In this episode of the Holistic Healers Community Podcast, Crystal sits down with a very special guest: Desiree Carscadden, Reiki Master, hypnotherapist, co-owner of the Holistic Healers Community… and her sister.

This conversation is a little different from the usual HHCP episode, because Crystal and Des aren’t just talking about their work in the holistic space. They’re talking about them.

They reflect on growing up together, their very different personalities, and how those differences sometimes created more tension than closeness. They talk about family, connection, the ways we can carry old dynamics into adulthood, and the very different places they each tend to access their power from. For Des, anger has often been a source of power. For Crystal, it’s sadness.

They also share how their grandmother played an important role in awakening and nurturing their shared curiosity about the magical, mysterious, and unexplained parts of the universe. From there, the conversation takes plenty of sibling detours, because that’s what happens when sisters get together.

Des also opens up about her recent experience participating in the Monologue Mavens event at HHC in collaboration with Nikki. They explore why the experience may have felt so cathartic for her and how giving herself permission to express what had been held inside may have helped her move through the stress cycle rather than continuing to carry it.

Crystal and Des also talk about the beautiful evolution of HHC’s event offerings and the work Des has poured into expanding what the community can experience within the space. They tease an upcoming breathwork class coming to HHC, talk about what it has looked like for Des to attune her children to Reiki, and explore some of the ways that practice has shown up in their lives.

And, of course, there are plenty of completely random sibling digressions about family, relationships, childhood, and connection along the way.

This episode is part holistic conversation, part sister therapy session, part trip down memory lane, and a reminder that some of our most meaningful relationships can hold both tension and deep connection.

Have a listen & don't forget to follow the podcast to stay up to date on episodes! You can also leave feedback on the episode over at HHC’s Instagram @holistichealerscommunity or find out more about Des and how to work with her on her IG.

IG: @desireholisticwellness

Music credit: Blind Love by TuneTrove

In this episode of the Holistic Healers Community Podcast, Crystal sits down with Mara Aguilar to explore her firsthand experience as a gestational surrogate and the journey that led her to make the decision to carry a baby for intended parents.

Mara shares what motivated her to become a surrogate, what she looked for when choosing an agency, and what an ideal relationship with intended parents looked like for her. She walks us through some of the practical aspects of the process, including the requirements to qualify as a surrogate, what goes into a contract between a surrogate and intended parents, and the many decisions that have to be considered before the journey even begins.

Mara also gives an honest look at the physical and emotional experience of surrogacy. From the hormonal preparation and embryo transfer to the unexpected challenges she encountered throughout pregnancy and the different things she tried to do to manage and mitigate those issues. She opens up about labor, delivery, postpartum recovery, and what the experience was actually like from her perspective.

And, of course, Mara answers the question that she gets asked all the time: Would you do it again?

Whether you’ve considered becoming a surrogate yourself, know someone who has, or are simply curious about what the process is really like, this episode offers an opportunity to hear about surrogacy directly from someone who has lived it.

Have a listen & don't forget to follow the podcast to stay up to date on episodes! You can also leave feedback on the episode over at HHC’s Instagram @holistichealerscommunity or ask Mara any further questions you may have on her IG.

IG: @mara.aguilar11

Music credit: Blind Love by TuneTrove

In this episode of the Holistic Healers Community Podcast, Crystal sits down with Dr. Zerri Gross - a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Reiki Master, crystal and sound healer, trauma-informed yoga instructor, Goddess Temple Priestess, author, retired veteran, and holistic life coach - for a deeply honest conversation about transformation, burnout, spirituality, and learning to make space for every part of ourselves.

Dr. Z shares her journey from the military into the mental health field, the early experiences that challenged her to reflect on her own growth as a therapist, and the gradual shift toward holistic healing that initially began as something she pursued for herself. She opens up about the internal and religious beliefs she had to work through in order to make space for these modalities, as well as the barriers that kept her from believing her trainings and gifts were meant to be shared with others.

Eventually, burnout and life’s challenges pushed Dr. Z toward opening her own private practice, only to reveal a whole new layer of healing around money, visibility, social expectations, and the narratives we inherit about what we’re “supposed” to do. Together, Crystal and Dr. Z explore what happens when the person who has spent years caring for everyone else finally gives herself permission to be cared for, too.

Dr. Z also shares about her upcoming Disconnect to Reconnect event at HHC on August 29th, created specifically for the teachers, therapists, healers, and “strong friends” who are so accustomed to being the ones everyone else relies on.

And in one of the most memorable parts of the conversation, Dr. Z introduces a powerful reframe for working with the inner child: Instead of making our inner child responsible for healing us, what if we fired them from the role of “healer” and hired them as a consultant? Someone whose experiences, needs, creativity, and wisdom can inform the way we move forward.

This episode is an invitation to reconsider what healing, spirituality, success, and self-care can look like when we stop abandoning parts of ourselves in order to become who we think we’re supposed to be.

Have a listen & don't forget to follow the podcast to stay up to date on episodes! You can also leave feedback on the episode over at HHC’s Instagram @holistichealerscommunity or find out more about Dr. Z and how to work with her on her website & IG.

IG: @greaterself_dr.z

Website: www.greaterself.org

Music credit: Blind Love by TuneTrove