with modern-day mystic and teacher Cynthia Bourgeault. Instead of virtues being a static object we have, they can be thought of as active agents of change. Jennifer offers a two-part practice to help you leverage your unique personal virtues (and power) to transform a current challenge. In this episode, Jennifer shares a personal example and emphasizes the importance of practice as a dynamic process of learning from your direct experience.If you play with this practice and have an insight you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you! Links & resources—For more practices, offerings and writing from Jennifer, subscribe to Jennifer’s newsletterFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedInEmail Jennifer with any questions or observations- [email protected] Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Jennifer talks with modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, author and teacher, Cynthia Bourgeault about how our global breakdown might be a breakthrough. Weaving together science, philosophy and spiritual traditions they talk about the evolution of human consciousness and how to nourish and feed the collective.  In this episode they share- Our shift to an integral structure of consciousness How reciprocity works between the seen and unseen worldsWhat is three-centered awareness and how to develop itWhy virtues are more than personality traits Tune in to this beautiful conversation to learn the subtle art of cosmic reciprocity and discover why we’re more resilient and creative than we think. Links & resources—Cynthia Bourgeault’s websiteOrder Cynthia’s books and reading suggestionsGlobal network for seekers on the wisdom path: Wisdom WaypointsSign up for Jennifer’s weekly Substack, connect with her on IG or LinkedIN Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Jennifer offers a practice to dispel the myth that a regulated nervous system equates to calmness and neutrality. Drawing on insights from somatic experiencing practitioner Kimberly Ann Johnson, she emphasizes the importance of practicing flexibility in your nervous system to manage life's challenges. Jennifer introduces a playful practice of friendly wrestling to help you activate latent energy, track sensation, support an energetic re-set and make way for necessary expression, movement or boundaries.This practice contributes to your understanding of the activation-receptivity energetic pole  so you can access greater aliveness and discernment. If you have an insight from this practice that you'd like to share, we'd love to hear! Email Jennifer with any questions or observations- [email protected] & resources—For more practices, invitations and writing from Jennifer, subscribe to Jennifer’s weekly newsletterFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedIn Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Transformational growth can be aided by mindset shifts but deeper change is initiated and sustained through the body. Jennifer talks with Somatic Experiencing™ Practitioner, educator and author Kimberly Ann Johnson about how to develop receptivity and activation so you can practice radical responsibility. Together they explore: Why embracing your animalistic nature supports a healthy nervous systemHow to listen to and trust your body's signals Why activating your nervous system can help you feel less exhaustedHow your natural body changes can be real-time rites of passage Tune into this honest and refreshing conversation about how to embrace your body as a portal to greater intimacy, possibility and liberation. Links & resources—Learn more about Kimberly Ann JohnsonFollow Kimberly on Instagram or her podcast Sex, Birth, TraumaFor more practices, invitations and writing from Jennifer, subscribe to Jennifer’s newsletterFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedIn Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Feeling overwhelmed, brokenhearted, anxious or "can't even" these days? Amidst it all, we often want to "take the edge off" to feel better. But what if our "edges" have wisdom we need to hear. Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with Madeline Shaw, to help you lean into your 'edginess' and discover what you need most. If you play with this practice and have a story or insight you'd like to share, we’d love to hear from you! Links & resources—For more curated support sign up for Jennifer's weekly inspiring emails to help you navigate the hard mess of leading and being humanFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedInTalk with Jennifer! Share an insight or ask a question here [email protected] Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

To survive hustle culture, family and career pressures and world affairs we often decompress with social media, our phones or alcohol. In this episode Jennifer talks with social entrepreneur, author and cyclical wisdom devotee Madeleine Shaw about the gift of sobriety in a culture that just wants to take the edge off.  In this intimate and honest conversation, they explore- The rise of hustle culture and #GirlBoss How drinking is a socially accepted prescription for exhaustion + burnout The question you should (and shouldn’t) ask about any addictive tendencyWhat actually helps to ‘take the edge off’Join Jennifer and Madeleine for a heart-opening conversation on how to face the messy middle of “gray area” drinking  and attune to what deeply nourishes our bodies, minds and relationships instead. Links & resources—Learn more about Madeleine ShawGet the book The Greater Good: Social Entrepreneurship for Everyday People Who Want to Change the World, Follow Madeleine on Medium or LinkedIn Get Jennifer’s weekly newsletter and follow her on Instagram or LinkedIn Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Jennifer offers a practice, inspired by her conversation with Amber McZeal. How might befriending the experience of shame support our collective liberation? Jennifer guides you to explore the unique sensations associated with shame and to get curious about the wisdom it offers. Shame can help you clarify your values and social commitments, especially if you bring a compassionate stance. If you play with this and discover a new way of seeing or experiencing your ‘self’ we’d love to hear from you! Links & resources—For more practices and inspiration from Jennifer get weekly inspiring emails to help you navigate the hard mess of leading and being humanFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedInTalk with Jennifer! Share an insight or ask a question here [email protected] Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.

Are you feeling the limits of activism- specifically in the way we seem to become more polarized and exhausted?In this episode Jennifer talks with sacred scholar, vocalist and activist Amber McZeal to unpack  how to move into deeper psychic layers that can yield healing and interconnection. Talking about spiritual activism and ancestral healing they also share—Why DEI policies can’t heal the illusion of separationThe medicine offered by ancestral lineage healingWhy the performativity of allyship gets us into troubleThe practice of radical optimismTune in for genuine and heart-felt exploration of how to decolonize the psyche so you can nourish your relationship to self, the collective and your activism practice. Links & resources—Learn more about Amber’s work Join the Decolonizing the Psyche Facebook groupResmaa Menakem’s book My Grandmother’s HandsSubscribe to Jennifer’s SubstackFollow Jennifer on Instagram or LinkedInHave a question for Jennifer? Email her at [email protected] Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.