In this episode, Monica and Libby kick off a new season with a playful conversation about their journeys of unbecoming and the transformative power of pilgrimage.

They discuss the importance of pleasure, rest, and play, and by embracing these aspects, we can redefine success and create space in our lives to express new values and reach new states of illumination, peace, and wholeness. They delve into the challenges of pursuing desires despite societal expectations, family responsibilities, and internalized patriarchal voices that hinder self-approval.

Monica shares a bit about her pilgrimage to Crete, a 16-day goddess pilgrimage filled with rich cultural experiences. They explore the significance of taking “unreasonable” amounts of time off, breaking free from societal expectations, and reorienting themselves to new realities upon return.

The podcast also delves into the power of sisterhood, the power of witness, and the longings to be in supportive and courageous practices with other women. These are the most beneficial for befriending the nervous system, embracing all parts of the Self, and creating new life possibilities.

If you resonate with UNBECOMING then follow this invitation to self-discovery and transformation; visit jointherevelation.com/unbecoming to schedule a free call and embark on your untangling of patriarchal patterns that keep you stuck in the “box” of conformity.

Topics discussed:

• The transformative power of pilgrimages
• Redefining success through pleasure, rest, and play
• Overcoming societal expectations and internalized patriarchal voices
• Embracing rest and taking time off as a birthright
• The power of humor and desire
• Creating sisterhood spaces for self-discovery and growth

Special Guest: Libby Bunten.

Sponsored By:

• Unbecoming Fall 2023: UNBECOMING: Break the bullshit rules to transcend good girl programming & reveal the truth of who you are.​

Support The Revelation Project

Links:

• Enter the Giveaway!
• Unbecoming — Now Enrolling
• Ariadne's thread (logic) - Wikipedia

In this episode, I dive into a deep and nourishing conversation with Sarah Marshank author of Being Selfish and Selfistry: A Guide to Embodying Timeless Spiritual Wisdom. We talk about her own journey from escort to monk to spiritual guide, and what she discovered about what it takes to become an authentic, grounded, creative and integrated being in these challenging times. Join us as she reveals her path tol deep spirituality without the dogma, and discover how to "listen for the genius in the room” as we practice how to become wisely selfish so that we can cultivate the deep wisdom that always sits waiting for us in the depths of the darkness.

"Studies estimate nearly 25% of the world’s population does not ascribe to any religion and roughly 25% of people in the US consider themselves “spiritual but not religious.”

Many of these people are searching for a life of integrity amid an increasingly polarized global landscape filled with religious extremism, political turmoil, and environmental uncertainty. Disillusioned but seeking to contribute to the well-being of the planet, many are finding guidance in emergent integrative systems that develop all aspects of the modern human: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social. “Selfistry” is one of those systems that offers a unique and simple approach.

“Selfistry” offers a fresh take on embodying authentic spiritual principles. It is an innovative and integrative framework for self-reflection-an opportunity for the genuinely curious to reconsider their relationship with themselves and the cosmos.”

Sarahs Marshank Bio
Sarah Marshank is the founder of Selfistry, an integrative system for mastering the art of being human. She is the author of the award winning memoir Being Self-ish: My Journey from Escort to Monk to Grandmother, where she tells the story of her decade in spiritual retreat. She is also the author of Selfistry: A Guide to Embodying Timeless Spiritual Wisdom. Her teachings weave together spirituality, psychology, and neuroscience in an innovative way — integrating Eastern and Western philosophies with meditative and somatic practices. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sarah teaches and speaks internationally, consults for organizations, and works one-on-one with individuals. When not sharing Selfistry, you might find her walking along the beach, shopping at the local farmer's market with her husband, or making art with her granddaughters.

*The topics we cover in this episode: *
00:03 Introduction and Welcome
00:26 Guest Introduction: Sarah Marshank
02:57 Exploring the Power of Female Collaboration
03:27 The Importance of Partnership and Trust
04:17 Overcoming the Sisterhood Wound
04:32 The Power of Women in Partnership
04:45 The Art of Being Human
05:28 The Role of Women in Times of Crisis
06:59 The Emergence of Wise Elders
14:50 The Importance of Slowing Down
23:02 The Journey of Self Discovery
37:45 The Power of Emptiness and Fullness
41:16 The Artistry of Life
42:32 Embracing Your True Self
43:12 Breaking Free from Societal Expectations
43:28 Invitation to Join the Unbecoming Coaching Circle
44:09 Exploring the Fear of Self-Reflection
45:15 Understanding the Trance of Self-Doubt
45:38 The Power of Self-Inquiry
46:06 The Journey to Self-Understanding
46:54 The Importance of a Guide in Self-Discovery
48:07 The Artistry of Self-Realization
48:41 Embracing Simplicity and Connection
49:24 Reorienting Our Relationships and Conversations
49:46 The Power of Presence and Self-Consideration
51:24 The Witness: A Tool for Self-Understanding
51:44 The Role of Fear in Self-Discovery
55:03 The Power of Community in Self-Discovery
55:55 The Wisdom of Embracing Both Light and Darkness
01:06:08 The Role of Sisterhood in Scaling Self-Discovery
01:14:29 The Power of Storytelling in Self-Discovery
01:20:39 The Journey from Escort to Monk to Grandmother
01:21:53 Invitation to Join Selfistry Retreats
01:22:50 Conclusion and Invitation to Connect

Special Guest: Sarah Marshank.

Sponsored By:

• Unbecoming Winter 2024: UNBECOMING: Break the bullshit rules to transcend good girl programming & reveal the truth of who you are.​

Support The Revelation Project

Links:

• The Revelation Project Episode 102: Perdita Finn and Clark Strand - The Way Of The Rose The Radical Path...

"Diets don’t work—and it’s not your fault. As a culture, we’re told (and tell ourselves) that if we just lost the weight—tried a little harder, had a little more willpower, or deprived ourselves for a little bit longer—we’d be happier, healthier, and more desirable. But it’s just not true."

I loved this conversation with Dr. Alexis Conason, who sheds light on diet culture to help us understand some of the myths that we have been taught about weight, health, value, and self-worth.

The Diet-Free Revolution debunks the myths we’ve been sold about food, nutrition, health, and weight loss and offers an antidote to the pain and suffering caused by yo-yo diets, untenable food regimens, and quick-fixes. Clinical psychologist and eating disorder specialist Alexis Conason shows that finding health, happiness, and real nourishment is about more than changing what, how, or when we eat: it’s about radically shifting our relationship with food by healing our relationship to ourselves. She helps us discover what really nourishes us while teaching us how we can listen to and love our bodies. Enriched with case studies, meditations, stories, lessons, and activities—her 10-step program is a revelation!

In this episode, she tells us about her journey with dieting and the revelation that diets don’t work and that the whole industry is aware of this.

• Learn about her book The Diet-Free Revolution and its impact on people, especially women.
• Reframing dieting and diet “failure” as pervasive aspects of our culture—not individual failures—The Diet-Free Revolution offers an empowering roadmap to healing, self-acceptance, and radical new ways of relating to and loving our bodies
• She shares her WHY in helping women bust the myth about their bodies being “the problem”
• Why mindful eating is key to a weight-inclusive framework
• What motivated her to create her online mindful eating course with The Anti-Diet Plan
• She also shares the number one thing that people can do if they want to heal their relationship with food, including:
• Challenge your assumptions about weight and health
• Find fullness and manage emotional eating
• Embrace your “yum” and tune into taste with mindful eating
• Trust your body to be your guide

Dr. Alexis Conason is a clinical psychologist and certified eating disorder specialist in private practice in New York City. She is the author of The Diet-Free Revolution: 10 Steps to Free Yourself from the Diet Cycle with Mindful Eating and Radical Self-Acceptance (North Atlantic Books, 2021). Alexis is the founder of The Anti-Diet Plan, a weight-inclusive online mindful eating program available worldwide. She was previously a research associate at the New York Nutrition Obesity Research Center affiliated with Columbia University. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, she is a frequent speaker at conferences, and she has been featured widely as an expert on the topics of mindful eating, body image, and diet culture in the media.

A lifelong New Yorker, Conason lives in Manhattan with her husband and two daughters. She loves all things related to food, including cooking, grocery shopping, watching food shows, and of course, eating! But most rewarding is helping her clients transform their relationship with food and experience the joys of eating. She is a fierce advocate for helping people recognize and question the societal norms that encourage their feeling not good enough about themselves to stop fixating on shrinking their bodies and reclaim the space they deserve in the world. You can find her on social media @theantidietplan.

Support The Revelation Project

Links:

• Website: Dr. Conason Psy.D. – Psychologist – Author – Speaker
• Book: The Diet-Free Revolution by Alexis Conason, Psy.D.:PenguinRandomHouse.com:
• The Health at Every Size® (HAES®) Approach - ASDAH
• Facebook: Alexis Conason, Psy.D.
• Instagram: Alexis Conason, Psy.D. (@theantidietplan)

In this eye-opening episode, Monica is joined by Dr. Sarah Buckley, a renowned GP and academic researcher specializing in oxytocin and maternal care. Together, they dive deep into the fascinating world of childbirth, sharing Sarah’s expertise on the physiological and emotional aspects of labor and birth, making for an essential listen for expectant mothers, their partners, and those supporting them.

Sarah sheds light on the biological transformation of women’s bodies in pregnancy and birth. She emphasizes the importance of creating a safe, secure, and unobserved environment during labor to allow the birthing process to unfold. She points to the necessity of understanding that any interventions can create hormonal gaps in the essential feedback loop of hormones that are registered by the mother’s relationship between the brain and her womb and her ability to then bond with her baby, nurse, and more.

Throughout their conversation, you’ll learn about the influence of oxytocin, specifically in labor, and how women can make an informed choice about their birth experiences only when they know and have the proper information. Sarah explains the hormonal gaps that can be created by interventions like epidural use, and c-sections and speaks to how women can close these gaps with knowledge.

This episode challenges the current intervention-heavy focus in modern maternity care and encourages understanding alternative methods like home births, midwifery care, and doulas and why these might be important to consider.

Topics discussed:

• The role of oxytocin in childbirth
• The importance of safety, privacy, and unobserved conditions in labor
• How the hormonal gap affects mothering
• Integrating feminine needs in the birthing process

Entities mentioned:

• Dr. Sarah Buckley
• Personal birthing experiences
• Home births
• Midwifery care
• Doulas
• Epidurals
• Caesareans
• Oxytocin

Special Guest: Dr. Sarah Buckely.

Sponsored By:

• Rockstar Camp for Women: Rockstar Camp is a LIVE somatic experiential learning adventure in a container of Sisterhood. It is not for the faint of heart. It is for you. Confidence, Boldness, and Irresistibility will be forever imprinted in your DNA.

Support The Revelation Project

Links:

• Website: Dr Sarah Buckley
• Hormonal Physiology, Oxytocin and More
• First-time parents - Dr Sarah Buckley
• Facebook
• Instagram: Dr. Sarah Buckley
• Sponsor: Rockstar Camp for Women — Rockstar Camp is a LIVE somatic experiential learning adventure in a container of Sisterhood. It is not for the faint of heart. It is for you. Confidence, Boldness, and Irresistibility will be forever imprinted in your DNA.

This episode was very emotional for me and brought up many memories of my past experience with abuse. I am deeply moved by Shannon’s work and look forward to her upcoming documentary about domestic and emotional abuse called Trapped By Faith.

Abuse in any situation is devastating, but marital abuse has its own elements of crazy-making. Combine this with confusing messages from your faith and it can be soul-crushing. Unfortunately, these messages are still commonplace, and even if your marriage is erosive and dangerous - religious dogma and church doctrine may keep you from leaving a situation that’s not healthy for you or your children.

Emotional abuse is one of the hardest things for most women to identify, especially if the abuse resembles how you were raised and you mistook it for normal or for love.

In this episode, we aim to discuss Shannon’s reason for making this film and to support other women in identifying toxic and abusive situations in their marriage and faith.

• How Shannon’s past shaped the way she works with women
• Learn some of the signs to know if you’re in an abusive marriage
• Hear about how Shannon was able to find the courage to leave
• Shannon talks about her business while being in an abusive marriage and how her business flourished after leaving
• You have the power within you to do ANYTHING you put your mind to and are more powerful and capable than you realize
• There is NEVER a good reason to stay in an abusive relationship, and there is always a way out

Shannon Claire helps entrepreneurial women become unforgettable so they can build a thriving business and life they love without sacrifice.

As a multi-passionate and seasoned entrepreneur of over 16 years, she is a sought-after international brand photographer, a mentor, and
coach for entrepreneurial women transitioning to their next level of success.

Shannon is a mom to 3 teens and a toddler and is soon-to-be-married. She is a beach lover, conversation starter, and eternal optimist.

Support The Revelation Project

Links:

• Instagram - Shannon Claire (@theshannonclaire)
• Website: Shannon Claire