Nature, Our Long-Lost Friend and Healer: A Conversation with Kathleen McIntyre

Nature, Our Long-Lost Friend and Healer: A Conversation with Kathleen McIntyre

In this inspiring conversation, Nadia and Brooke sit down with Kathleen McIntyre, a clinical social worker, forest therapy practitioner, educator, and author of The Nature Reset. Kathleen shares her journey of discovering the healing power of nature and how this set her on a course to help others do the same. Drawing from her multidisciplinary background, Kathleen shares how reconnecting with the natural world can support mental, emotional, and physical health, and cultivating a deeper awareness of being in our bodies is an essential part of the healing process and connecting with the natural world. She discusses the principles of somatic and nature-based therapies, simple ways to strengthen our connection with the living world, and practical exercises that engage the senses and encourage presence and well-being. The conversation also touches on the significance of outdoor play for children, the adaptogenic effects of nature, and the upcoming opportunities in her forest therapy training program. To learn more about Kathleen, her work, and her school, please visit the links below. kathleen@katmcintyre.com [kathleen@katmcintyre.com] https://www.heartwoodschoolforesttherapy.com/ [https://www.heartwoodschoolforesttherapy.com/] Kathleen’s Book [https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Reset-Practical-Reawaken-Wherever-ebook/dp/B0CXTN5KZC/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=189364871231&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.d6JGvztAzDNGCRFORi-nWA.ECpU20eA1mF52HIMPdcMaZXsLwWORdhDmjby13Pg4Ag&dib_tag=se&hvadid=779601174361&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9010116&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=1770343187670161736--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1770343187670161736&hvtargid=kwd-2292044424134&hydadcr=22595_13821266_8834&keywords=the+nature+reset+kathleen+mcintyre&mcid=3911633f35183d1ebb3f8965e14051cd&qid=1782220864&sr=8-1]The Nature Reset [https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Reset-Practical-Reawaken-Wherever-ebook/dp/B0CXTN5KZC/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=189364871231&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.d6JGvztAzDNGCRFORi-nWA.ECpU20eA1mF52HIMPdcMaZXsLwWORdhDmjby13Pg4Ag&dib_tag=se&hvadid=779601174361&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9010116&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=1770343187670161736--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1770343187670161736&hvtargid=kwd-2292044424134&hydadcr=22595_13821266_8834&keywords=the+nature+reset+kathleen+mcintyre&mcid=3911633f35183d1ebb3f8965e14051cd&qid=1782220864&sr=8-1] Also mentioned: Tara Mohr [https://www.taramohr.com/] Playing Big Katie Asmus [https://www.somaticnaturetherapy.com/]Somatic Nature Therapy Institute Time Stamps: Introduction to Nature-Based Healing 00:00 Kathleen’s Journey with Nature 02:09 The Connection Between Nature and Mental Health 04:42 Understanding Somatic Therapy 07:04 Bridging Science and Spirituality 09:28 Nature as a Therapeutic Ally 12:32 Daily Practices for Connecting with Nature 12:57 Connecting with Nature Through the Senses 29:02 The Heartwood Therapy Guide Program 31:43 Finding and Following Your Path 34:28 Nature as an Adaptogen 36:03 Engaging Children with Nature 40:03 The Importance of Outdoor Play 43:15 Upcoming Opportunities in Forest Therapy 45:16 Get full access to Here Comes the Sun at herecomesthesunpodcast.substack.com/subscribe [https://herecomesthesunpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

From Pressure Cooker Spirituality to Sacred Flexibility

In this episode, Nadia and Brooke explore the freedom they’ve found in approaching their spiritual journeys with greater flexibility, embracing what resonates rather than seeking certainty at all costs. They discuss leaving behind a pressure-cooker spirituality that was both exhausting and unreliable for long, and how this shift has helped them become better listeners, think more critically about the messages they receive from spiritual communities and media, and show deeper respect for both their own paths and those of others. Through personal stories and reflection, they consider the importance of reverence, curiosity, and human connection in an age of division and extremism. Chapters 00:00 The Journey of Voice and Expression 02:45 Exploring Spirituality and Flexibility 04:33 The Importance of Questioning Beliefs 06:45 Navigating Personal Growth and Critical Thinking 08:57 Finding Reverence in Different Spaces 11:20 Respecting Individual Journeys 13:15 The Challenge of Parenting and Empathy 14:39 The Balance of Speaking Up and Listening 16:31 Embracing Uncertainty and Flexibility 18:33 The Role of Respect in Conversations 21:20 The Impact of Media and Information 23:10 Celebrating Individual Paths and Growth Speaker and Activist Mentioned Loretta J. Ross [https://lorettajross.com/] Photo Credit [https://pixabay.com/photos/flora-lupins-nature-lupine-purple-3197381/] Get full access to Here Comes the Sun at herecomesthesunpodcast.substack.com/subscribe [https://herecomesthesunpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Raised on Quick Fixes: What We Learned About Habit Change, Failure, and Grace

In this episode, Brooke and Nadia take on the topic of habit change and explore their formative experiences when it comes to habits, citing the 80’s as a time when society taught them to power through and look for quick fixes and gimmicks, and how that transformed over time with failure and life impulses toward more meaning, grace, and connectedness in their pursuits. Book Mentioned: Mini Habits [https://minihabits.com/books/] by Stephen Guise [https://minihabits.com/books/] Photo Credit [https://pixabay.com/photos/butterfly-flowers-summer-greens-1572565/] Get full access to Here Comes the Sun at herecomesthesunpodcast.substack.com/subscribe [https://herecomesthesunpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Is Beauty a Beast?

In this episode, Brooke and Nadia welcome back Heather Richard and Elena Cheah from Season 2, Episode 1: ‘The Gift of Grief [https://herecomesthesunpodcast.substack.com/p/the-gift-of-grief]’, for a lively panel discussion on the complex and nuanced relationship with beauty. They talk about their first exposure to physical beauty ideals, the different societal pressures that shaped their perceptions of beauty, and their personal journeys toward freedom of self-expression and self-acceptance, making room for ongoing discovery. Through personal stories, honest reflection, and curiosity, they paint a varied tableau of experiences and values related to beauty and share what they hope younger generations will carry forward, including that we have power as individuals to help others feel beautiful around us by celebrating many different forms of self-expression toward or away from societal ideals. Photo Credit: Brooke Meservy 0:00 Introduction to Beauty Standards Discussion 02:06 Personal Experiences with Beauty and Upbringing 12:21 Navigating Beauty in Adolescence and Young Adulthood 24:44 The Impact of Aging on Perceptions of Beauty 30:59 The Duality of Beauty: Fun vs. Pressure 33:53 Exploring Beauty and Aging 38:32 Individuality in Style and Expression 42:42 The Development of Self-Expression 48:28Societal Pressures and Aging 55:21 Redefining Beauty Standards 01:01:45 Messages for the Next Generation Get full access to Here Comes the Sun at herecomesthesunpodcast.substack.com/subscribe [https://herecomesthesunpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Heart of Coaching

This episode is about the power of life coaching. Nadia and Brooke introduce life coaching, address the stigma attached to it, and share how neither of them took it very seriously when they first heard about it. They talk about what coaching is and isn’t in their version. They discuss the priority of meeting others where they are and allowing them to find their own answers. They note the keys we bring each other to unlock our paths when we give wide-open witnessing and ask powerful questions. They talk about their experience of being coached by each other, the magic of it, and what a gift it is to witness another human being in their process of unique discovery. They wonder what the world would be like if humans supported each other with reverent respect, deep listening, and trust to know their own path; supporting and coaxing out gifts and ways forward, and received this in return. What would we create next? The book mentioned is How to Know a Person by David Brooks. If you are interested in experiencing coaching with Brooke or Nadia, you can find more information here. For Brooke: click here for website [https://isleofbloom.org/coaching-with-brooke/] For Nadia: click here for website [https://thesimplynourishedlife.com/] Photo Credit [https://pixabay.com/photos/wild-garlic-herbs-herb-healthy-3289583/] 00:00 Introduction to Coaching and Stigma 00:53 Personal Experiences with Coaching 03:11 The Role of Space and Witnessing in Coaching 07:21 The Magic of Coaching and Intuition 10:14 Coaching vs. Therapy 13:50 Tailored Coaching: Personalization and Identity 16:11 Navigating Coaching Conversations 16:11 Exploring Coaching Styles 17:17 The Magic of Imagery in Coaching 19:36 The Role of Intuition in Coaching 20:57 Finding Your Coaching Style 22:16 The Importance of Client-Coach Compatibility 24:07 Creating a Safe Coaching Environment 27:13 The Power of Self-Discovery in Coaching 29:11 The Journey of Personal Growth 30:45 Envisioning a World Beyond Conflict Get full access to Here Comes the Sun at herecomesthesunpodcast.substack.com/subscribe [https://herecomesthesunpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]