Africa Brooke tackles the intricate topics of self-censorship and self-sabotage in this thought-provoking episode. Along with Dr. Stephanie, Africa delves into the internal conflicts that prevent us from speaking our truths, both online and offline.

This engaging conversation covers the importance of questioning over answering, the biological roots of conformity, and the dangers of cancel culture. Africa Brooke’s eloquent insights on the power of voice and nonverbal communication will inspire you to find and express your true self.

Episode Overview:
0:00 Intro/Teaser
1:30 Unpacking Self-Censorship and Self-Sabotage
4:51 The Impact of "Leaving the Cult of Wokeness"
7:53 The Dangers of Self-Censorship
10:13 The Complexity of Speaking Up
12:14 The Intricacies of Fear and Conformity
14:28 The Importance of Diversity of Thought
17:21 The Facade of Surface-Level Diversity
19:01 Recognizing Diversity of Thought
24:37 Navigating Demands for Opinions
26:13 Balancing Understanding and Expertise
29:48 Allowing Space for Understanding
33:14 Biology of Conformity
34:45 Real Consequences of Speaking Up
35:20 Conformity and Belonging
49:12 Success Through Failure
1:01:18 The Power of Voice
1:06:44 Shedding Old Beliefs
1:09:43 Compassion for Past Selves

Resources mentioned in this episode:
An open letter: why I'm leaving the cult of wokeness by Africa Brooke - https://ckarchive.com/b/d0ueh0h67mpd
Africa’s previous appearance on Better! https://youtu.be/A72IZCwPDX8
A change of heart toward Jordan Peterson https://youtu.be/v8v7ueICWuU
Find out more about Africa at https://africabrooke.com/

Bio:
Africa Brooke is a globally recognized consultant, mentor, and speaker. She specializes in helping people in and out of the public eye navigate personal and professional challenges relating to self-sabotage and self-censorship.

We are grateful to our sponsors:

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Dr. Emma Seppälä is a renowned author and psychologist from Yale and Stanford University she delves into the concepts of intuition, emotional and mental sovereignty, and how to liberate ourselves from societal and self-imposed constraints. Along with Dr. Stephanie, they discuss the impact of trauma, self-loathing vs. self-compassion, intrinsic worthiness, and methods for deprogramming negative imprints through gratitude, breathwork, meditation, and forgiveness. This episode offers valuable advice, especially for women navigating perimenopause and menopause, on managing stress and reclaiming their intuitive strength. Tune in for an enlightening conversation aimed at improving your relationship with yourself and enhancing emotional well-being.

Episode Overview:
0:00 Intro/Teaser
1:27 Guest Introduction: Dr. Emma Seppälä
4:24 Exploring Emotional Sovereignty
5:24 Impact of Self-Criticism and Self-Loathing
7:11 The Power of Self-Compassion
8:11 Claiming Sovereignty Through Self-Love
11:28 Steps to Deprogram Self-Loathing
14:40 Overcoming Shame Through Awareness
18:03 Transitioning from Self-Criticism to Self-Awareness
22:53 Harnessing the Therapeutic Power of Breathwork
30:14 The Healing Potential of Breathing
31:28 Unveiling Trauma Imprints Through Triggers
34:44 The Power of a Clean House
36:11 Victimhood and Self-Perpetration
38:01 The Story of a Resilient Veteran
47:32 The Wisdom of Forgiveness
48:28 Positive Relational Energy in Action
49:47 Trusting Your Intuition
1:02:41 Strengthening Your Intuition Muscle

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Seppälä's latest book, SOVEREIGN: Reclaim Your Freedom, Energy, and Power in a Time of Distraction, Uncertainty, and Chaos - https://www.hayhouse.com/sovereign-ebook

Breathing-Based Meditation Decreases Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in U.S. Military Veterans: A Randomized Controlled Longitudinal Study - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265091197

Breathing Technique Shown Effective For Trauma - https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/feeling-it/202209/breathing-technique-shown-effective-trauma

Should I Go With My Gut? Investigating the Benefits of Emotion-Focused Decision Making - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51189959

Bio:

Dr. Emma Seppälä, a psychologist and researcher with dual appointments at Yale and Stanford, draws on ground-breaking new research from psychology, neuroscience, and leadership science, Dr. Seppälä introduces the new concept of “psychological sovereignty” to help people reclaim agency in every area of their life. Her book, Sovereign, offers a framework made for these times of uncertainty and anxiety. Find out more at https://www.iamsov.com/

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Alyssa Ages and Dr. Stephanie join forces to unravel the complex narratives surrounding strength training, challenging societal norms that equate health with thinness and worthiness with smallness. They explore the transformative power of strength training beyond physical appearance, touching upon its role in cultivating grit, reshaping our relationship with failure, and fostering courage and confidence.

With refreshing candor, Alyssa confronts stereotypes and redefines notions of "bulky," advocating for a paradigm shift towards embracing strength and taking up space. This episode invites listeners to reconsider what it means to be powerful, vital, and worthy after 40, igniting a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

Episode Overview:
0:00 Intro/Teaser
1:24 Unveiling Strength Training Narratives
3:03 Personal Evolution and Resilience
6:17 Trusting Your Body Through Trauma
11:07 Embracing Strength and Self-Reflection
15:09 Holding Multiple Truths
18:04 Lifting Through Trauma: A Lifeline
22:31 Mastery and Mental Health Benefits
28:31 Lessons in Handling Failure
30:09 Embracing Failure
42:09 Overcoming Fear of Failure
51:17 Strength for the Future
53:23 Redefining Body Image
58:06 Strength and Courage
59:22 Lessons from the Fringe

Resources mentioned in the episode:
Alyssa's Book: https://www.alyssaages.com/book
Pumping Iron 2: the Women: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089852/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/alyssaages
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyssaages1

Bio:
Alyssa Ages is the author of Secrets of Giants: A Journey to Uncover the True Meaning of Strength. She is a journalist whose work has appeared in GQ, ELLE, SELF, The Globe and Mail, Wired, Parents, and others. Find out more at https://www.alyssaages.com

We are grateful to our sponsors:

EIGHT SLEEP

The EightSleep Pod4 Ultra is proven to give you up to one more hour of sleep every night, reduce your snoring effortlessly by up to 32%, and give you 34% more deep sleep. So head over to https://eightsleep.com/better and use code BETTER to get $350 off the Pod4 Ultra.

BIOPTIMIZERS MAGNESIUM BREAKTHROUGH

If you want to get all your magnesium in one supplement, you will love Magnesium Breakthrough. Each supplement itself is 500 milligrams of magnesium, which I feel is such a great dosage as a baseline for most women. So head on over to https://bioptimizers.com/better and use code BETTER for 10% off of any order, but make sure that the Magnesium Breakthrough is in your cart.

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