#9 – Connection Is My Medicine with Amer Ameen

#9 – Connection Is My Medicine with Amer Ameen

What if connection was as essential as food and water? In this heart-opening conversation, Brien sits down with Amer Ameen — a man who has spent 50 days in silent meditation, volunteered for five years on a suicide hotline, helped scale a crypto company to 35 countries, and lived in intentional communities from Burning Man to the mountains of British Columbia. They explore the life-changing power of authentic human connection, the lessons Amer learned supporting people in crisis, and the transformative impact of rituals, presence, and chosen family. From the origins of West Nest to practical steps for building community in your own life, this episode is a reminder that we are meant to live — and thrive — together. Tune in to discover: * Why loneliness is at the root of so much suffering * The difference between offering solutions and truly listening * How rituals can deepen friendships and create lasting bonds * Simple ways to bring more connection into your daily life Where you can find Amer: https://www.instagram.com/amer.experiences/ [https://www.instagram.com/amer.experiences/] https://x.com/amer__ameen [https://x.com/amer__ameen] https://amer.substack.com/ [https://amer.substack.com/] https://soundcloud.com/brothers-ameen [https://soundcloud.com/brothers-ameen] ----------------------------------------- https://www.qimovements.com/ https://imoveclinic.com/ https://neurokinetictherapy.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 – Cold open & episode setup Brief overview of Amer, connection as “vital,” and the episode’s promise. 01:21 – Welcome to The Key Movements Podcast On location in Cabbagetown; setting the scene and bringing Dre in. 01:42 – Dre’s affirmation “Connection is my medicine…” — opening intention for the show. 02:13 – Why Amer for this topic Brien tees up Amer’s background and why he embodies connection. 03:12 – Amer reacts to the intro First banter and shared origin story; Castle Gar airport meet. 04:25 – Volunteering on a suicide hotline: the “why” Amer’s friend’s bipolar diagnosis, time in the psych ward, and perspective shift. 07:16 – What the psych ward taught Amer Mental health reality, empathy expansion, and life priorities re-aligned. 11:33 – Big active-listening lesson Don’t offer solutions unless asked; helping people find their own answers. 13:39 – Layers of connection & self-connection Curiosity, openness to experience, and traveling as catalysts. 16:23 – “Am I on the right path?” Reflection practices: journaling, meditation, honest body check-ins. 18:01 – Wayfinding through experiences Try things (monastery, Burning Man, hotline, crypto), then reflect. 20:34 – West Nest origin story From COVID invitation to multi-month co-living: chosen family in the mountains. 27:15 – Brien & Dre’s first West Nest House rituals, Monday meetings, and the shared-chef dinner flow. 28:39 – Food, cold plunges & early mornings Playful competition in the kitchen; Brien all-in on the plunge. 29:35 – Ad: Aspire Performance Consulting Mindset coaching spot. 30:25 – Why community lifts baseline happiness Like-minded proximity vs. isolation; alignment matters. 32:35 – Biology, tribes, and immune benefits Connection as health; loneliness as stress. 34:13 – First steps to more connection “Warm, real connection” relieves pain; small starts matter. 35:13 – Hotline pattern: loneliness underneath Across backgrounds, acute loneliness was the common thread. 37:07 – As essential as food or water Why connection is survival-level for humans. 37:45 – Naming the modern isolation problem Nuclear families, convenience tech, and default individualism. 40:44 – Relationships predict happiness Long-running study takeaway; optimize for people, not just money. 42:10 – Practicals: live close if you can Neighbors, open doors, spontaneous lunches/walks. 43:20 – Weekly rituals that remove planning friction Thursday park hangs; “Round Table” monthly dinner with shared readings. 45:15 – Put connection on the calendar Habits with friends; schedule the next one before you leave. 46:56 – Call people (don’t just text) Five minutes on the phone > five minutes of logistics texts. 47:42 – Distant-friend rituals Weekly standing calls; phone is lower-friction than video. 49:19 – Feeling supported unlocks authenticity When held by others, you can be yourself—and everyone benefits. 50:11 – “Social health” as a pillar Treat relationships like training/sunlight/nutrition. 50:47 – Make it easier for others to join Be the inviter; design on-ramps for newcomers. 51:58 – Shout-out: Adam & the “fourth place” (Pluto) A community space beyond home/work/gym; co-creation as culture. 56:20 – Ad: iMove Physiotherapy Pain, root causes, and real progress. 57:22 – Vulnerability → connection (Brené Brown) Mirroring, safety, and why depth beats time. 59:12 – Environments that deepen fast Retreats/festivals/challenges vs. casual neighborly small talk. 1:00:49 – Choose presence-heavy experiences Phones down; dinners → weekends → weeks together. 1:01:11 – Active listening recap (Amer’s tips) Intention, body language, embrace silence, avoid unsolicited fixes. 1:02:10 – What “moving well” means to Amer Snowboarding for life—high performance without pain. 1:03:38 – What “living well” means to Amer Doing what you love, with people you love, all the time. 1:03:47 – Mission alignment & empowering question “If you stopped guarding your heart, what becomes possible—and what will you do today?” 1:04:39 – Thanks & wrap Gratitude, sign-off, credits.

#8 – Return to the Heart: Sovereignty, Stillness & the Dance of Life with Krista Critchley

Retreat facilitator and spiritual guide Krista Kritchley joins us from Costa Rica to talk transformation that’s lived—not lectured. From addiction and fibromyalgia to leading retreats and community, Krista shares how radical responsibility, nervous-system regulation, and heart-led choices can turn pain into peace. We get into cacao ceremony as a heart-opening practice, psilocybin for healing and integration, why “doing nothing” can be the most productive move, and how to step off the Victim-Villain-Hero triangle. Expect tools you can use today: finding your middle path when the pendulum swings, tuning thoughts/words/behaviors to the same “station,” and practicing compassion without losing boundaries. In this episode: * Saying “yes” to a new life (and manifesting a 7-year plan in 6 months) * Cacao & ceremony (intentions, gratitude, and real-world grounding) * Mushrooms, microdosing, and nervous-system healing * Left/right brain harmony, growth mindset & neuroplasticity * The Four Agreements in practice; life as a mirror * Alchemy: turning triggers into peace; the power of non-engagement * Integration: journaling, community, nature, ecstatic dance https://www.qimovements.com/ [https://www.qimovements.com/] https://imoveclinic.com/ [https://imoveclinic.com/] https://neurokinetictherapy.com/ [https://neurokinetictherapy.com/] Timestamps: * 00:00 Intro & Episode Theme * 01:37 Affirmation: “Wisdom of my heart” * 03:17 Meet Krista Kritchley * 05:06 Seven-Year Plan → Six Months * 06:55 Origin: From burnout to Costa Rica * 08:33 Yoga, meditation, insomnia shift * 11:55 Saying “Yes” during COVID; community * 14:35 What’s a Cacao Ceremony? * 17:03 Water intentions & gratitude * 19:16 Mushrooms, migraines, microdosing * 21:31 Left/Right brain & nervous system * 23:52 The Pendulum & the Middle Way * 25:58 “Do the Opposite” experiment * 27:12 Productive stillness & nature * 32:35 Compassion & the 80/20 rule * 35:03 Reframing sickness as an upgrade * 41:08 Life as mirror; ego triangle * 45:32 The Four Agreements (recap) * 53:25 Music & inputs as medicine * 57:15 Why Peace • Love • Joy * 1:03:38 Alchemy: turning pain into peace * 1:11:16 Integration after ceremony * 1:13:13 Seed of Life invite (Fridays) * 1:15:24 Moving Well / Living Well * 1:18:51 Empowering question & close

#7 – Alignment, Leadership & Life Force with Adam Lewis

What does it really mean to live in alignment with your truth? To lead from your body, not your ego? To feel your life force fully… and follow where it wants to take you? In this expansive and vulnerable episode, Brien sits down with Adam Lewis — co-founder of Man Camp, facilitator of transformational men’s work, and a deep student of plant medicine, myth, and movement. They explore the invisible forces that guide our growth: * How misalignment shows up as burnout, emptiness, or soul fatigue * The role of nervous system awareness, emotional fluency, and ritual in reclaiming vitality * Why vulnerability and shadow work are the gateways to true strength * How to listen to the subtle signals of your body — and make bold decisions from your inner compass * Masculinity, leadership, grief, polarity, and the Hero’s Journey * Plus: what it means to walk away from the “dream job” to follow your soul This is a conversation for anyone navigating transition, craving depth, or seeking a more meaningful way to lead — from within.  Listen now and reconnect with the current of your life force. Timestamps: * 00:00 – Opening — Welcome, Intention & Affirmation * 01:12 – Guest Introduction — Who is Adam Lewis? * 02:49 – Early Spiritual Influences & Awakening * 06:17 – Meaning, Myth & the Hero’s Journey * 14:54 – Dark Night of the Soul & Saturn Return * 17:11 – Vulnerability, Shadow Work & Triggers * 22:39 – Anger, Emotional Energy & Movement * 24:26 – Workshop Insights: Brotherhood, Healing & Expression * 29:00 – Emotional Spectrum & Power of Polarity * 33:09 – Nature, Flow State & Risk * 34:48 – Alignment, Burnout & Mission Clarity * 40:56 – Following Soul Guidance — Quitting the Dream Job * 41:11 – Discovering Purpose & Initiation into Manhood * 47:30 – Masculine Energy, Maturity & Mission * 51:00 – Structure, Devotion & Creating Impact * 54:30 – Building Community, Ritual & Legacy * 57:55 – What It Means to Live Fully & Die Well * 1:01:20 – Closing Reflections & Final Blessing

#6 – Busting Myths: Harmonizing the Pelvic Floor with Kailah Macri

What if everything you thought you knew about the pelvic floor was incomplete—or just plain wrong? In this deeply informative and empowering episode, Brien sits down with Kailah Macri, a compassionate and highly skilled physiotherapist and NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT) practitioner. Kailah is here to bust the most common pelvic health myths—and help you reconnect with your body in a truly holistic way. From breaking down the over-prescription of Kegels to understanding how breathing, posture, hydration, and even your nervous system impact pelvic floor function, Kailah helps reframe pelvic health as a whole-body issue—not just a women’s issue or something to "deal with later." You’ll learn: * Why Kegels aren’t the magic fix—and what matters more * How hydration affects urgency, incontinence, and bladder health * Why pelvic floor issues are not just for women * The surprising role of breathing and core coordination * How to treat pelvic dysfunction without internal exams * What a real pelvic health assessment looks like * Why optimizing movement can be preventative—and transformative Whether you're struggling with incontinence, lower back pain, pelvic pain, or simply want to feel stronger and more at ease in your body, this episode is packed with powerful insight and practical takeaways. Kailah’s expertise shines through as she explains how small shifts in awareness and movement can bring big healing. Empowering Question of the Day: How would your life improve if you let go of the belief that pelvic floor issues are something you just have to live with—and instead took steps toward reclaiming your independence and confidence? Mentioned in this episode: * Kailah Macri at iMove Clinic https://imoveclinic.com * Dr. Kathy Dooley — ImmaculateDissection.com Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: Busting Pelvic Floor Myths 01:30 – Dre’s Affirmation & Overview of Today’s Topic 02:00 – Meet Kailah Macri – From Athlete to Pelvic Floor Physio 05:00 – Kailah’s Path to Physiotherapy & Pelvic Floor Focus 08:30 – Intro to NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT) and Integrating it with Pelvic Health 10:00 – Why Specialization Without a Holistic View Can Be Limiting 11:30 – Understanding the Pelvic Floor – Myths, Breath & Kegels 17:30 – Myth #2 – Pelvic Floor Therapy Isn’t Just for Women 21:55 – Myth #3 – Internal Exams Aren’t Always Necessary 24:42 – Myth #4 – Drinking Less Water Doesn’t Reduce Urgency 26:42 – Myth #5 – The Pelvic Floor is Tied to Hormones & Neurotransmitters 32:38 – What an Appointment with Kailah Looks Like 35:30 – Helping Athletes Optimize Movement & Performance 39:23 – Preventative Physio – How to Stay Out of Pain 41:00 – Why Strength Training is Key to Pelvic Health 43:00 – Who Kailah Wants to Work With & Her Ideal Clients 44:30 – How to Book with Kailah & What to Expect 46:30 – Final Takeaways, Closing Words & Reflections

#5 – The Wild Within with Niall Scarr

What happens when we remember we are nature? In this unforgettable episode, Niall Scarr shares his journey into the wilderness — both around him and within. From being surrounded by wolves as a child to working with plant medicine and sacred ceremony, Niall’s story is one of surrender, reverence, and return. Together, we explore what it means to heal through presence, to find belonging in the stillness of the forest, and to let life move through us instead of trying to control it. Niall reminds us that wholeness isn’t something we build — it’s something we remember. This episode is for anyone craving connection, depth, and the raw beauty of being fully alive. http://www.qimovements.com/ [http://www.qimovements.com/] http://www.imoveclinic.com/ [http://www.imoveclinic.com/] http://neurokinetictherapy.com/ [http://neurokinetictherapy.com/] Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro Opening the door to stillness, presence, and the wild intelligence within us all. 04:10 – Niall’s Story: A Life Shaped by Nature From childhood moments with wolves to sacred ceremony and plant medicine. 09:45 – Grief as a Gateway How the death of Niall’s grandfather opened a portal to reverence and presence. 14:30 – Remembering We Are Nature The disconnection of modern life and the power of returning to the land. 19:20 – Sacred Ceremony and Psychedelic Insight How plant medicine supported healing and deepened spiritual awareness. 24:50 – Listening to the Earth Why nature doesn’t demand — it invites. And how that shifts how we show up. 30:00 – Somatic Safety and Nervous System Regulation Creating internal environments that mirror the groundedness of the forest. 36:15 – Letting Go of Control Surrendering the need to force, and learning to trust the flow of life. 41:45 – Reverence as a Way of Living How awe, slowness, and breath bring us home to what matters. 47:30 – Final Reflections We are not separate from the wild. We are the wild, remembering itself.