Reconnecting to Our Roots: Indigenous Wisdom, Colonialism, and Hope for the Next Generation

The Journey That Shaped a Sexologist

Mahmoud Baydoun is no stranger to being in the spotlight.Before becoming a respected sexologist, educator, and advocate, Mahmoud appeared on reality television in Brazil, including *Big Brother Brasil* and *No Limite* (the Brazilian version of *Survivor*). Yet his most transformative journey happened after the cameras stopped rolling.In this episode of *Insight*, Mahmoud reflects on growing up in a family connected to the brothel industry and how those early experiences sparked a lifelong curiosity about sex, relationships, and human behavior. He also shares what it was like navigating his identity as a gay Brazilian of Lebanese descent, the challenges and opportunities that came with public visibility, and how he built a meaningful career helping others better understand sexuality.Together, we explore the intersections of culture, sexuality, education, and media, as well as what Mahmoud learned when platforms disappeared and he had to learn how to become his own.In this episode, we discuss:* Growing up around conversations about sex and desire* The realities of life after reality television* Navigating identity as a gay Brazilian of Lebanese descent* Building a career in sexology and sexual health education* What happens when your platform is taken away* The importance of owning your voice and your storyConnect with Mahmoud Baydoun:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoudbaydoun/---Subscribe to Justin G. CobbGet new episodes, essays, and reflections delivered directly to your inbox through the Justin G. Cobb newsletter on Substack:https://justingcobb.substack.com/---**The Insight Prompt Pack**Looking to go deeper? The *Insight Prompt Pack* is now available for digital download. Featuring reflection prompts inspired by conversations from the podcast, this resource is designed to help you deepen your self-awareness, challenge assumptions, and support you in building your platform.Download your copy here:https://justingcobb.gumroad.com/l/insightpromptpack---*Insight* is hosted by Justin G. Cobb and explores the ideas, stories, and experiences shaping our world. Through thoughtful conversations with leaders, artists, organizers, educators, and everyday people, we seek deeper understanding in an age of noise.

Reconnecting to Our Roots: Indigenous Wisdom, Colonialism, and Hope for the Next Generation

Work with Justin: https://calendar.app.google/mqPi2rRiGgEPQppy8 Insight Prompt Pack: https://justingcobb.gumroad.com/l/insightpromptpack Reconnecting to Our Roots: Indigenous Wisdom, Colonialism, and Hope for the Next Generation What does it mean to rediscover who we are in a world shaped by colonialism, disconnection, and environmental crisis? In this episode of Insight with Justin G. Cobb, I sit down with Dr. Stephanie Little Hawk-Big Crow, who reflects on what she learned about being Indigenous while growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation and the journey that followed when she left the Rez to pursue her education. Dr. Little Hawk-Big Crow shares how stepping into Western institutions revealed a deep sense of emptiness she encountered among many people disconnected from their land, culture, and community. Together, we explore the lasting impact of colonialism— not only on Indigenous communities, but also on our relationship with the Earth itself. Our conversation moves through difficult truths about environmental destruction and climate change while also pointing toward a powerful source of hope: a new generation rediscovering the wisdom of their ancestors and reconnecting with the planet we all depend on. This episode is an invitation to reflect on identity, belonging, responsibility, and the possibility of healing our relationship with the land— and with each other. ⸻ In This Episode • Growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation and learning what it means to be Indigenous • Leaving the Rez to pursue higher education and encountering Western cultural disconnection • The devastating environmental impacts of colonialism and climate change • Reconnecting with our roots, our communities, and the natural world • The hope Dr. Little Hawk-Big Crow sees in the next generation of leaders ⸻ Listen to the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1yBsN5aoDtK4OYIu40OtaL Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insight-with-justin-g-cobb/id1874793607 Substack: https://substack.com/@justingcobb ⸻ Work With Me If this conversation resonates with you and you’re looking for support in your own journey of growth, clarity, or leadership, here are a few ways we can work together: Clarity Call Schedule a one-on-one conversation to explore where you are and what your next steps might be. https://calendar.app.google/mqPi2rRiGgEPQppy8 Refinement Session A deeper session designed to help you refine your ideas, message, and direction.  https://calendar.app.google/7Tb5Nh5tVLjwy3is9 Insight Prompt Pack A powerful collection of reflection prompts designed to help you unlock clarity and transformation. Order here: https://justingcobb.gumroad.com/l/insightpromptpack ⸻ Subscribe to Insight with Justin G. Cobb Join a growing global community exploring leadership, transformation, and the stories shaping our world. Substack: https://substack.com/@justingcobb LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justingcobb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justingcobb/ ⸻ About the Host Justin G. Cobb is the founder of Small Seeds Media and the creator of Insight with Justin G. Cobb, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of changemakers, community leaders, and visionaries working to build a more just and connected world.

The Cost of Disappointment, Code-Switching and Choosing Your Voice with LeRon Barton

The Cost of Disappointment, Code-Switching, and Choosing Your Voice | LeRon Barton LeRon Barton— 4x TED Speaker, equity consultant, and writer—returns to Insight for a powerful conversation on disappointment and how it shapes the process of becoming. In this episode, LeRon reflects on moments of disillusionment and how they’ve clarified his values, voice, and sense of purpose. We explore the emotional and psychological toll of code-switching, what it means to remain authentic in spaces that demand performance, and how travel— particularly backpacking through Central America— helped him reconnect with truth and self-trust. This is a conversation about choosing honesty over approval and understanding disappointment not as failure, but as an essential teacher. Insight Foundations is my 1:1 coaching container supporting founders and creators navigating transition, burnout, and moments of deep questioning. This space is designed for those reassessing direction, identity, or leadership— and who want to move forward with greater clarity and intention. 🔗 Learn more + book a Clarity Call [https://calendar.app.google/EPvkzKq94cSVZp3h9] Justin’s new book is now available on Gumroad. The book expands on many of the themes explored in Insight—including becoming, visibility, leadership, and the courage to live in alignment with your truth. 🔗 Buy the book here: Gumroad [https://justingcobb.gumroad.com/?_gl=1*1fydbqi*_ga*MTU5NjkzMzg3LjE3NjU0MDExODk.*_ga_6LJN6D94N6*czE3NjU0MDExODkkbzEkZzEkdDE3NjU0MDM5MTMkajU5JGwwJGgw] 🌱 Work with Justin — Insight Foundations📘 New Book by Justin G. Cobb To connect and learn more about LeRon Barton you can do so: On His Website [https://leronbarton.com/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@MainlinePub] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/leronlbarton] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leron-barton/]

From the Matrix to the Medicine: Violeta Orowingsas on Collapse, Healing, and Expansion

In this episode of Insight with Justin G. Cobb, I’m joined by Violeta Orowingsas—a French expat, former DMV resident, and former French diplomat to Brazil—where she now resides as a Travel Wellness Specialist and holistic health practitioner. Violeta shares her journey from life inside the “Matrix”— a world shaped by status, systems, and external expectations— into a profound period of collapse that brought her to her knees and ultimately redirected her toward healing. What began as crisis became initiation, leading her to train in ancient Mongolian healing traditions and to radically reimagine what health, success, and alignment truly mean. Together, we explore what it looks like to step away from inherited definitions of achievement, listen to the body when it demands change, and rebuild a life rooted in wholeness rather than performance. Violeta also offers grounded guidance for those standing at a threshold, sharing reflections on how we can enter 2026 with growth, expansion, and integrity— without bypassing the work of healing. This conversation is for anyone who has felt the quiet (or not-so-quiet) call to slow down, realign, and choose a life that is sustainable, embodied, and deeply their own.

Anthony Ware II: From Burnout to Holistic Financial Wealth

In this episode, I talk with Anthony Ware II, Founder of RevUpHR, about his journey from burnout to reclaiming his health— and how that path led him to help others do the same. Anthony shares how he supports HR leaders with tools to create healthier workplaces and equips millennials with practical strategies for financial wellness. This conversation is all about the work, the health, and the money habits that help us thrive— without burning out along the way.