Chris Herren's story is one of profound struggle and eventual redemption. Addiction impacts millions of families in heartbreaking ways. I know this personally and through sitting with multiple clients who have been going through it with loved ones. This makes today's conversation about addiction and recovery on the Cracking Open podcast especially powerful.

As a young basketball prodigy from Fall River, MA, Chris soared to fame with over 2000 points in high school, even gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated before graduating. However, his journey with addiction had already started to derail his life and his future as a professional athlete. Due to repeated failed drug tests, Chris was expelled from Boston College.

Legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian reached out to Chris and gave him a second chance to play college basketball at Fresno State. He flourished there, leading him into the NBA, playing with the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics. In secret though, Chris was still battling with alcohol and drug addiction, and basketball simply couldn't compete with the lure of alcohol, cocaine, and heroin.

Despite his success on the court, his personal life spiraled out of control, culminating in an overdose and near-death experience in 2008. Through what he calls his "sherpas" – guiding lights on his journey – Chris fully embraced recovery, and has been sober since August 1, 2008. He continues to share his story through various platforms, including his bestselling memoir Basketball Junkie and the Emmy-nominated ESPN Films documentary Unguarded.

Chris has dedicated his life to sobriety and creating a positive impact in the world. Through his company Herren Talks, he has reached over a million students and community members, sparking crucial conversations about substance use disorder and wellness. Chris's nonprofit Herren Project, empowers schools and communities to make healthy choices and supports families through recovery. Herren Wellness, established in 2018, offers residential health and wellness programs to support substance-free living.

Chris's journey and this conversation around addiction recovery will resonate deeply with many of you. Even if you have not been personally touched by addiction, understanding this topic and its impact is crucial, making this conversation particularly significant.

Love,
Molly


Learn more about Chris Herren and his work here
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Do you ever feel like you have to be perfect? The perfect mother, daughter, employee, partner, etc?

It's a familiar struggle that I have grappled with in my own life, and as a therapist, I've witnessed this innate desire to be perfect from thousands of women.

That's how I first came across Elise Loehnen's bestselling book, On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good. It is such an intriguing read and I am thrilled to have her on the Cracking Open podcast today.

Elise is not only a New York Times bestselling author, but also the host of the podcast Pulling the Thread, where she interviews cultural luminaries about life's big questions.

In our conversation, we talk through some of our own big questions like how she got the idea for her book after speaking with the celebrity therapist Lori Gottlieb on the Goop podcast. Ms. Gottlieb told her - pay attention to envy, it can show you what you want. Gottlieb's insight into using envy as a revealing emotion inspired Elise to explore the other six "deadly sins" —lust, anger, greed, gluttony, sloth, and pride—and their impact on women's lives. Not only did this exploration deeply influence millions of women's lives but her own as well.

"I'm the primary breadwinner. I've killed myself to succeed in life and be a good mother, partner, citizen, employee, and boss. And, you know, I was breathless, exhausted, and recognized that I was running a race with no finish line, that I was competing against a standard that I had not created and that would never give me any rewards that would mean anything to me." ~ Elise Loehnen

Boy oh boy, can I relate! Maybe you can too?

Join us as we delve into a wide range of topics, such as the Enneagram personality type system, Elise's affinity with spiritual figures such as Mary Magdalene (and how I feel that Elise is our modern-day Joan of Arc!).

Elise was previously the chief content officer of the famous lifestyle brand goop. While there, she co-hosted The goop Podcast and The goop Lab on Netflix, and led the brand’s content strategy and programming, including launching a magazine with Condé Nast and a book imprint. Before goop, she held roles as the editorial projects director of Conde Nast Traveler and editor at large and deputy editor of Lucky Magazine, where she also served as the on-air spokesperson, appearing regularly on shows like Today, E!, Good Morning America, and The Early Show.

Elise is highly accomplished in her career and a staunch advocate for women's self-acceptance. She emphasizes that it's not about striving for perfection but rather about becoming aware of how cultural programming and ancient ideas of morality, such as the seven deadly sins, continue to control and distort women's lives today. Elise believes that trusting in our natural instincts can lead us back to a more balanced, peaceful, and spiritually fulfilling way of living.

My conversation with Elise was a breath of fresh air. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Love,
Molly

Learn more about Elise Loehnen here
Join Elise's Substack here
Purchase On Our Best Behavior here
Listen to Pulling the Thread podcast here
Follow Elise on Instagram

I invite you to reflect on a moment when you immersed yourself in nature — perhaps swimming in a serene lake, hiking through lush trails, or simply basking in the beauty of a park, as you felt the grass beneath your feet and saw the trees towering above you.

Can you remember a time when nature had a positive impact on you? Maybe it brought you peace amidst the tranquility of the forest, or a surge of exhilaration as you skied down a mountainside.

Whatever your memories may be, one undeniable thing is that nature stirs something within us.

On this week's episode of the Cracking Open podcast, Jobi Manson reminds us of the profound healing and transformative power of nature. Jobi is a visual artist and sculptor whose work explores the realms of water, light, sound, and stone. Delving into the
ineffable dimensions beyond words, she traverses the realms of matter, time, and the ethereal space in between.

In 2015, she founded Sēfari, a platform dedicated to elemental experiences that fuse science, nature, and art, all in pursuit of psychosomatic evolution. Partnering with esteemed organizations like Auberge, The Sea Ranch Lodge, and In Goop Health, among
others, Sēfari has become a beacon for those seeking to reconnect with nature and themselves.

In this conversation, Jobi shares profound insights, like the transformative power of swimming alongside whales and dolphins and exploring the profound connection between humans and the natural world. We talk about her journey through grief following the death of her mother, her own near-death experience when she broke her neck while swimming in the ocean which temporarily rendered her paralyzed, and a particularly transformative encounter with a psychic that led her to Hawaii and helped her return home to herself.

Based in Pacific Palisades, California, Jobi now runs a private practice, offering individuals a pathway to rediscover their true essence through the transformative power of art and nature.

Love, Molly


Learn more about Jobi Manson and Sēfari here
Join Jobi's Substack here
Follow Jobi on Instagram

Molly's next 3-month Cracking Open group coaching program starts in July 2024! Learn more here.

Follow Molly on Instagram and Facebook