In this heartfelt episode, Sarah is joined by Toufic Hakim—scientist by training, spiritualist by choice, and Executive Director of the Foundation for Self Leadership. Together, they explore what it means to cultivate sustainable hope in uncertain times by tending to our inner worlds, our relationships, and our communities.
Toufic offers wisdom on how self-awareness, compassion, and connection can help us meet the world with clarity and heart. This conversation is a balm for the nervous system—and a deep invitation into presence, purpose, and possibility. The Foundation for Self Leadership is dedicated to fostering emotional, relational and societal healing and wellbeing. Its advocacy and research programs revolve around the IFS paradigm as a leading model among others.
Learn more about The Foundation for Self Leadership
Find Foundation IFS on Facebook & Youtube
Read their magazine Parts and SelfShow Notes:

• ​Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Black Swan

• Atlas of Emotions & Atlas of the Heart

• Inside Out

• 3 Spheres Diagram

• Book: "You are the one you've been waiting for" by Richard Schwartz

• Pre-register for Sustainable Hope (a free, virtual, interactive community conversation) cofacilitated Sarah & Toufic on September 17, 2025

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In this episode, new board president and founder of Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Terry Real, joins senior RLT practitioner and faculty member Anna Sterk, LMFT for a powerful conversation about one of the toughest relationship questions: Should I stay or should I go?
​Together, they unpack the concept of relational reckoning—weighing whether what we’re getting is enough to make grieving what we’re not getting worth it. They challenge the myth of unconditional adult love and explore the fine line between acceptance and self-abandonment. From resentment to “normal marital hatred,” this episode is full of clarity, compassion, and truth-telling. Whether you’re questioning a relationship or seeking deeper connection, this conversation offers a path forward.
Learn more about Terry Real
Learn more about Anna SterkDonate here: https://www.relationallifefoundation.org/donate.html

In this episode, host Sarah Melissa Oswald speaks with Laurie Lazar, founder and CEO of Realness Project, about her work in prisons, where she brings authentic relating practices to incarcerated individuals. Through deeply moving stories, they discuss the generational impact of incarceration, the resilience of the human spirit, and how connection can be a catalyst for change. Join us for a conversation that challenges assumptions and highlights the profound importance of empathy, healing, and community.​
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Learn more about Laurie at https://www.realnessproject.org/ / @realnessprojectnonprofit
Show Notes

Realness Project
Dr.  Stephen Porges
Colorado State Penitentiary
Caring for Denver
Dignity Humility Diagram
RLT Relationship Grid