All Parts Welcome

EP 17: The Land, The Moon, and Your Ancestors - Interview with Courtney Gonzales

Join Melissa as she engages in a soul-stirring conversation with Courtney Gonzales, a remarkable woman who identifies as a brown individual with European roots on her mother's side, and Mexican and Indigenous roots on her father's side. Courtney is the Co-Founder of Soul Root, where she cultivates food and herbal medicine, and the Founder of Moonlight Floreciendo, creating plant medicine for her community. Courtney opens her heart and shares her unique journey as a mixed-race and multicultural individual, reconnecting with the spirituality of her ancestors. Melissa and Courtney explore the profound ways in which spirituality can be interwoven into different aspects of life, even when it was not initially modeled by one's family. Courtney discusses how she strengthened her connection with the earth and the moon, finding a profound sense of grounding and healing. She shares how following her intuition and embracing her cultural heritage transformed her life's path and led her to create powerful change within her community. In this enlightening conversation, Melissa and Courtney explore the transformative power of embracing one's cultural roots and spiritual connection. They discuss the profound significance of incorporating ancestral practices, such as food and plant medicine, as a means to honor heritage and heal. Tune in to All Parts Welcome as we celebrate the beauty of embracing one's multiracial and multicultural identity, finding solace and strength in spiritual connections, and creating positive change through intuition and ancestral wisdom. Join us in this journey of self-discovery and connection to the essence of our being. This week's guest:  Moonlight Floreciendo Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/courtney___rae___/]  Moonlight Floreciendo: A Path Illuminated [https://www.patreon.com/apathilluminated] Patreon  Sol Root- info@solrootfarmerscollective.com [info@solrootfarmerscollective.com]  Sol Root's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sol_root/] If you have any questions or comments, you can find Melissa here: http://melissa-gonzales.com/ [http://melissa-gonzales.com/] melissa@mgonzalestherapy.com [melissa@mgonzalestherapy.com] Episode was edited by Abbey Dot. For more information, find Abbey here: AbbeyDotProductions.com [http://abbeydotproductions.com/] abbeydotproductions@gmail.com [abbeydotproductions@gmail.com] Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

EP 16: Get Ready to be Blown Away - Interview with Minhi England

Prepare to be inspired and captivated in this week's episode of All Parts Welcome. Join Melissa as she sits down with the incredibly talented Minhi England, a Glass Artist and finalist on Season 3 of Netflix's hit show, Blown Away. Minhi's journey as an artist is intricately intertwined with her multiracial and multicultural identity as an Asian American with a Korean mother and American father. Born in Germany and raised in upstate New York, Minhi's art serves as a medium to process profound emotions such as loss, grief, and life-altering transitions. With vulnerability and authenticity, Minhi opens up about her experience growing up as a Korean American in a predominantly non-Asian community. She shares poignant childhood memories that led her to rebel against her culture during her teenage years. Melissa and Minhi delve into the universal experience of rejecting parts of oneself as an adolescent, as well as the transformative journey of reconnecting with those aspects in adulthood. In a truly heartfelt conversation, Minhi also reveals her experience as a young widow and how she channels her grief into her art. She explores the parallels between the unpredictability of life and the fluidity of her glasswork, creating pieces that encapsulate the profound beauty and fragility of existence. Join Melissa and Minhi as they explore the depths of artistic expression, cultural identity, and the transformative power of embracing all parts of oneself. Discover how Minhi's artistic journey intertwines with her life experiences, offering insights into the human condition and inspiring listeners to find solace and growth through their own creative outlets. Tune in to All Parts Welcome, where the magic of embracing one's cultural background and personal expression takes center stage. This weeks guest: https://www.minhi.com/ [https://www.minhi.com/] https://www.instagram.com/m.i.n.h.i/ [https://www.instagram.com/m.i.n.h.i/] If you have any questions or comments, you can find Melissa here: http://melissa-gonzales.com/ [http://melissa-gonzales.com/] melissa@mgonzalestherapy.com [melissa@mgonzalestherapy.com] Episode was edited by Abbey Dot. For more information, find Abbey here: AbbeyDotProductions.com [http://abbeydotproductions.com/] abbeydotproductions@gmail.com [abbeydotproductions@gmail.com] Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

EP 15: Identifying Narcissistic Abuse and How it Affects Your Identity - Interview with Nicole Xenos

Welcome to All Parts Welcome. In this episode, Melissa engages in a heartfelt conversation with Nicole Xenos, a remarkable individual who embodies multiple intersecting identities. Nicole, a multiracial, third-generation, neurodivergent, queer person residing in Boulder, Colorado, is the founder of Painted One Healing, specializing in identity development, interracial couples counseling, and healing from narcissistic abuse. Melissa and Nicole delve into the intricacies of growing up as interracial individuals and the impact of comments and actions from their parents that unknowingly influenced their self-perception. Nicole courageously shares her personal journey of experiencing narcissistic abuse, which ultimately led her to the profound work she does today. Together, they explore the importance of embracing all aspects of our identities, even those that may be considered taboo or unwelcome. They discuss the complexities of recognizing and healing from narcissistic abuse, including identifying gaslighting and emotional manipulation within relationships. Join Melissa and Nicole as they navigate the depths of embracing one's multiracial and multicultural identity, recognizing the impact of narcissistic abuse, and providing tools for healing and self-discovery. Tune in to All Parts Welcome, where we celebrate the strength and resilience that emerges from embracing our unique journeys. Find this week’s guest: www.paintedonehealing.com [http://www.paintedonehealing.com/] thepaintedonehealer@gmail.com [thepaintedonehealer@gmail.com] If you have any questions or comments, you can find Melissa here: http://melissa-gonzales.com/ [http://melissa-gonzales.com/] melissa@mgonzalestherapy.com [melissa@mgonzalestherapy.com] Episode was edited by Abbey Dot. For more information, find Abbey here: AbbeyDotProductions.com [http://abbeydotproductions.com/] abbeydotproductions@gmail.com [abbeydotproductions@gmail.com] Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

EP 14: The Gift of Your Choosen Community - Interview with Gita Kulkarni

Welcome to another episode of All Parts Welcome. In this episode, Melissa engages in a meaningful conversation with Gita Kulkarni, the Founder of Humors Edge, an organization dedicated to helping individuals find and express their unique sense of humor to enhance productivity in all areas of life. Gita's background is a beautiful blend of cultures—her father is Indian, while her mother comes from Suriname, a culturally diverse country in South America with influences from Indonesia, Africa, and Spain. Gita shares her personal experiences as a mixed-race and multicultural individual, navigating a world that often fails to provide enough checkboxes to capture the complexity of her identity. Melissa and Gita explore the significance of humor, particularly in the face of cultural and societal challenges. They discuss the power of laughter in fostering connection and resilience. Gita opens up about her upbringing with parents from two distinct cultural backgrounds and the insights she gained from navigating the differences. She candidly shares her experience in her first marriage—an arranged marriage with an Indian man—where she discovered the misalignment of priorities. Gita reflects on the lessons learned and how she ultimately found a deeply loving partnership that embraces and celebrates all parts of her identity. Melissa and Gita delve into the importance of intentionally choosing the right people in one's life, individuals who uplift and honor the multifaceted nature of our identities. They discuss the journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and the power of embracing all aspects of our culture and heritage. Join us for an enlightening conversation as we explore the importance of humor, cultural identity, and the transformative power of choosing authentic connections. Tune in to All Parts Welcome, where we celebrate the beauty of multiracial and multicultural identities. This weeks guest: gkulkarni@avintaservices.com [gkulkarni@avintaservices.com] https://www.linkedin.com/in/gitakulkarni/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gitakulkarni/] If you have any questions or comments, you can find Melissa here: http://melissa-gonzales.com/ [http://melissa-gonzales.com/] melissa@mgonzalestherapy.com [melissa@mgonzalestherapy.com] Episode was edited by Abbey Dot. For more information, find Abbey here: AbbeyDotProductions.com [http://abbeydotproductions.com/] abbeydotproductions@gmail.com [abbeydotproductions@gmail.com] Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay

EP 13: Deconstructing Your Religious Experience to Create You Own Religion - Interview with Shelby Remillard

In this episode, Melissa talks with Shelby Remillard, a licensed counselor in NYC who specializes in helping clients heal from trauma, explore grief and loss, and build healthy relationships. Shelby shares her unique experience as Indigenous from the Laguna Pueblo and Filipina, using humor and candor to tell her story. Growing up in a conservative, predominantly white community in Colorado Springs, Shelby struggled to connect with her heritage and identity as a mixed-race individual. Despite feeling a strong connection to her Indigenous father's side, she found herself drawn to her mother's Filipino and Hawaiian heritage as she got older. Shelby also discusses her experience with Christianity and how it influenced her relationship with spirituality. While she found comfort in certain aspects of the religion, she ultimately felt the need to seek out a more inclusive and accepting community that aligned with her values. Melissa and Shelby also delve into the impact of religion and spirituality on mental health, community, and culture, and the importance of finding a sense of belonging and connection in the healing process. They touch on topics such as white supremacy within organized religion, the beauty of connecting with your ancestral spirituality, and the role of humor in coping with trauma. This weeks guest: SHELBY@STEADYNYC.COM [SHELBY@STEADYNYC.COM] If you have any questions or comments, you can find Melissa here: http://melissa-gonzales.com/ [http://melissa-gonzales.com/] melissa@mgonzalestherapy.com [melissa@mgonzalestherapy.com] Episode was edited by Abbey Dot. For more information, find Abbey here: AbbeyDotProductions.com [http://abbeydotproductions.com/] abbeydotproductions@gmail.com [abbeydotproductions@gmail.com] Music by RomanSenykMusic from Pixabay