125: Sensuality, Creativity & Pole Dancing with Selene Ashé
Register here for Kelly's free live masterclass, Exhale, on September 24th at 12PM ET.What if shame wasn’t the enemy but the doorway?In this episode I sit down with my dear friend, pole dance teacher, and new author Wendy Diaz, who writes under the pen name Selene Ashé. She’s just released her first book Diary of a Bad Bitch, a work that blends memoir and erotic nonfiction.We get into her journey with pole dance as a path of self-expression, the permission it creates for women to explore their sensuality, and the way her writing opens space for honest, vulnerable conversations about sexuality and creativity.You’ll Learn:Why pole dance can feel like an initiation for womenWhat it feels like to face waves of shame and discover safety in sensual expressionThe link between childhood innocence and adult erotic energyWhy female versus male gaze changes everything in dance and performanceThe quiet damage of women judging each other’s expression, and what happens when that shiftsWhy creativity should be treated as a daily priority rather than a side projectThe raw process of writing erotic nonfiction and why using a pen name mattered to herWhat it takes to set the stage for authentic movement and see where the body leadsThe enduring truth that sexuality and pleasure are always available, even after disconnectionTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[07:14] The permission field of pole dance and moving through shame[13:27] Creativity expanding into tattooing, drawing, and blood painting[19:04] Female versus male gaze in performance and dance videos[25:11] Navigating invisibility, fame, and the desire for attention[31:45] Erotic reclamation, archetypes, and sexual exploration through pole[37:42] Writing her book and choosing a pen name[42:51] Building conscious cabaret as a safe performance space[45:58] Sensuality, sexuality, and the role of slowing down[54:12] Why pleasure and sexuality are always available👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:Diary of a Bad Bitch by Selene Ashé | BookFifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James | Book or AudiobookConscious Cabaret | Website and InstagramGet Selene’s new book out now: The Diary of a Bad Bitch. True stories of sensuality, self discovery and spiritual alchemy. Available online and at www.seleneashe.comYou can connect with Selene and her work on Instagram here.Find more from Kelly:Instagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman hereGo to the Juvent Store and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase.Try out the cleanest grass-fed beef protein on the market here and get 15% off your order, or 30% off your first subscription!
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124: How Losing Her License Led Her to Reclaim Herself | Katherine Finley
Register here for Kelly's free live masterclass, Exhale, on September 24th at 12PM ET.What happens when your biggest fear comes true and you’re branded a monster by your own community?In this episode I sit down with Katherine Finley, a former psychotherapist who lost her license after stepping outside the bounds of her board. She spent ten years in the field, specializing in trauma, before her career was abruptly cut short.We talk about the patterns that led her into the rescuer role, what it was like to have her license revoked, and how she faced public shaming from her professional community. Katherine takes me into the raw moments of shame, the gut punch of being called dangerous, and the process of wearing what she calls the “villain crown.” This is a story about turning persecution into initiation and finding freedom on the other side of judgment.You’ll Learn:The reason Katherine’s psychotherapy license was revoked in 2020What it feels like to be publicly labeled “dangerous” by colleaguesThe quiet damage of overgiving and the rescuer role in clinical workWhy shame can become a gold mine for transformationThe surprising link between wearing the “villain crown” and reclaiming personal powerWhat happens inside the licensing system when a practitioner is accused of misconductHow childhood patterns of being “good” and “liked” shaped Katherine’s professional choicesThe turning point that shifted her view of villains, victims, and darkness in the worldWhat changes when you stop defending yourself and hold your own sovereigntyHow a certain animal became an unexpected teacher in her healing and coaching workTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[08:12] Losing her license and the rescuer role[13:46] The limits of defending yourself against the board[17:42] Facing victimhood inside the licensing system[20:37] The rupture of empathy and seeing villains for the first time[24:15] Public shaming in her local community[28:48] Choosing not to defend and sitting with shame[34:21] Breaking the punishment cycle and reclaiming energy[38:06] Finding freedom through desire and horses[43:18] Advice for practitioners on holding space without disempowering clients👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.How to connect with Katherine:Website: sovereignheartcoaching.comYouTube: @katherinefinley444Find more from Kelly:Instagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here and join the companion program, Reclaimed, here.Go to the Juvent Store and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase.Try out the cleanest grass-fed beef protein on the market here and get 15% off your order, or 30% off your first subscription!
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123: How to Balance Out Your Desire For More (Without Settling For Less)
Ask Kelly your burning questions in our monthly Vital Life Project membership here.In this episode, I talk about why desire will never stop, and why that’s actually a good thing.I share my response to a listener struggling with perfectionism and the fear of passing it on to her daughter. I talk about the insatiable nature of feminine desire, how entitlement creeps in when we lose awareness, and why learning to appreciate even the smallest moments can change everything. I share how I practice this in my own life, from focusing on the comfort of a blanket during a water fast to letting my kids make their own choices, even when it’s inconvenient for me. And I break down how desire, when it’s met with consciousness, can become a powerful force for creation instead of a source of suffering.You’ll Learn:The real reason feminine desire never feels satisfiedWhat happens when entitlement sneaks into your relationship with desireThe surprising link between gratitude and breaking free from the addiction to “more”How noticing tiny comforts can shift you out of overwhelmWhy teaching your kids to honor their own wants can change how your family functionsThe quiet damage of living from “owe” and “deserve”How to recognize when your desire is healthy versus when it’s fueled by fearThe practice that can help you feel fullness even in uncomfortable momentsWhy coming into union with your desire is the most powerful work you can do as a womanTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[01:02] Navigating perfectionism and fear of complacency in kids[02:00] Why feminine desire is naturally insatiable[03:15] Recognizing entitlement and victim patterns in desire[04:10] Using appreciation and the concept of “ha” to feel fullness[05:20] Finding comfort and gratitude in small moments during struggle[07:05] Transforming desire into life force energy and creative power[08:00] Teaching kids to honor their own wants and choices[09:15] Trusting desire and discerning it from entitlement and fear👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:David Deida | WebsiteMingtong Gu | WebsiteFind more from Kelly:Instagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here and join the companion program, Reclaimed, here.
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122: How Emotional Sobriety Has Changed My Life (And Could Change Yours Too)
In this episode, I talk about how what we call love can actually be an addiction.I share how I began questioning the way we label addiction as a disease and why abstinence models often keep people stuck. I look at how patterns of chaos, stimulation, and emotional highs and lows show up not just with substances but in love, work, and conflict. I talk about what the rat park studies and early attachment teach us about why we reach for these patterns, and why real intimacy can feel unbearable when our nervous system is wired for drama. I also share the four questions I use to examine any addictive habit so we can start finding what’s on the other side.You’ll Learn:The real reason intensity can feel safer than peaceWhat happens when your nervous system is addicted to chaosHow love addiction mimics substance abuse patternsWhy you might unconsciously choose partners who can’t meet your needsThe surprising link between childhood attachment wounds and romantic dramaWhat it feels like to reclaim your inner “little no” and trust your gutHow to identify the upside you’re secretly getting from addictive habitsThe quiet damage of ignoring subtle inner signalsWhy true sobriety goes far beyond quitting alcoholA 4-step framework to examine your relationship with any addictive patternTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[05:02] How addiction patterns mirror emotional avoidance[07:12] The victim triangle and nervous system conditioning[09:18] Love addiction and the fear of true intimacy[11:58] Reclaiming neuroception and seeing reality clearly[14:42] Taking yourself off the market to break patterns[16:15] How drama and chaos feed the addiction cycle[18:02] Four questions to uncover the roots of addictive behavior[21:00] What quitting actually gives you beyond abstinence[23:12] Learning to embrace stability and the liminal space👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:Rat Park Studies by Bruce K. Alexander | ResearchThe Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff | Book Find more from Kelly:Instagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here and join the companion program, Reclaimed, here.Go to the Juvent Store and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase.Try out the cleanest grass-fed beef protein on the market here and get 15% off your order, or 30% off your first subscription!
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121: Why You Shouldn't Send Your Kids To College | Hannah Maruyama
What if everything you believed about college was a lie?In this episode, I sit down with Hannah Maruyama of Degree Free, who, alongside her husband, has dedicated her life to helping young people reject the myth that college is the only path to success. She’s not just talking theories, she’s working directly with 16 to 20-year-olds, helping them carve out real, debt-free futures that actually align with their values.We get into why the college system is fundamentally broken, how it became a trillion-dollar trap, and what we can do instead. From calling out the emotional manipulation baked into college marketing to breaking down how Gen Z is waking up and opting out, this conversation is direct, eye-opening, and deeply personal.You’ll Learn:The real reason college became a trillion-dollar industry, and who profits mostWhat happens when you tell teens they need a degree to succeed The surprising link between college debt and delayed adulthoodWhy most college grads are underemployed and overpromisedHow Gen Z is flipping the script on traditional educationWhat it feels like to build a career without a degree, and winA practical framework to help teens uncover real interests and viable pathsThe social bait of college, and why it’s not what your kid actually needsTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[05:26] The financial reality and predatory nature of student loans[12:50] How the Higher Education Act created the college debt crisis[18:05] The social myths used to sell college to parents and teens[25:22] The cultural programming behind college as an avoidance tactic[32:10] Why large peer groups in college create artificial community[36:34] The Value of Diverse Community for Growth[42:30] Passion vs interest and helping teens choose a career path[1:02:07] The million-dollar degree problem and smarter financial strategies👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call hereHow to connect with Hannah:Website: degreefree.comInstagram: @degreefreeTikTok: @degreefreeFind more from Kelly:Instagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here and join the companion program, Reclaimed, here.Go to the Juvent Store and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase.Try out the cleanest grass-fed beef protein on the market here and get 15% off your order, or 30% off your first subscription!
It hurts to have unmet needs. And it sucks to scurry after crumbs when you’re starving. Join Kelly Brogan MD, as she teaches us how our pain points are portals. She’ll help you discover a world where every seeming challenge is a new chapter in your most audacious story. Plot twists, body symptoms, and heartbreak each represent an opportunity to own ourselves and learn to better wield the power of choice. Kelly will take you on a reclamation journey from the battlefield of victim consciousness to the sovereignty of self-devoted pleasure and expose every surprising place you’ve given your power away. Explore the tools you’ll need to find out what you want, how to ask for it and how to stand in fierce alignment with yourself.Kelly Brogan is a soul alchemist and threshold guardian devoted to the transformation of collective consciousness. As a young know-it-all atheist, candy-addict, straight-A MIT neuroscience major and Ivy-league trained psychiatrist, she specialized in feeding women, herself included, straight into the mouth of the medicated beast. After a Hashimoto’s healing journey inspired her to sound the alarm on the bait-and-switch of big pharma, she became a renegade activist—authoring the New York Times bestseller, A Mind of Your Own, and its follow-up, Own Your Self; co-editing the landmark textbook, Integrative Therapies for Depression; and eventually becoming an honorary member of the Disinformation Dozen. She is the creatrix of Vital Mind Reset, the online health reclamation program, and the membership community Vital Life Project. She’s a human, cat, and chicken mom.