Future Tripping

This week Laura talks to the internationally renowned DJ and Director of On-Air Programming at KEXP Radio, John Richards. As Host of The Morning Show, John talks openly about mental health while playing music for his listeners. During the pandemic he tripled his listenership as people flocked to his unique radio space where he regularly assures them that, “You are not alone.” In their conversation, he and Laura talk about the responsibilities, challenges, and joy that come with the privilege of offering support and creating community for others. John speaks about the toll that the daily exposure of hearing about other people’s overwhelm takes on him. And they get into detailed practices of how to reset and recharge. Of course, one practice we strongly recommend: tune in to The Morning Show and benefit from John’s deeply insightful, warm, creative, and healing presence.
To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.

In this episode, Laura talks with Jayla Wilson. Having known each other for years, they head into previously uncharted waters discussing race, gender, class, and so much more. Studying English Literature and Environmental Science in college, Jayla speaks about the various intersections in her life that have been both challenging and growth inducing: being Black, a woman, an athlete, an environmentalist, and newly committed to writing about her - and others’ - experiences through journalism. For anyone who has ever wanted to change the course of one’s life, this conversation is for you.
To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.

This week, Laura is in conversation with psychiatrist, bioethicist, assistant professor at Columbia University, and author, Dr. Carl Erik Fisher. Dr. Fisher, through his long career, extensive research, and personal experience of being in recovery, shares the critical truth that addiction has spanned history, and is something that exists in all of us, with no bright line that separates us from them. He explains that approaching addiction recovery in that dichotomous way is at best ineffective and at worst dangerous and deadly. He offers that simple solutions like a War on Drugs, more law enforcement, and cutting off supplies don’t address the reality that drug problems arise from multiple intersecting causes like systemic oppression, the failures of the American health system, pharmaceutical empires, and the lack of basic human rights and needs like housing, healthcare, and education. Together, he and Laura discuss how addressing addiction cannot come from control or eradication which don’t get to the root of the problem. Instead, we need to look at addiction from a place of inquiry, curiosity, and self-compassion, and with an acceptance that suffering is a part of life, which allows us to develop coping skills and psychological flexibility, and to find support and community - and a path to recovery.

Whether listening to the depth and breadth of Dr. Fisher's knowledge through this conversation, reading his exceptional book, or keeping up with him through his own podcast, we believe everyone has something meaningful to learn from him.
https://www.carlerikfisher.comTo learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.

This week Laura dives into the world of tech and Trust & Safety. Trust and Safety refers to teams that work to prevent online harm. This can include anything from predatory behavior like child sexual abuse and violence to mental health crises such as suicidal ideation. As technology evolves, Trust and Safety teams are always evolving to combat new threats and care for those in crisis. Some of the content within this episode is detailed and explicit.

Laura is joined by Maggie Cook, an expert in this field. They discuss Maggie’s pioneering work at Facebook and her move to Door Dash (all opinions are her own). They talk about their experiences collaborating in an effort to mitigate harm to employees as a result of exposure to traumatic content. Maggie offers listeners powerful advice on how to know when it’s time to go and shares a grounding tenet that if we’re facing something hard, we definitely shouldn’t do it alone. Any of us who engage with anything online - ever - owe Maggie and her colleagues our gratitude.

To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.

We are taking a few weeks off the grid. Hoping you enjoy these episodes from the archives.

This week Laura talks with her friend and colleague Matt Reddam. Matt is a survivor of complex childhood trauma and now works with children, families, schools and systems in a variety of roles. He lives in Butte County which experienced the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history. Matt shares his belief that creating connection – even when there are differences and divisions – is the key to moving forward, healing and rebuilding oneself and one’s community. They discuss the importance of normalizing conversations about overwhelm, trauma, and mental health – especially among men and within our educational systems. Matt’s abiding sense of humor, authenticity, and hopefulness is a reminder for us all of what is possible, even in the aftermath of the unthinkable.
To learn more about Future Tripping, Laura’s work, and The Trauma Stewardship Institute, or to email a question you'd like Laura and her guests to respond to, please click here, or call 360-228-5804 anytime and leave us a voicemail. And you can find us on Instagram here.