“There’s no reason the other person has to die lonely and feeling isolated or rejected. So I play that small part” with Mike_Episode 26

“The K is for Kind…..I changed my name because of infant circumcision” with Brother K_Episode 27

Please note this episode discusses what culture would consider “challenging” topics, such as genitals, consent, and suicide while using direct, scientific, anatomical language. Similar discussions, similar language, similar topics are widely available online often without this warning; however, as a sign of respect and care, it is worth repeating - listener discretion is advised for the sensitive listener. Brother K was born in Miami in 1947 and grew up in New Orleans. He studied journalism at the University of Illinois, where he earned his degree in 1969. He protested against circumcision at the California State Capital in 1980, a protest that the Associated Press and other media reported locally and across the nation. In 1986 he changed his name to Brother K in California Superior Court, an act of protest against his circumcision at birth. He formed Bloodstained Men in 2012 and has protested in cities from coast to coast. Links to learn more about and connect with Brother K: https://www.bloodstainedmen.com/ [https://www.bloodstainedmen.com/] (with social media links at the bottom of this page) https://www.bloodstainedmen.com/donate/ [https://www.bloodstainedmen.com/donate/] to support their work with donations Papers mentioned: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/130/3/e756/30225/Male-Circumcision [https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/130/3/e756/30225/Male-Circumcision] https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/131/4/796/31907/Cultural-Bias-in-the-AAP-s-2012-Technical-Report [https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/131/4/796/31907/Cultural-Bias-in-the-AAP-s-2012-Technical-Report] Person mentioned: Leonard Glick https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ajs-review/article/abs/marked-in-your-flesh-circumcision-from-ancient-judea-to-modern-america/6DB0C9CB30C01C0622100219DCFBDA4B [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ajs-review/article/abs/marked-in-your-flesh-circumcision-from-ancient-judea-to-modern-america/6DB0C9CB30C01C0622100219DCFBDA4B] https://www.anthropology-news.org/articles/leonard-b-glick/ [https://www.anthropology-news.org/articles/leonard-b-glick/] Legal case mentioned: 2019 Michigan: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2019/09/19/congress-female-genital-mutilation-detroit-michigan-prosecution-doctors/2369275001/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z1199xxe1199xxv003741d--41--b--41--&gca-ft=198&gca-ds=sophi [https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2019/09/19/congress-female-genital-mutilation-detroit-michigan-prosecution-doctors/2369275001/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z1199xxe1199xxv003741d--41--b--41--&gca-ft=198&gca-ds=sophi] https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2019/04/12/feds-abandon-female-genital-mutilation-fight/3445497002/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z1112xxe1112xxv003660d--40--b--40--&gca-ft=172&gca-ds=sophi [https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2019/04/12/feds-abandon-female-genital-mutilation-fight/3445497002/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z1112xxe1112xxv003660d--40--b--40--&gca-ft=172&gca-ds=sophi] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35296812/ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35296812/] Background on female circumcision/FGM in the US (note that Playboy endorsed it in 1973 on their cover): http://www.drmomma.org/2009/09/history-of-female-circumcision-in.html [http://www.drmomma.org/2009/09/history-of-female-circumcision-in.html] Related resources: https://www.yourwholebaby.org/ [https://www.yourwholebaby.org/] An organization that offers education and support for parents https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ud-cTDfKd8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ud-cTDfKd8] A lecture by Dr. Ryan McAllister https://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/ [https://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/] Doctors Opposing Circumcision, an organization for professionals and parents https://tlctugger.com/ [https://tlctugger.com/] For those curious about a foreskin restoration device https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-biosocial-science/article/abs/ageincidence-and-prevalence-of-hiv-among-intact-and-circumcised-men-an-analysis-of-phia-surveys-in-southern-africa/CAA7E7BD5A9844F41C6B7CC3573B9E50 [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-biosocial-science/article/abs/ageincidence-and-prevalence-of-hiv-among-intact-and-circumcised-men-an-analysis-of-phia-surveys-in-southern-africa/CAA7E7BD5A9844F41C6B7CC3573B9E50] Study finds no difference in HIV status among circumcised vs intact men in South Africa On religion and tradition: https://intactamerica.org/ethical-debate-behind-circumcision/ [https://intactamerica.org/ethical-debate-behind-circumcision/] On Judaism and circumcision: https://intactamerica.org/rethinking-jewish-circumcision-brit-shalom-as-a-peaceful-intact-alternative/ [https://intactamerica.org/rethinking-jewish-circumcision-brit-shalom-as-a-peaceful-intact-alternative/] (Jewish alternative to circumcision) https://www.yourwholebaby.org/judaism?rq=jewish [https://www.yourwholebaby.org/judaism?rq=jewish] On Islam and circumcision: https://www.yourwholebaby.org/islam?rq=islam [https://www.yourwholebaby.org/islam?rq=islam] https://applications.emro.who.int/dsaf/dsa54.pdf [https://applications.emro.who.int/dsaf/dsa54.pdf] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362248413_'Wounded_religious_masculinities'_Muslim_men's_opposition_against_male_circumcision_in_Turkey [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362248413_'Wounded_religious_masculinities'_Muslim_men's_opposition_against_male_circumcision_in_Turkey] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3516177/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3516177/] On the history of circumcision in the US, early 20th century: https://www.history.com/articles/dr-john-kellogg-cereal-wellness-wacky-sanitarium-treatments [https://www.history.com/articles/dr-john-kellogg-cereal-wellness-wacky-sanitarium-treatments] Check out Brother K’s interview on Tosh 2.0: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyGwCcHLupE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyGwCcHLupE] For transcripts of this show, please email ignitewellbeing.naperville@gmail.com with ‘Transcripts’ in the subject line and/or check your favorite podcast provider, as oftentimes they supply transcription services. If you are interested in book recommendations related to topics discussed, including sexuality and consent, please see Allison's bookshop on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/Ignitewell-being]Purchasing books through Bookshop offers greater support to authors as well as curators, such as Allison. *Please note that the opinions and experiences of those interviewed in this podcast are not necessarily the opinions and experiences of the interviewer. One of the intents of this podcast is to interview a variety of people with a variety of experiences and opinions.* If you are interested in participating in a future podcast, which involves thoughtful, caring, and connecting conversations to encourage proximity and a sense of interconnection, please email ignitewellbeing.naperville@gmail.com with ‘Participate’ in the subject line. To learn more about Ignite Well-being, in the suburbs of Chicago, and/or the host, Allison, please see their website [https://ignitewell-being.com/], Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ignitewellbeing], Substack [https://substack.com/@ignitewellbeingnaperville] or Linktree [https://linktr.ee/ignitewellbeing]. Listeners may schedule with Allison on Calendly. [https://calendly.com/ignitewellbeing-naperville] Deepest bow to the paid supporters on Patreon, who make this work more financially sustainable. Sincere apologies for sound artifacts resulting from impaired WiFi connectivity from a major communications carrier and/or flaws within recording equipment. Thank you to Pixabay and SergePavkinMusic for the song used in the podcast. And thank you to cloudconvert and Audacity for making podcasting more accessible.

“There’s no reason the other person has to die lonely and feeling isolated or rejected. So I play that small part” with Mike_Episode 26

Mike Sawyer is a Jewish father, grandfather, and Vietnam veteran retired from military service, and currently volunteering for hospice, often sitting bedside for other veterans. In this episode, Mike discusses the importance of family, faith, and community, as well as how personal struggles around grief allowed him to sustain capacity to hold vigil. To learn more about death cafes, see https://deathcafe.com/ [https://deathcafe.com/] For transcripts of this show, please email ignitewellbeing.naperville@gmail.com with ‘Transcripts’ in the subject line and/or check your favorite podcast provider, as oftentimes they supply transcription services. If you are interested in book recommendations related to topics discussed, including spirituality, please see Allison's bookshop on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/Ignitewell-being]Purchasing books through Bookshop offers greater support to authors as well as curators, such as Allison. *Please note that the opinions and experiences of those interviewed in this podcast are not necessarily the opinions and experiences of the interviewer. One of the intents of this podcast is to interview a variety of people with a variety of experiences and opinions.* If you are interested in participating in a future podcast, which involves thoughtful, caring, and connecting conversations to encourage proximity and a sense of interconnection, please email ignitewellbeing.naperville@gmail.com with ‘Participate’ in the subject line. To learn more about Ignite Well-being, in the suburbs of Chicago, and/or the host, Allison, please see their website [https://ignitewell-being.com/], Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ignitewellbeing], Substack [https://substack.com/@ignitewellbeingnaperville] or Linktree [https://linktr.ee/ignitewellbeing]. Listeners may schedule with Allison on Calendly. [https://calendly.com/ignitewellbeing-naperville] Deepest bow to the paid supporters on Patreon, who make this work more financially sustainable. Sincere apologies for sound artifacts resulting from impaired WiFi connectivity from a major communications carrier and/or flaws within recording equipment. Thank you to Pixabay and SergePavkinMusic for the song used in the podcast. And thank you to cloudconvert and Audacity for making podcasting more accessible.

"Every single person is God, individualized, walking on the planet" with Awilda_Episode 25

Awilda Rivera empowers people to step into their fullest lives—now. A former law graduate who pivoted from a predictable path after a heart attack at age 26, she blends Certified Success Coaching, bespoke travel curation, and spiritual guidance to create transformational experiences that deliver measurable growth, balance, and joy. Her coaching pairs practical strategy with personal development to convert clarity into sustainable financial and life gains; Artemis World Travel removes the guesswork from meaningful journeys with 15+ years of industry expertise so clients simply pack and show up. Author of Success Math: A Millennial’s Qualitative Approach [https://a.co/d/0gybeJlM], an ordained minister and 7th-generation shaman, she also leads the Diving Awakening Academy—a safe, collaborative space for seekers. Whether clients seek a roadmap to success, a life-changing trip, or spiritual advisement, she brings ethical rigor, heart, and a proven framework to help them claim freedom, direction, and lasting impact. Links to connect with Awilda: www.AwildaRivera.com [http://www.awildarivera.com/] www.ArtemisWorldtravel.com [http://www.artemisworldtravel.com/] Divine Awakening Academy: https://www.skool.com/divine-insight-academdy-7603/about [https://www.skool.com/divine-insight-academdy-7603/about] Bedivinelyawakened@gmail.com [Bedivinelyawakened@gmail.com] For listeners that might be new to the concept of energy healing and universal consciousness, please check out previous Beholden episodes 10, 13, 16, 17, 21, as well as the intermissions . Additionally, while editing this podcast, Allison found an episode with the Telepathy Tapes that might interest the listener - Energy Healing Part 1 [https://thetelepathytapes.com/podcast/the-telepathy-tapes-s2-e8 ] and Part 2 [https://thetelepathytapes.com/podcast/the-telepathy-tapes-s2-e9] For transcripts of this show, please email ignitewellbeing.naperville@gmail.com with ‘Transcripts’ in the subject line and/or check your favorite podcast provider, as oftentimes they supply transcription services. If you are interested in book recommendations related to topics discussed, including spirituality, please see Allison's bookshop on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/Ignitewell-being]Purchasing books through Bookshop offers greater support to authors as well as curators, such as Allison. *Please note that the opinions and experiences of those interviewed in this podcast are not necessarily the opinions and experiences of the interviewer. One of the intents of this podcast is to interview a variety of people with a variety of experiences and opinions.* If you are interested in participating in a future podcast, which involves thoughtful, caring, and connecting conversations to encourage proximity and a sense of interconnection, please email ignitewellbeing.naperville@gmail.com with ‘Participate’ in the subject line. To learn more about Ignite Well-being, in the suburbs of Chicago, and/or the host, Allison, please see their website [https://ignitewell-being.com/], Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ignitewellbeing], Substack [https://substack.com/@ignitewellbeingnaperville], or Linktree [https://linktr.ee/ignitewellbeing]. Listeners may schedule with Allison on Calendly. [https://calendly.com/ignitewellbeing-naperville] Deepest bow to the paid supporters on Patreon, who make this work more financially sustainable. Sincere apologies for sound artifacts resulting from impaired WiFi connectivity from a major communications carrier. Thank you to Pixabay and SergePavkinMusic for the song used in the podcast. And thank you to cloudconvert and Audacity for making podcasting more accessible.

"[A] person who exists deserves the human dignity of every single person. That has to be the North Star." with Qasim_Episode 24

Qasim Rashid is a human rights lawyer, author, and former nominee for U.S. Congress. He received his BSc from the University of Illinois at Chicago, his JD from Richmond Law, and served as a visiting fellow at Harvard University. Qasim’s human rights work includes supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence, representing asylum seekers, and serving as a first responder to global disasters. He has published numerous books, academic law reviews, and articles across the media spectrum in TIME, New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, and USA Today. Qasim is the Founder and President of Just Win, a creator representation firm focused on social justice and human rights. He runs a popular human rights Substack with 177,000 subscribers titled "Let's Address This with Qasim Rashid,” and has more than 2.6 Million total social media followers. You can find him across platforms @QasimRashid. Talk to me: Changing the Narrative on Race, Religion, and Education by Qasim Rashid can be found here [https://www.abebooks.com/9780989397742/Talk-Changing-Narrative-Race-Religion-0989397742/plp]. For the listener wanting to learn more about topics discussed: Articles on racial wealth gap: https://ncrc.org/the-racial-wealth-gap-1992-to-2022/ [https://ncrc.org/the-racial-wealth-gap-1992-to-2022/] https://www.brookings.edu/articles/black-wealth-is-increasing-but-so-is-the-racial-wealth-gap/ [https://www.brookings.edu/articles/black-wealth-is-increasing-but-so-is-the-racial-wealth-gap/] https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/racist-history-wealth-gap-redlining-maps/ [https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/racist-history-wealth-gap-redlining-maps/] Articles on incarceration, police brutality, and race https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7331505/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7331505/] https://www.nacdl.org/Content/Race-and-Policing [https://www.nacdl.org/Content/Race-and-Policing] https://naacp.org/resources/criminal-justice-fact-sheet [https://naacp.org/resources/criminal-justice-fact-sheet] https://lawlibguides.sandiego.edu/policekillingsandassaults [https://lawlibguides.sandiego.edu/policekillingsandassaults] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9540942/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9540942/] https://www.prisonpolicy.org/research/racial_and_ethnic_disparities/ [https://www.prisonpolicy.org/research/racial_and_ethnic_disparities/] For those that prefer watching vs reading information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_(film) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_(film)] Books mentioned in the podcast: Quaking of America by Resmaa Menakem [https://bookshop.org/a/14115/9781949481747] Radical as root or foundation, see the book The Conversation by Robert Livingston [https://bookshop.org/a/14115/9780593238561] For transcripts of this show, please email ignitewellbeing.naperville@gmail.com with ‘Transcripts’ in the subject line and/or check your favorite podcast provider, as oftentimes they supply transcription services. If you are interested in book recommendations related to topics discussed, including emotional and social intelligence and anti-racism, please see Allison's bookshop on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/Ignitewell-being]Purchasing books through Bookshop offers greater support to authors as well as curators, such as Allison. *Please note that the opinions and experiences of those interviewed in this podcast are not necessarily the opinions and experiences of the interviewer. One of the intents of this podcast is to interview a variety of people with a variety of experiences and opinions.* If you are interested in participating in a future podcast, which involves thoughtful, caring, and connecting conversations to encourage proximity and a sense of interconnection, please email ignitewellbeing.naperville@gmail.com with ‘Participate’ in the subject line. To learn more about Ignite Well-being, in the suburbs of Chicago, and/or the host, Allison, please see their website [https://ignitewell-being.com/], Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ignitewellbeing], Substack [https://substack.com/@ignitewellbeingnaperville], or Linktree [https://linktr.ee/ignitewellbeing]. Listeners may schedule with Allison on Calendly. [https://calendly.com/ignitewellbeing-naperville] Deepest bow to the paid supporters on Patreon, who make this work more financially sustainable. Sincere apologies for sound artifacts resulting from impaired WiFi connectivity from a major communications carrier. Thank you to Pixabay and SergePavkinMusic for the song used in the podcast. And thank you to cloudconvert and Audacity for making podcasting more accessible.

" The stigma against receiving help with some mental challenges is terrible, and we need to stop that" with Beverly_Episode 23

Beverly Trafton is a woman of trans experience, living in the western suburbs of Chicago. She is a licensed electrologist and owns her own business, Transcendent Electrolysis [https://www.transcendentelectrolysis.com/], where she is open to serving all but centers her care for trans and gender diverse folk. In this podcast, she discusses more about her mental health journey, including partial hospitalization program (PHP) and the use of therapeutic ketamine. We also discuss the individualization of mental illness (ie pathologizing the individual) verses considering how relationship and community can contribute to or manufacture illness. Content awareness: we discuss mental health challenges and trauma. These topics might be difficult for folks. If you are in a mental health crisis, please seek out the care of a trained mental healthcare provider, and/or please consider reaching out to The Trevor Project (which specializes in suicide prevention for LGBTQIA+ folks; if you are not LGBTQIA+ but have funds you wish to use to support those in crisis, please consider donating to The Trevor Project). Additionally, we discuss the therapeutic use of ketamine.We are not advocating for that use for individual listeners. If you are interested in the use of therapeutic or medical substances for your personal mental health journey, please seek out the assistance of a trained medical provider. For more information on ketamine therapy, please see this link [https://join.journeyclinical.com/ketamine-assisted-psychotherapy] For more information on trauma and the body, please see the works of Resmaa Menakem [https://resmaa.com/], Gabor Mate [https://drgabormate.com/], Judith Lewis Herman, Zhenevere Sophia Dao, [https://www.zheneveresophiadao.com/] and Emily Nakoski [https://www.emilynagoski.com/] as incredibly starting points. For more information on trans folk, please see the WPATH [https://wpath.org/]; Trans Bodies, Trans Selves [http://transbodies.com/]; GSRD model [https://www.bacp.co.uk/media/22810/bacp-gender-sexual-relationship-diversity-gpacp001-mar23.pdf]; Dean Spade’s work [https://www.deanspade.net/]; AASECT [https://www.aasect.org/] as a resource for folks wishing to speak to a sexuality health professional. Interested in listening to Beverly’s first episode?, here’s the link [https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/18d79157-8ab7-4f49-8d88-b770a455bc63/Beholden-Episode-1-with-Beverly-converted.mp3]. For transcripts of this show, please email ignitewellbeing.naperville@gmail.com with ‘Transcripts’ in the subject line and/or check your favorite podcast provider, as oftentimes they supply transcription services. If you are interested in book recommendations related to topics discussed, including sexuality, please see Allison's bookshop on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/Ignitewell-being]Purchasing books through Bookshop offers greater support to authors as well as curators, such as Allison. *Please note that the opinions and experiences of those interviewed in this podcast are not necessarily the opinions and experiences of the interviewer. One of the intents of this podcast is to interview a variety of people with a variety of experiences and opinions.* If you are interested in participating in a future podcast, which involves thoughtful, caring, and connecting conversations to encourage proximity and a sense of interconnection, please email ignitewellbeing.naperville@gmail.com with ‘Participate’ in the subject line. To learn more about Ignite Well-being, in the suburbs of Chicago, and/or the host, Allison, please see their website [https://ignitewell-being.com/], Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ignitewellbeing], Substack [https://substack.com/@ignitewellbeingnaperville], or Linktree [https://linktr.ee/ignitewellbeing]. Listeners may schedule with Allison on Calendly. [https://calendly.com/ignitewellbeing-naperville] Deepest bow to the paid supporters on Patreon, who make this work more financially sustainable. Sincere apologies for sound artifacts resulting from impaired WiFi connectivity from a major communications carrier. Thank you to Pixabay and SergePavkinMusic for the song used in the podcast. And thank you to cloudconvert and Audacity for making podcasting more accessible.