Healer by Day, Feral Rave Goblin by Night: Meet Tara Carlson
This week on Certifiably Feral, we’re joined by the one and only, self-proclaimed feral rave goblin, Tara Carlson… and honestly, that might be the most accurate title we’ve ever heard.
Tara is one of the most multifaceted humans we know. By day, she’s a speech and language pathologist doing deeply impactful work with the autism community, supporting communication, empowerment, and connection. Her path has also led her into the world of MNRI (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration), bringing powerful nervous system healing work to both children and adults.
Grounded. Compassionate. Devoted. And also… Wild. Expansive. Fully expressed.
Because outside of her professional world, Tara steps into an entirely different kind of medicine… the world of ecstatic dance, rave culture, and unapologetic self-expression. In this episode, Tara gives us an inside look at rave culture in a way you’ve probably never heard before. We talk about the freedom of movement, the release of identity, the sense of belonging, and the deeply human need to be witnessed exactly as you are… sweaty, sparkly, feral, and alive.
What might look chaotic from the outside is, in many ways, a form of collective healing, nervous system release, and community connection. We explore the duality of being both grounded and wild, the importance of play, and what it means to create spaces where people can safely unravel and come back home to themselves.
Tara embodies the paradox so many of us are learning to hold… You can be deeply professional and wildly free. You can hold others in healing and still let yourself be completely untamed. This conversation is equal parts fascinating, hilarious, and unexpectedly profound.
In this episode we explore:
• What it means to be a “feral rave goblin” (and why we’re obsessed)
• Tara’s work as a speech and language pathologist in the autism community
• MNRI and nervous system healing for both kids and adults
• The world of rave culture and ecstatic dance as spaces of freedom and expression
• Movement, music, and altered states as forms of release and connection
• The intersection of healing, play, and being fully alive
Whether you’ve never stepped foot in a rave or you’re already barefoot on the dance floor, this episode might just expand your understanding of what the nuances of healing and community can look like.
Find Tara on Instagram @ Tara.L.Carlson to see what she's up to and how you can join in!
About us:
Amanda Barron is a licensed mental health therapist who blends traditional therapy with somatic processing, past-life regression hypnosis, and craniosacral energy work. She’s a mom to two adult kids, Jackson and Macy, and married to a pretty cool dude named Josh.
Keli Budinich is a certified coach focused on somatic healing and spirituality. Through her business, Love Medicine, she weaves intuitive guidance with grounded presence to help clients feel seen, witnessed, and empowered in their healing journeys. She’s a mom to two adult children, Murielle (Elle) and Jordan, and has spent 20 years navigating the world of neurodivergent and autism parenting. She’s been married to her favorite idiot, Jim, for 23 years.
Together, Amanda and Keli are building a community of wild and feral woman-identifying people, and some badass men too. They create spaces for authentic connection, deep listening, and being fully human together. They host workshops, retreats, and community events, mostly together, because honestly, it’s way more fun that way.
Want to connect? Email certifiablyferal@gmail.com and follow @certifiablyferal on Instagram, plus our personal accounts @amandabarronforrest and @kelibudinich
