The Courage to Feel: A Monthly Podcast for Those Who Run Toward the Fire
In times of profound upheaval, when executive orders cascade like falling dominoes and communities brace against the storm of policy changes, there exists a special breed of people who run toward the chaos rather than away from it. You know who you are – the community organizers, the crisis responders, the nonprofit workers standing in the trenches of social justice.
This blog post is for you, the ones whose love for community compels you to show up, day after day, despite the exhaustion settling in your bones.
"Without an ethic of love shaping the direction of our political vision and our radical aspirations, we are often seduced, in one way or the other, into continued allegiance to systems of domination." – bell hooks
A Space for Respite in Chaotic Times
At AllThrive Education, our mission has always been to address the systemic issues that lead to burnout in the nonprofit sector, particularly among crisis responders. The pain of burnout doesn't operate on a schedule. It arrives unbidden, demanding to be felt precisely when you have the least capacity to address it.
This understanding birthed our vision for the Collective Care Club – a virtual sanctuary where people can access healing practices whenever they need them most. Today, I'm thrilled to announce one step toward this vision: The Courage to Feel Podcast.
Why the Courage to Feel?
The name emerged from a profound conversation with dear colleagues at the Culture Tending Collective. As we shared stories from our respective communities, one common thread emerged: people increasingly find themselves in uncomfortable situations requiring difficult conversations and decisions about how to move forward.
In these moments, the capacity to sit with discomfort becomes essential. Without this self-awareness, we cannot truly receive what others are trying to communicate.
What Somatic Practice Offers Us Now
In this podcast, I'll share somatic practices – approaches that help us connect with ourselves at the deepest levels of identity, values, and meaning. These practices engage us:
Spiritually: Connecting us to our deeper sense of purpose
Physically: Helping us locate where emotions reside in our bodies
Mentally: Activating our prefrontal cortex for sound decision-making
Real Impact: From Practice to Action
During our weekly somatic practice sessions with COVID response teams, we witnessed powerful transformations. One community health organization in California made our Monday morning sessions part of their team ritual. They reported that taking those few minutes together before the week began helped them process the intensity of their vaccine equity work and reconnect with their purpose. As one participant shared, "This practice became the best cup of coffee to start our week – it gave us a moment to breathe before diving into crisis mode again."
What to Expect
Each month, I'll offer a new somatic practice that:
Requires no special equipment
Can be done anywhere
Takes just a few minutes
Builds your capacity over time
Our first episode introduces Rhythmic Belly Breathing – a powerful tool that activates your parasympathetic nervous system and connects you to your body's core strength.
A Labor of Love
For the past five years, we've offered weekly somatic practices to community organizations through our healing-centered capacity building programs for foundation partners. As that season of COVID relief work closes, I felt called to make these practices accessible to everyone.
As Amanda Gorman eloquently stated, "For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it." This podcast is an invitation to that bravery – the courage to feel, to heal, and to continue your essential work with renewed strength.
Join Us on This Journey
The first episode of "The Courage to Feel" will be available on April 1st, 2025. You can find it on:
Our website: www.allthriveed.org/podcast
New episodes will release on the first Monday of each month.
Share this announcement:
📱 LinkedIn: "For those who run toward the fire: @AllThriveed launches 'The Courage to Feel' podcast offering monthly somatic practices for community organizers and nonprofit workers. Subscribe now: www.allthriveed.org/podcast"
How do you find moments of respite in your work? Share your practices in the comments below, and let's learn from each other's wisdom.
